As blues players, sometimes the word technique leaves a… less than desireable taste…
Blues is about feeling the music and playing from your heart and leaving your soul bare on the stage for all to see and hear...
But, how do you think you’re going to do that if you can’t play well?
If I had a nickel for every time I thought, “Man, I love what you were going for there…” I would be a wealthy man indeed.
When you get a great idea, or you hear a cool lick or phrase that you want to copy, do you ever think, “too bad I can’t play like that?”
And then you might make up some excuses about small hands, or being too old, or not having time to practice… and in some instances where there is arthritis or nerve damage of some sort, those concerns might be legitimate, but for 995 out of 1000 students that I see, those excuses are nothing but excuses.
Wouldn’t it be cooler to hear something, have a pretty good idea of how it might be achieved (because you’ve played something similar, so you can kind of recognize it) and then tinker around with it for a few minutes and you’re playing around with it like you own it?
So I’m going to start on a mission today: I want to improve your speed (and that means, your techniques, your speed, your control, and your dexterity) by 10% over the next 30 days.
Really, I think I can get it up by 20%… but I realize that might sound unbelievable, so I’ll stick with 10% for now. (I’ve actually got proof that I can do over 20%, on average, because I’ve done it… but I’ll save that for later.)
My part, as you can probably guess, is videos and stuff that I do…
Your part, is that I need your time. I don’t need a lot, but if you commit to this, you’ll reap the benefits for the rest of your life.
Let’s start with about 15 minutes today… grab your guitar (though you won’t need it right away) and watch this, and take it in. If you can practice this in front of a mirror so that you can see your hand position, that’s all the better.
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69 replies to "Let’s Talk Technique…"
Hi Griff:
I’m another one of your “older guy” followers at age 81. I used to be an acoustic guy somewhat playing simple chords and simple songs. Then about 15 years ago I started following you and you re-ignited my interest. I learned a number of your techniques and now have great fun playing with my “Amazing Slow Downer” software with the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton and Gary Moore. I know I’d never play live…still a chicken….but I want to thank you for making music a major part of my life. When the wife is gone I crank up my Fender tube amp, plug in my Strat and let it rip.
Keep it comin’….you’re an outstanding teacher! The proof is in the pudding….just look at all of the old guys following you!
Thank you that is very helpful
Griff
Should of been the starting point for everyone learning & playing Guitar! It’s like learning to type, you have to have your fingers on the home row. Thanks Griff for the lesson.
Love this lesson. At 68, I have arthritis and a couple of trigger joints. This helps me loosen my hands up. Not gaining a lot of speed but will stay at it!
Rick
I have the same problems with my hands. I am 73. I will keep at it just to stay loose and hope for improvement.
Completely agree with you, Griff. I use this positioning and usually play with a strap, even sitting down. I think it’s important to practice standing up as well, because that’s what we do on stage, as you well know.
It is interesting to note that Bill Leavitt, one of Berklee’s best guitar teachers ever, advocated the thumb pointing towards the headstock. It must have been better for him, but he is out in the wilderness when it comes to 90% of teachers in that respect.
Hi Griff this is great but I have arthritis in my fingers and when I close my hand to make a fist my 2nd and 3rd finger cross so I cannot place all 4 fingers on the fret board at the same time. The little finger and index finger are fine but two middle one become effectively just one when I press down on the fret board. Have you seen this in other students?
The “Pink Panther” intro. Awesome lesson. So many little things make such a big difference. Just gotta have a great teacher…that would be you, Griff. Just call him…Mr. Blues.
So…. As I began ready this email, I thought that you were addressing me directly Griff.
I have short arthritic fingers, carpal tunnel, tendinitis, and nerve damage bilateral in both hands and wrists. Being almost 62 is the icing on the cake.
And I have been sitting on that wall for some time now trying to get myself over. I will include this in my daily routine.
Thanks so much Griff
One thing that always gives me trouble is getting my fingers from laying on the higher strings.
I discovered that at least for me this was due to an early learning bad habit of leaning the bottom of the guitar out somewhat in order to see the strings and finger placement. While useful at first, later on, it inhibits progress.
Keeping the guitar more straight-up helps the hand reach the correct position.
For beginners, there are so many nuances that are not so obvious to instructors, at least on-line ones, causing problems.
It comes down to ergonomics…human bodies haven’t changed since the guitar was invented, so the good techniques from centuries past are still valid. The hands are just better suited to playing in these proper positions than in others. You may think you look like a dweeb with the guitar under your chin, but it’ll be easier to play. If you have a touch of arthritis, this exercise and the classical position will help a lot.
I learned this exercise decades ago but did not learn it correctly so had been doing it wrong the whole time. Going “forward” was no problem but, I did not realize that I should have all four fingers engaged when going “backwards” until Griff posted this exercise a few months ago. At first, going backwards correctly was a real struggle but got easier after a few days of doing this.
I still catch myself only using one finger when going “backwards” so, I know it’s time to repeat the exercise. When I do it correctly, I can now play much faster going backwards than going forward and my articulation, when bending notes, doing pull-offs and muting strings etc., is much improved. For some reason though… hammer-ons, going “forward” have not improved as much.
Thanks Griff.
WHEN I WAS , I TOOK FLAMINCO GUITAR. NEVER PLAYED A NOTE IN MY LIFE.
FOR WEEKS I HAD TO DO THIS.ALL FINGERS ON THE FRET BORD UP THE SCALE AND ALL FINGERS DOWN GOING BACK.
I HATED IT. ONE THING, IS IT GAVE ME THE ABILITY, TO JUST USE MY LFET HAND TO PLAY NOTES WITH A HENDRICS FINGER SLAM. I’M 68 NOW. I KNOW ERIC CLAPTON. HE HAD SOME NERVE PROBLEMS AND J ALMOST STPPED PLAYING, BUT HE JUST PUSHED ON AND HE GOT HIS TECHNIEC BACK. 2021 IS HIS NEXT COCERT AND I’M SURE HE IS NOT GOING TO BE AS GREAT AS HE USE TO BE.
WAIT TELL YOU MY AGE GRIFF, OR HAVE PROBLEMS. YOU WILL STRUGLE AND IT’S NOT GOOD FOR THE SOUL.995 OUT OF 100? USE MY OLD STAGE NAME.
I needed that! However, if I only did it for three minutes a day I’d be quitting at the 5th fret, lol. I think this was a really great reminder to me and all my bad habits and “workarounds” because I’ve had some hand surgeries in the past ten years, that I _really_ should be doing these. Just doing it now, while watching the video, I’m also getting my fingers moving better. Added benefit.
I don’t disagree with your thought. On hand position at all,
However,how to explain Jeff Healey?
He was blind as well?
Keep up the great lessons
Hi Griff, thank you for the lesson.
I practice the spider walk and find it helps with my hand position a lot. Great lesson, thank you.
Hey Griff,
I’ve purchased a lot of your stuff and really enjoy the instruction. You mentioned that the better you get at the technique the more comfortable it becomes when playing in unorthodox positions. Correct me if I’m wrong but I’ll bet that is how Stevie Ray could play behind his back like he did. He was really comfortable playing period because he practiced and got good.
I can’t do it!
I can just get the fingers on the frets, but the positioning is awful. I can force my fingers to be in the correct positions behind the frets if I manually move them (and it hurts a little), but without help the ring finger cannot move to the fret end, it slides back to the middle finger fret. The pinkie curls back into the ring finger and won’t straighten to sit nicely on the fourth fret. My fingers do seem somewhat short and stubby compared to most peoples that I see.
And I cannot stretch to do even the basic blues shuffle on the V.
It is so frustrating.
Of course Django could only use two fingers…
Hi Mr Griff,
May I respectfully (extremely respectfully) suggest that for those of us who find it challenging, for a start at least, to commence this exercise at the first fret we start on, say, the fifth fret (‘cos the gaps are smaller) and work up to the first before expanding elsewhere?
Chris (An awful pupil who you have helped and continue to help. Thank you.)
Hello Giff could you please tell me the guitar that you are using in the video .
Learned this a long time ago from somewhere. Playing all strings up and down from 1st fret to 12th. Also across the fret board and even diagonal. At first my hand would tire and I would have to stop,shake my hand out and start again. After awhile doing this(I stuck with it), I can play all strings to 12th fret and back down without stopping. Great exercise that helps hand strength and picking for my right hand. Do this as griff says you will see an improvement to your playing! Griff is the man when it comes to instruction. I am so grateful to have him as my teacher! I’ll never stop learning from griff. He’s the best out there!😎
55 YEARS AGO, I WAS TAKIG FLAMINCO GUITAR. I HAD TO DO THIS OVER AND OVER. EVERY DARN LESSON, WAS 1/2 HOUR AND I DID THIS FOR 5 OF THEM.
I GOT SO SICK OF IT, I QUIT.
I HAD IT DOWN, AHTER LESSON #3.
NOW I’M 67 AND LIKE ERIC CLAPTON, I HAVE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY LEFT HAND.
SO NO DAMN EXCUSE HERE!
IN MY YEARS OF PLAYING GUITAR, I DID UNION STUDIO WORK. SO I HAD TO LEARN A SONG IN ONE DAY. I WAS ONE WHO EVERYONE KNEW AND KNEW THAT I COULD DO ANYTHING ON GUITAR. MY CAREER WAS IN AVIATION. TECHNICIAN. THAT RUINS YOR HANDS OVER A LIFE TIME. COMMERCAIL PILOT, FLIGT ENGINEER AND A TEST PILOT FOR TH AIR FOECE AND GULSTREAM. SO EVEN WHEN I WAS FYING, WORKING, I WAS PLAYIG GIGS AND DOING STUDIO WORK.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR ALL OF US BGU GUYS GRIFF. THANK YOU AND KEEP ON PLAYNG. I TOLD MY BUDDY BRIAN, WHO IS PAUL SIMONS PUBLISHER AND ROAD MANAGER ABOUT YOU. HE HEARD YOUR ITUNES NUMBER 1 ON THE TOP AND TOLD MY BUDDY, THAT YOUR ONE DAMN GREAT GUITAR PLAYER HE HAS HEARD IN OVER 30 YEARS.
Thank you Griff. Excellent lesson as always.
Thanks Griff. As always sage advice, in a non-threatening, friendly professorial tone – THANKS!
Thanks Griff!
As always, sage advice in a non-threatening, friendly professorial tone – THANKS.
Thanks Griff, back to the basics of simple technique, makes so much sense.
Wonderful! As always. I’m a real fingers in the air guy. Wonderful point out, keep them on the board….thanks
Hi Griff, Thanks this is great advice as always. I have a busted left wrist which has been bolted together I find placing the 4 fingers on the bottom E challenging but one at a time its no problem whether ascending or descending. The other thing I just cannot do like I used to is the classic rock and roll bar chord shuffle the hand will not stretch like it used to. Best wishes Al
thanks Griff for this latest vid. I was doing the violin hold not even realizing it was causing my problem. I will now do the excersize till i perfect the correct position.
I will be doing this daily for a long time thank you
Thanks Griff, I’ve tried this before and gave up will try again hopefully I can get that wild 4th finger to behave, Thanks for the videos, they help a lot
John
I studied classical guitar and flamenco in my 20’s and learned these exercises. There is a little variation you can do on the ascending scale that makes it a bit more challenging but it too has a lot of benefit if you can master the moves.
The variation is: after you have reached the 4th fret on the 6th string, don’t lift all of your fingers to start the pattern on the 5th string. Lift the 1st finger to move to the 5th string while leaving the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers on the fret board on the 6th string. Then move the 2nd finger to the 5th string while leaving the 3rd and 4th fingers on the 6th string, repeat the process with the 3rd and 4th fingers.
It’s hard to do and the key is to do it slowly at first to get the hang of it. One of the benefits is it helps you to keep your fingers close to the finger board even when any particular finger is not being used at the time. This is particularly helpful for what I call “the fly away 4th finger” problem. I see a lot of players whose 4th finger is practically pointing straight up from the fret board when it is not in use. From a pure efficiency perspective, the closer your fingers stay to the fret board, the easier it is to get the fingers to the fret board when needed.
Watch any accomplished classical guitarist’s left hand. It appears to me moving effortlessly and the fingers are never very far away from the fret board! I know classical guitar “ain’t the blues”, but learning to keep the fingers closer to the fret board will help any style of guitar playing.
Thanks again griff
I have the bad habit of thumb facing stock,my issue is my fingers are not arched using the correct position is there anything I can do different, I can change knee and works better,but my problem has always been dead strings even on chords.yes I know drop wrist but it’s awkward
Hi Griff,
This a very helpful exercise to increase speed. Thanks
Please Griff, do a Guitar Technique for Blues Course. I will buy it now! 😄. Seriously though, technique something I want to improve. I am sure my lack of is holding back my playing. Unfortunately the internet is full of peopl teaching technique that is aimed at youngsters who want to shred. Not for me and generally not focused on what is needed for playing blues.
Griff is the man that can do this! How about it Griff?
My guitar instructor has me doing the same exercise using triplets. It has helped me with my picking hand lots.But I have developed that bad habit of my thumb coming up over the top of the neck. And when I try to keep it where it should be, everything falls apart. I know its a bad habit but having a hard time with it. Watching your video reminded me of my instructor pointing this flaw out to me. It’s somthing that just developed over time and now I feel that I’m gonna be stuck with it. I am aware of the issue but so hard to break away from bad habits. Thank you
Learning the basic how too is the key too playing as it should be and will better your playing as you do explain. My tempo is some times a issue in speed. We are not perfect.I will practice it. If you think your hand is weird you should see my left hand. You might be surprised I can play at all. Or at least what I can play. I think it was Robert Johnson that had his hand burned and two of his fingers were actually fused together. The man was truly good.
Hmmm, just like Django?
beginner stuff . a casual thing right leg . mel bay says left leg for country?
Think about going 124 then 134 forwards and backwards. A key thing I am trying out is not to hold the string too tightly relax the fingers that have just been played a note. If you do a gig that goes on for 3 hours your wrist and fingers will be thanking you the next day.
My guitar teacher taught me very similar exercise a few years ago and I saw results very quickly after I started doing it. Unfortunately, as you pointed out it’s easy to forget about it. Thanks for the reminder!
Great lesson. Tips are worth a million…Thank you sir! I will do these often.
Great for me…..too old, small hands, no time, arthritis, but what do I tell my nine year old grandson when he tells me his hands are too small…..even with a three quarter sized guitar? I’ll show him anyway and tell him to start at fret nine? Will that do it? Great stuff, as always.
Thanks Mr Hamlin,
Chris Roper
Nathan’s Grandad.
Thanks Griff. Good attention to detail in this… Looking forward to seeing where it goes and if I can get another 20%
I sure hope you’ll do a similar video showing proper techniques for blues playing as you described it. Eg. thumb-over, flatter fingers, better left hand muting. Seems many of the great blues players played that way and It’s something I struggle with.
great job thanks for the lesson
Awesome Griff,
I was lucky enough,
but hated it at the time ( many years ago)
I did study classical guitar and you nailed it on hand position. So critical .
I also played violin in grade and high school , again you nailed it.
Awesome lesson in technique.
Love it.
Cheers
learned versions of this years ago as warmup exercies…did more for me than any other exercise…thanks for reminding me of getting back to it…later.
cowboy
Tips like that goes a long way. Very helpful. Thanks!
Regarding the descending part of this exercise, I admit that I don’t understand the benefit of placing all 4 fingers on the string before playing the descending notes. Since it takes longer to place 4 fingers on a string than it does to place 1 finger, seems like this habit will slow me down, not speed me up. But if Griff says it helps, I’ll give it a spin!
Best wishes.
BEEN PLYING FOR OVER 50 YEARS. FIRST TIME I HAD FLAMINCO LESSIONS AT 12 YEARS OLD. I HAD TO DO THIS , BUT HAVE ALL FOUR FINGERS ON THE FRET BORAD WHEN I WENT BACK DOWN THE BROARD, IT WAS HARD AND FRUSTRATING. I DID THIS FOR 6 WEEKS OF LESSONS.
NOW I HAVE VERY BAD ARTRITIST IN MY LEFT HAND. I’M NOT AS FLEXABLE, BUT IT IS HARD TO PLAY IN PAIN.
NO EXCUSES, I KNOW!! THEN YOU DON’T KNOW ERIC CLPATON. HE PLAYED HIS LAST GIG AT THE FORUM. I DID SEE HIM STRUGGEL. HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH . HE HAS NERUOLICAL DAMAGE.
AGAIN, I LERANED THIS WHEN I WAS 12. THANKS GRIFF
Thanks Griff. I agree 100% with your advice. I know it works because it worked for me. Been doing it awhile and the exercise has improved my speed an accuracy a lot. Been playing over 25 years country and a little blue grass that long but need your great lessons to learn to play the blues. I did purchase Blues Unleashed a year ago.
Very helpful. Thanks Griff.
Nice lesson. Thanks!
I laughed as you said, “If you’ve done this before and stopped, do it again” Or close to that. I had done it and I Had gotten better but I had quit for more “entertaining stuff”. What seemed impossible–that classical “grip” became moderately comfortable, but being in a rush, I passed on it to get moving, even though it is imperative very high on the neck (especially acoustic) where that rock grip fails. I see from even that bit and your now talk, that I could benefit from revisiting that daily. I saw progress and stopped it. Why? Doesn’t matter. Time to go back. Thanks for the kick in the butt. You Rock…as always.
thanks going to try hard to work on this. Simple but effective.
Thanks Griff…
I will work on this but I must admit I have great difficulty on the higher frets even when the neck is right next to my neck. I’m playing a strat so that’s part of it but I have to stretch (a lot) even when the thumb is in the suggested position. Hopefully it gets easier!
Hi Griff,
Back to basics and I like this exercise. I always do a warm up Box 1 & 2 in different keys. But no great speed nor getting any better in speed maybe 40 BPM. This lesson has it nailed.
Going to give it a good try each day for 15 mins.
Thanks Griff
Michael -Sydney- Australia 18th April 2018.
Hey Griff, Watched this lesson 3 times to memorise it and NOW started seriously doing it on Friday 20th April and practicing it in front of the TV without the amp as well. Using my Strat.. I am now dedicated to get in down pat over next 29 days and onwards as a warm up. Eventually I will practice it on all my 7 guitars so I will be familiar when changing from Strat to tele to 335 semi hollow etc.
A Great wake up call as my speed was down around 40 BPM.
Thanks
Michael-Sydney-Australia 20th April 2018.
Nice one Griff, I got into this recently (found it on Art of Guitar) although I have been using Spider exe for ages occasionaly, but I have been warming up daily with this and it does work both with right and left hand.
I do this along with other exe’s, Scales, frags RH triplets and 16th’s for maybe 15-20min daily, currently running at about 144 BPM, and I can hear and feel the improvement in my playing.
I will never be good, and I think 144 is my limit but if you don’t try you don’t get.
Sounds boring but worth the effort especially if you can feel it when you are finished.
Griff , this lesson is very helpful to me , especially the thumb placement . I remember a couple years ago , you mentioned dropping your wrist to get some chords . Today’s lesson will help me . I will save this and refer back until I can do it . Thanks again for a great lesson . Mike Z.
Thanks Griff. It’s like with real estate…..location, location, location. I’m running up against the same speed/accuracy problem with Gypsy Jazz & Texas Swing playing. I’m guessing this technique’ll get me that extra percentage of both. Thanks again.
Hi Griff,
Thanks for your daily mails and lessons.
I have a question about picks.
There are picks of different sizes, soft, hard, etc.
After several years playing guitar, I still wonder which kind of pick to use. 🙂
Do you think pick type could have any influence on speed?
I’d like to get your comments on this, if appropriate.
Best Regards,
Javier (from Spain)
Javier, I think Griff normally uses the small black Jazz 111 picks. They give great control, but I use Ernie Ball Heavy picks, same as Eric Clapton has for many years, and find them great. I think ther Ernie Ball Heavies are a bit less that 1mm.
I do not know what is available in Spain. Perhaps you can find something similar to the Dunlop Jazz III picks? Ordering them over the Internet may or may not be practical, which is something that you will be aware of. Please let us know.
Wow that was pretty cool. Will start doing that exercise. You always come up with really cool ways to practice. I tell everyone your my teacher. I’ve been off my practicing do to worrying about my upcoming open heart surgery. Soon as it’s done I’ll get back in the groove and pick my guitar back up. Thanks Griff for all your teaching. You are one of a kind
I focus maybe too much on technique ,and not enough on making music,
Left brain,right brain.
Any suggestions there?
Admittedly,when I practice it revolves generally around shapes ,chords,notes…
I played a lot of golf really got involved in the practice not so much the playing,
I got pretty good never to expert or elite level,same thing with the guitar, I have gotten proficient , but just not to where I can play
Can just play,?
Best
Great lesson, always nice to be able to see the little things put so simply reminds me of a course I started and then never completely understand at that particular time.thanks again