1 ESSENTIAL tip to instantly improve your guitar playing

[@EnriqueNuesch]

I am already in tension just for looking the pattern

[@RickGraham]

IT's okay! That means that you more aware already. Recognising the problem is the first step to rectifying the problem.

[@justinburdettemusic]

Rick Graham, I struggle immensely with excess tension. How do you balance a light left hand with hard picking? I feel like I can relax my left hand to a degree but it buzzes when I pick harder.

[@Danny_Aniss]

Justin Burdette Oddly enough I found one of the best ways to practice this is actually using drum sticks , instead of practicing it on your guitar. ( use drumsticks fingers not with you wrist) It gives your body a better chance to build the muscle memory with you having sticks and you can clearly hear the slightest difference in tension, and just practice simple rudiments alternating tension between right and left hand. Hope it helps you!

[@nedim_guitar]

@Garry Marshall I just asked for the same thing, 3 years after you! 😄

[@nedim_guitar]

@Garry Marshall Yeah, I can totally relate to that LOL

[@OlaEnglund]

I never tried that! Very interesting, keep up these videos man love them!

[@colinparks619]

Me too man mega inspiring

[@lockedowng]

Ola Englund I think you have been doing alright without it Ola!

[@rickmartin7674]

That is some props right there. Grats Rick. Love your vids as well Ola, keep up your awesome work :)

[@viivic.9136]

Ola the sweet

[@mike104740]

Oi

[@bryceland8245]

Most people would just start over if they coughed right at the beginning of the video. This guy don't play by no rules

[@alexmurphy5289]

Guy? This is a talking guitar

[@acecarolino101]

@@alexmurphy5289 hahaha you crackpot

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

it adds character to the video

[@RustySpoons6490]

LOLOLOL!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣

[@annaadams6576]

Always learn new techniques from you Rick... Thanks again. lol. You Rock ! ~

[@n3kkaguitar]

We are always doing extremely well out there, when you upload videos)

[@jdimeleegoku2971]

One of the best and most important lessons I have ever seen

[@McNastySlam]

I watched this about a year ago and have done this every time I pick up my guitar. It’s helped my endurance and efficiency tremendously. Thanks a ton Rick!

[@josephrusso7069]

Thank you for putting in your testimony. It makes me want to apply these principles even more.

[@gafflord2684]

been playing for 10 years self taught, watched countless videos after I hit a dead end in my progress just to try and break back into a good rhythm of steady improvement but none of them really acknowledged this, honestly every word was like a wake up call, cheers Rick

[@TrueLink1]

Thanks you so much for posting a video about this subject. I am in University right now as a Viola Performance major, and jokes aside, tension is still something that doesn't get addressed enough. Students definitely need to learn that moving from a relaxed tensionless position will be infinitely faster than moving from a tense one. I have students clench their fist and try to open just a finger or two just to try and illustrate. Tension is a major problem. I think there were 3 colleagues of mine who began to suffer from tendinitis just last semester alone. There is a stigma out there that we need to be extremely hard on ourselves and push ourselves through our practice, and while that may be true about dedication and perseverance, it can not be true of tension if there is going to be significant progress made

[@cnutella9947]

I'm always so impressed with the connection between your right and left hand. I never realized this was such a big part of it. Thanks for this!

[@stuartmckay9105]

Glad to hear you're doing well Rick!

[@cjdonald1983]

Good words Rick! Jaimie Andreas is a mainly classical guitar player who really has majored on eliminating excess tension in playing. She has a website AND is on youtube, but her books are the motherload. She strips everything back to basics and teaches the most important techniques for playing with as little tension as possible. She is worth checking out! PS. in case you were wondering, no, I dont have any connection with her, this is an unbiased assessment!:)

[@s0cks1985]

I bought her book too. It still took me a good year almost to really appreciate and understand the techniques (I had a lot of bad habits) but the results have been amazing. Using the weight of the arm to apply the pressure has made playing almost effortless on my steel string acoustic guitar. It's almost magical and I'm so excited moving forward now. Even bar chords are effortless.

[@guitarnoir8842]

Rick, thank you for this video. As a classical guitarist, it's the most critical part of technique that I teach my students about. Every musician should focus on relaxing.

[@YngtchieMusic]

Now this one really stopped me dead in my tracks, and got my looking at my playing a whole different way. Been applying too much tension without realizing it for years now, as it happens. Hats off to (Rick) Graham.

[@roberthrvatin7088]

I have never seen a tutorial video that has been more helpful than this one. After trying this out I feel like notes play themselves. You mr. are the best teacher.

[@theweightlifted]

A Wise Jazz Master once told me... “All of music is tension and resolution.” And just when I thought my mind was already blown, he said... “Really... All of life is tension and resolution.” 🤯

[@chusssMusic]

I have thought about this but never actually practiced it daily or even regularly, it just that sometimes it feels like magic when you apply that optimum level or energy required to play effortlessly but was never able to tell that was the trick. Great explanation and demonstration. Thanks Rick.

[@Qartoffeln1]

It’s amazing how effortless it seems when you play, man. Question there: when picking it’s clear that we can choose the tension we apply with the left hand until the sound comes clear; however, doesn’t hammering-on require much more tension into the strings precisely because there is no picking? I suppose that the same exercise from the beginning applies until we find that right tension? Thanks for the great lessons, Rick. You’re truly an inspiration for many.

[@minkorrh]

I absolutley love the fact that so many of these little tips and tricks I've managed to discover on my own. Nice to get the affirmation that what is working for me is the right track to awesome.

[@AmonOfTheSahelijos]

this is such an important concept to keep in mind when practicing. sometimes people will harp on practicing slow and staying relaxed without actually explaining why

[@TobyKBTY]

I recently started being much more conscious with my left hand tension when it comes to sweeping, and I swear it was the missing piece after all those fruitless years of trying to sweep. Accuracy and speed have improved massively in just a year and I started incorporating the same loose tension methods to my other practice routines and my hands are thanking me everyday for it!

[@annetteprince7536]

As a professional I agree that players often overlook their legato. What made me able to do this is my background with sweep picking. I noticed the arpeggio sweep up you did at the last of the line. And sweep picking also leads to proper pick slating techniques. When I developed my sweeping I got super fast. Now I’m working on the legato . When I seen you line at fast speed it reminded me of the old Richie Kotzen stuff he used to do. Great vid!!!! Wish they where more players that really sharpen their skills. I work on mine hours every day

[@cbeserra]

Did anyone else rewind the fast picking part at 5:54 when Rick hit warp 10? OMG

[@ashwanisharma8561]

Chris B NOPE.. I was ready for that.. :D

[@rickmartin7674]

Yep. That's a little bit of guitar heaven right there.

[@senorallen9938]

Chris B It's all practice and muscle memory, practice the pattern all day and I bet at the end of the day you'll get it!

[@xfuego666]

Chris B what scale was he using?

[@mikepshena]

That's still super slow for what rick can do lol

[@Sean.Tyler.]

Concepts like this are what helps me learn guitar something I never realized that I think a lot of people should also know is the string height if it’s way to high it’s super hard to "shred."

[@victordeandrade5286]

Rick, these types of videos are so helpful man, don't know if you know just how much. This here changed my playing, took me to another level. Thank you.

[@AntohinAndrej]

it's T H I C C here

[@pistolpete7280]

LOL

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

I’ve thought about that concept, but never heard about that until you mentioned it. It makes sense.

[@redacteurpp]

This lesson goes for all of life, not just for guitar. Thanks for the eye-opener man, this is important stuff!

[@benoitfleury8487]

Man, your words are pure gold. Thank you for keeping this channel so awesome

[@zealfer]

Thanks Mr. Rick Graham. I'll keep this in mind.

[@Samuelee97]

one of the best video lessons ever. rick i would love to study with you you are seriously an incredible teacher. thank you

[@jackrobinson3106]

RIck after two days of practicing this advice my play has already cleaned up, I've been way too aggressive with my picking and the excess movement has been slowing down my progress. Feels like a hurdle has been overcome. Many thanks!

[@junehonda9062]

I would like to add Japanese subtitles in this video.

[@yungm3m331]

This is exactly what I have been after all these years Rick, this is the key to that Dank Rick finger Tone! 😎😎😎

[@vigaren]

maybe the best technique video on youtube! incredible smart and true that no one talks about it!

[@Zootallure]

Outstanding piece of advice. Makes a huge difference.

[@dcottee]

Brilliant! That has instantly improved the speed of my left hand over the fretboard. Thanks Rick!!

[@pjhunton]

Nice tip, I actually identified this issue with my playing but this vid has helped me address it

[@askartakraw]

My fav guitar channel.. thank you Rick.. I learn a lot from your lessons

[@michaelyork4554]

I learned this the hard way when I was always trying to play barre chords, which prematurely ended my practice sessions. Finally I opted to only practice runs and scales and I noticed that I was always moving toward a feather touch to get my speed up, so precision picking makes you learn this and then I could go back and play chords with the same mindset. I agree with economy picking, but every guitarist should practice individually picked notes as fast as they can to make the brain learn that level of precision, even if you plan to use hammer ons and pull offs to achieve the same sound. Muscle Memory is phenomenal. Thanks Rick

[@Tikktator]

this had such an enormous impact on my thinking, especially explaining the delay between hand and brain! thank you!

[@TobyKBTY]

But seriously, this makes so much sense. This is why my fingers seem to hurt way faster on certain days compared to others. It isn't enough to just warm up, we all need to be waaay more conscious of the our finger tension. Thanks for the tip!

[@ArklayT103]

You're right. This topic honestly is not talked about in our guitar community as much as it should be. I remember Steve Vai mentioning it briefly in an interview, but just discovered it recently on my own, and wow...what a difference! Great explanation and video :)

[@mrmisterman999]

I've played guitar for 30 years and just came across this after buying a cheap Chinese guitar. The zero feet keeps the action low so I dont have to kill the strings. Using a super light touch helps so much

[@ESPSJ]

insane advice here, one of the most important things. I instinctively pressed harder thinking it would give me a louder note, but it doesn't. That comes from the picking hand which i wish i understood when i was learning guitar. Great stuff Rick.

[@rdshred4]

After 25 years I changed strap position and ended up with tendinitis in my arm, this video is fantastic, I was gripping the neck far to hard with the lower strap position, always worth looking at the small things like this!

[@ronniecoffey9945]

it's like another level of control !! great lesson, thx again for all your training & insight

[@milesharris335]

Thank you so much for all of your videos especially this one. I have been working on controlling tension and this was exactly what I needed to see and hear today. My fingers thank you.

[@MrArchie800]

I consider myself as quite an advanced player and this is something I've totally forgotten so thanks very much!! I'll be practicing tomorrow!

[@AllanGildea]

Cheers Rick, you're as good a teacher as you are a player.

haven't really thought about that discipline before, i will now, thanks Rick!

[@nickpilla7998]

I’ve been an intermediate player for a while now and I’m trying to get myself to be advanced. Thanks for this

[@TheLittleHouseStudios]

Great tip, I've been playing for years and have a long way to go on my solo playing but a friend of mine suggested this to me about tension and it has helped tremendously. Thanks for the great video.

[@lucaprovinciali2493]

Rick,i'm doin' eeeeeeexxxtreeeemlyyyy well:i'm a novice,and today i have been deep in practice and try to relax...........incredible in a moment everything has changed,all so smooth and i noticed even right hand tend to be more relaxed,so the exs will be part of my daily routine,you're an eeeexxxxtreeeemlyyyy good teacher and you're plaiyng is terryfyin'...so many thanks!!!!

[@GlennWallaceMusic]

I'm only 4 minutes in but I think so far this is brilliant, and such a simple idea. Definitely something I'll need to pass along to my students. My hand already feels better after practicing some of my more difficult warmups. I only recently subscribed to this channel, wish I'd done it years ago. So much good content.

[@stephenbell8337]

Thanks Rick. Very helpful for all levels.

[@russjchandra]

Thank you. This is what i need and overlook for a long time.

[@Rouwiinator]

This is very true what immediately helped my playing is when I think about that the string never is really supposed to touch the fretboard. Every time i kept that in mind somethings just clicked and things seemed to work a little easier.

[@monnemann]

I've only played a couple of years but this came to my mind a few months back. And as you mentioned it's very easy to forget if you aren't self aware 100% when you play. Seems like a great tip to start of your sessions applying this! I will definatelly do it from now on. Great video 👍.

[@unfetteredaxes1032]

Rick I need this more than anything!!!!!

[@MrLuismizraji]

Wonderful, the result is immediate and incredible. Thanks Rick!

[@robertmills9767]

This is great advice. I've been applying this to my practice routine and it has really transformed my playing. Especially when performing live as I often tense up...

[@J0a0Francisc0]

Watching your videos make me wanna play the guitar again. I will.

[@Empathy37]

THANK YOU. This is the #1 issue that's holding my playing back.

[@ShemFaith]

awesome and great revelation! You are another level... i always enjoy and learn so much from every single of your videos... keep inspiring keep rocking...

[@uglijimus]

this is so right. I don't have this problem with shredding, but when playing thrash, especially alternate picking palm-muted open Es or As it is so difficult to keep speed, accuracy WHILE keeping no tension in your wrist.

[@The11eleven]

I beg to differ on this theory! It is the variance of tension that gives the notes we play soul! That's why it's been said that "tone is in the fingers!"! Sure, practice with all levels of tension, but don't deny getting tense and aggressive with the neck/strings

[@serseriherif9530]

In electric guitar you don't really have the concept of dynamics like on acoustic or classical guitars as you adjust the volume/add distortion etc. After that just 'getting' the note is mostly enough

[@iamdankdaddy370]

Miran Öztürk nah mans there’s a lot of dynamics involved

[@KaninTuzi]

@@serseriherif9530 On the contrary, most of the time the little details are amplified with electric.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@John W : I think you're confusing tense with aggressive. They are not the same thing. Or maybe just not taking into account Rick isn't saying not to use dynamics in your playing. You can get a much more aggressive picking attack with a lighter touch than any player can get by flailing their entire arm around, or gripping the pick too tight. In fact, if you pay close attention to the actual sound of each note Rick plays, not how fast it is, you'll notice he has a particularly aggressive sound. Reason being, cleanly picked notes always sound better, and a cleaner sound is always a more aggressive sound than one that is not so clean. The technique he is showing is necessary for being able to play fast and clean.

[@cerrito7806]

The best 9:46 lesson I've ever watched - and I certainly can play - but this is NEVER talked about. Thanks Rick!

[@jayaristonlim4244]

A Generous Guitarist who teaches his knowedge❤️🙂👍

[@sandroperette4143]

this guitar is absolutely beautiful.....I want one with this color

[@xandrewbrown]

Cool lesson. I have bad tennis elbow (and I've never played a game of tennis in my life) from my overboard finger pressure.

[@lionPGF]

Very useful lesson !Thank you Rick!

[@LuckyPkerz]

Hi there guys it's W R I C K H A I R

[@Miserysux]

Tomas Klimaitis u

[@Bruhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Tomas Klimaitis nice

[@aliatruman]

THICC HAIR.

[@valavaaramusic]

I’ve noticed this over the years. And as my forearms suffer more from tension and I need to massage them more, I’m excited to pay attention and practice this more too! Should save my arm muscles too!

[@BluesInSeattle]

Gotta love that single coil buzz haha. Cool exercise, thanks.

[@jz4901]

A critical lesson! Thanks RG!

[@PartialS]

Brilliant video Rick, thank you! I'm constantly battling my hand cramping up some days when I practise after just a few minutes, yet others I can practise for hours without any pain. Never thought it could be because I was using too much tension.

[@The_Musical_Cartograph]

I've always love the way your fingers move effortlessly on the strings, it's like you are just caressing them, it's just beautiful i've got this trick from Tom hess actually ! but there is also the right hand tension to care about !! i found out that getting the right thickness for my pick allows me to keep it in control it's thick enough so i can use different level of tensions and dynamism but it's light enough so i can feel the moments when i hold it to strong, because it's slightly deforming

[@MyGuitartime]

Holy cow!! You have hit on something that I am struggling with!!! This is a great video! Thanks!

[@TheRye07]

One of the best videos i ever seen

[@rickhardt2237]

Best lesson of the year

[@mandel4065]

I think this just changed my game, thank you Rick! I think I used way too much pressure because I'm used to having to apply so much force to hammer on / pull off. Everyone's starting out with bad technique so you have to use much more force than necessary and it sticks with you.

[@Tubetart]

Well said Rick, yeah I def dig in too much, and def need to follow this lesson! Cheers :)

[@wesleytrott6397]

That was an excellent lesson! That was surprisingly a lesson I've never seen before and very helpful. I've had surgery on my left wrist 2 times to remove ganglion cysts that were a direct result of guitar playing. I know I used too much tension back then. And that caused the inflammation and eventual injury in my wrist that lead to me getting ganglion cysts. This lesson is very valuable. Thank you Rick!

[@sunnyshahi3469]

Amazing stuff Rick,really new to me..will surely gonna apply..thanks for sharing these stuffs.

[@TheWetToaster]

It's so coincidental that you made a video on this, I've very recently made a mental note to myself that I am indeed too tense when I play. Once I was able to relax myself, everything that was technically demanding became so effortless. I've had it in the back of my mind ever since, but this is a great way to measure it, and incorporate it into my practice. Thanks for addressing this, Rick!

[@ErayAltin]

Great tips and great playing! Enjoyed it very much despite the single-coil noise which I really can't stand...

[@alexanderdeeds4100]

Amazing. I love your teaching!

[@SameBasicRiff]

pretty sure i just saw a video of you talking about this (black beanie?) that came out like a year ago or so. blew my mind. this DOES need repeated reminders. thank you!

[@brettlingle]

This video is brilliant! I was just thinking about this today.

[@jch5150]

Great lesson Rick. This concept of getting myself to play live as relaxed and light on the touch as I do in my home office has really been on my mind as I get ready for my next gig. I have a tenancy to tense up when I solo which really messes me up. I do wish the practice scale you use here was tabbed out.

[@harrisfrankou2368]

so true working on down strokes i tense up at my bpm threshold!!

[@dukundigital5176]

Awesome tip! Thank you Rick.

[@semilivesixstringstrumist5595]

YES! So true. It had been a problem for me for a long time. In the beginning I did not make aware the problem. I caught it later on and still fight with it. I hung a sign on my guitar stand to remind me everytime I play. You don't notice at first. And later on it is what is stopping you to excel. A major factor that separates guitar players. What makes you a side lead and rhythm player to a front and center lead player. Lol. But that doesn't matter now as much as it used to. Guitar has fallen back a lot in most genre"s. But with all that said, Heavy grippers have more feel! Yeah we do and you know it! lol. The bottom line is if you want a great band? Get all heavy grippers! Lol

[@FedeOttalagano]

Amazing concept! I'll try that one. Thank you

[@alancosens]

Too much squeeze was always a problem for me. I found that going to very light strings helped me break this because too much tension would push them sharp when fretting, so I had no choice but to constantly keep my touch light.

[@benjaminvandenbroek8316]

You're truly a revolutionary guitarist!

[@willgunawan4232]

So I took some time off guitar playing due to schoolwork, and getting back at it just last night (thanksgiving break ftw). I was confused as to why I couldn't play the songs (that I wrote and recorded!) up to speed, even struggling at 3/4 actual tempo. Then I remembered this video, tried it, and just like that, I got my speed back. Amazing. Thank you Rick!!!

[@kylejudkins754]

I'm not quite sure why there are so many trolls in the comments. nice lesson, I still remember watching your Glasgow kiss solo video a billion years ago over and over and over again

[@pipschannel1222]

That's some very good advice there! Especially for shredders/metal players! I myself are a pretty aggresive player, which is good for rhythm riffs and releasing some negative energy if warmed up correctly. But for soloing one needs to be able to play as gentle as possible to be able to stay in control, otherwise we'll all sound just like Dave Mustaine soloing (which isn't bad at all, but just a bit sideways and crampy) ;-) I'm getting a bit of a Malmsteen vibe here (sc strat hum included) ;-)

[@jasonHam-x6o]

I remember Yngwie Malmsteen briefly mentioned this on his REH video but he related it more to playing on a scalloped fret guitar. I have noticed that my tension is to high. Thanks for focusing on this seemingly minor but important issue!

[@kungfuman82]

j I play metal and I'm always more tense than I should be because my brain equates tension with aggression. I've been on a Rick Graham bender and his stuff works! I'm not any faster but I feel I've gotten a little cleaner and it's easier to play.

[@Sorc47]

I think that a scalloped fretboard forces you to use as little tension as possible, because if you press too hard, the notes go out of tune.

[@jasonHam-x6o]

Matouš Vokál exactly, making light tension required!