Fretting Hand Efficiency 101 - Don't use your fingers!

A recap on some topics I have already covered with a new format. Let me know what you think!

[@hanyzaky3284]

Thanks for great tip, Your are just second one all over KZbin who share that we have to use the arm weight / shoulder muscle to fret a note . That is most important tip because this tip is the key to play the bar chords and legato vey effective and effortless. And that is why we see classic guitar player play master piece easily. That is add hidden power to play fast and clean with no tension. I used to stat warming up without using my thumb at all for couple of minutes to prevent thumb stopping arm weight then I play normally.

[@gravfielddrive]

Very nice, counter intuitive, but definitely a superior technique! Once you feel it, it is undeniable!

[@josueesteban7783]

Thanks! I regret not dealing with tensing up when I started. Now it has become a bad habit for me. I know it’s fixable but it requires a lot of conscious work. I like to watch your videos and Tom Quayle videos too. Not a lot of people in YT teach this type of stuff.

[@Kerriben]

Glad you enjoyed it! I also found it difficult until I forced myself to play on a super light string gauge for a while - 008s really help with that because any excess force bends them out of tune!

[@jfo3000]

​@Kerriben This! I've been telling another guitarist to set up a guitar with 8s or 9s, for the longest time, to get the feel and motions of a light touch ingrained. He plays 10s...so even 9s would be better.

[@topisantakivi1512]

An awesome lesson!

[@jimmccall8030]

This is a great lesson Ben!

[@Falestal]

Interesting. Since I started practicing my legatoplaying more than ever before (also after going back and listening to Shawn Lane the last couple of weeks😃) I resently started to notice a change in my handmovment and how I used my hand movement more then my fingers. It has taking my playing to a new level. This is absolutely something to share and deserves more exploration. Thank you for bringing up this way of playing without/or with as little tension as possible, and trying to explain it👍😃

[@-Atmos1]

Not picking , more using technique in the fretted hand , amazing fluidity .

[@garyholland403]

Interesting, I'll have to give this technique a go!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I’ve gotten great at not using my fingers to play guitar. I just work all the time and the guitar sits on the stand. 😂

[@calvinevans6347]

Sarcasm. I get it.

[@anthonyludington8320]

This is super interesting. 🤘🏻 thanks for sharing I'll give it a try.

[@AaronMichaelAscencio]

You are awesome!

[@Collartie]

excellent observations and techniques

[@DaveZnoise]

Need to take this one in small bites. Using my fingers is SO ingrained right now. I like the format.

[@dallassurfersclub8872]

Kind of like holding a shake weight. Doods should have a lot of experience with this one.

[@martinrhodes1619]

Wow - the best video on this topic!

[@nigelnunes]

Thanks for this video Ben. I think these aspects of legato go unspoken of by the virtuosos of our instrument owing to these being something they worked out unconsciously during their development. What you're saying here definitely seems to align with many of their thoughts. During a clinic, I remember Guthrie stating that his fingers never left the string - at the time, I was very confused by this. In other places, he mentions also that his aim was to execute passages by using up fewer calories (i.e. prioritising staying relaxed) than chasing BPM increments on a metronome. In any case, I think both anecdotes hint at what you're saying: there's more happening there in terms of their chosen motions to the end of economy than simply training the fingers (and the brain) to fire or 'press down' faster. From interviews, I think Guthrie always advocates for properly executed pull-offs as a means for generating sound than hammers, anyhow (as you've suggested in this video). Thanks for such an insightful video; I really can't wait for more of your content and to hear your thoughts on this topic as legato is something I've struggled with (and continue to do so) for years. Your technique and fluidity are inspiring.

[@Kerriben]

Thanks man! Glad you found the video useful. Guthrie is spot on (obviously) about technique imo, and one of very few virtuosos who I think actually knows what he’s doing. This isn’t just a guitar related problem either - watch someone like Usain Bolt in slow-motion and it’s astounding how relaxed but also efficient every motion is. Chasing speed by ‘forcing the issue’ can get results, but those results often end up in being good at one very specific motion - Someone who forces 6 note per string alternate picking gets good at that specific lick, not alternate picking generally! There’s a lot wrong with how we approach technique for musical purposes but it’s definitely another video. Frank Gambale is another great example of someone who is inimitable but also didn’t really practice technique for techniques sake.

[@nigelnunes]

@@Kerriben Absolutely, getting certain hammers/pull of motions to feel natural has been a real monkey of mine -to the point I've often wondered whether there is a genetic or (being in my later twenties) neuroplasticity component to it; I mean, there is a real physicality aspect to playing at faster tempos, after all. FG's a monster, his swept lines almost seem to play themselves.

[@johnletitia]

very good topic; always hand tension is the issue for me, and it slows you down and sounds tense to ruin the sound

[@BluesJammer69]

nice stuff Ben!

[@danielmorales7359]

Son muy buenas tus recomendaciones.Felicitaciones por tu trabajo como profesor.Que pasa con la técnica en el.jazz, podrías hablar un poco sobre el estilo y la firma de tocar e improvisar siguiendo estas recimendaciones técnicas..Saludos desde Uruguay ( escribo en español takvez pueda usar el traductor de google)

[@yoshikigrg8]

Can you show the beginning lick in slow speed? Great lesson.

[@Arock1984]

Loving your videos. You should have more and also more viewers. Also, I was wondering why you removed the strap button?

[@ryanl3260]

nice!

[@calvinevans6347]

Teach me how to bend without interfering with the other strings.

[@Verde8602]

How to apply that wirh combination of string bending?

[@sgringo]

There is amazing fluidity to your playing. Is some of this due to your apparent use of economy picking?

[@seraphym6764]

Question, are you pulling your arm in and out on every legato note? Or just on every 3 note phrase.I'm trying to apply this but it's really awkward to me.

[@deeforty]

This is my problem with speed, In guna study this video, also any other tips on this subject would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[@jonathanstrand2474]

Ok, I kinda get it, economy of motion, but what happens if you want to bend or do a double stop, I cannot back and forth pick well at all, but when I hammer 5 or 6 notes consecutively, my hand is looking more like yours does here. I’m aware tension is the enemy, but for some moves you definitely need it. Expand on this idea please 🙂

[@Kerriben]

Bending is the one motion we actually need tension for - the trick is getting rid of it as soon as the bend is over and not maintaining the excess tension after any bending lick you have played - something I'll do a video on for sure!

[@enderninja98]

For using your shoulder muscles, are you generating this backwards pressure constantly or are there momentary lapses during changes in position? Given that this is such a large muscle group this seems like kind of a pain to isolate to that degree of accuracy which is why I ask.

[@Kerriben]

I think of it as pulling my fingers into the fretboard from the tricep with a really short ‘twitching’ motion. Again there’s no forcing the issue but yes there isn’t constant pressure here!

[@Kerriben]

Best thing to do to work it out is try and do a repeated trill as fast as possible and you’ll find that you naturally stop using finger motion to try and get the speed in favour of a different motion, which is what I’m using - from there its just a matter of building in some control over it.

[@EyesOpen369]

Theres no rule for guitar playing. Just do what you love

[@Steve-hd5tn]

There are rules of physics and biomechanics. Follow those and you’ll be better able to do what you love. Discipline is freedom.

[@TheTommyData]

Guess I’m dumb. I don’t understand this at all

[@fallingsky9242]

Yes 😂😅

[@roscmon]

I don't either. If he's just using his shoulder I would expect his forearm to slightly resemble a jackhammer. Plus it LOOKS like he IS lifting his fingers, I mean, he almost has to otherwise it seems like his fingers would all hit the strings simultaneously so instead of getting the note on the 4th fret, he would get the note on the 7th where his other finger was resting. I'm going to try it but I think I'm missing key information here.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Economy of movement.

[@ic_1234]

which amp do u use here?

[@Kerriben]

It's probably an RD compact origin effects pedal running into a cab sim - usually use the York Audio stuff IR wise.

[@robertstan2349]

great now stand up in low light and play that while moving around and looking cool 😂 be careful ppl, play how you practice: don't end up just running scales

[@Kerriben]

Performance is tricky for everyone regardless of technique! Completely agree on that - it takes a lot of experience to be able to perform freely with all the techniques you can do in a room on your own.