TECHNIQUE MISTAKES 89% of Guitarists make & how to fix them!

Let's work on guitar technique today! Get my 30-Day Legato Course and all your practice files for the lesson here: www.patreon.com/bernth
In this video, I want to show you some important fretting hand technique mistakes and exercises that will allow you to greatly clean up your legato playing - make sure to check out the latest course on Patreon to learn more about it :)
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00:00 Intro
00:34 Finger Technique Basics
00:58 Exercise #1
01:21 Exercise #2
01:34 Exercise #3
02:40 The Worst Mistake
03:36 Tip #1
04:23 Tip #2
05:31 Exercise #4
06:30 Exercise #5
Thanks so much to all my Patrons for making these videos possible!
#bernth #guitar​​​​​​​​​ #guitarlesson
What awaits you in this video: legato, guitar technique, hammer on, pull off, guitar exercises, finger exercises guitar, bernth, guitar lesson, and much more :)

[@deadseveredheads]

Bernth, you are a blessing, my friend. So many people in our community are “gate keeper” or like to hoard and safeguard information. You give it out freely and seek to genuinely want to and enjoy passing along techniques and helpful tips and information. It’s amazing to see you work so hard to lift others up. THANK YOU!!! Cheers!

[@bruzanHD]

MAB is also very generous with his knowledge

[@GrimReaper-xm5sb]

There are gatekeeping guitar teachers? Yea no

[@deadseveredheads]

@@GrimReaper-xm5sb Elaborate, since you seem to have met every guitar teacher on the planet.

[@kingsukdeysarkar8095]

Photosynthesis

[@gixerjas]

Using my thumb, or the palm of my hand under the first knuckle joint, as an anchor is a technique error I've been aware of for a while. Thanks for the reminder that I need to fix it! I've learnt so much from your Patreon content, keep up the excellent work 🤘

[@msihcs8171]

I'm having so much trouble unlearning that, I'm considering exclusively playing my 7-string because it should force me to fix the issue.

[@carpplumber]

Bernth, I've been a mediocre player for 25 years (off and on) your videos are a HUGE inspiration and ive been practicing more now than when I had all the time in the world as a teenager. Keep em coming. Thanks

[@linkshield1347]

Thumb position has been a problem for me when doing exercises as it has killed me from doing long term progress since I would curl it and it would be slightly painful to continue so thank you for the wonderful advice. You really are one of the best teachers out their for self-taught users. 👍

[@maidenfreak9471]

Man! It's just this tiny detail about the thumb and it makes it easier to sound fluid and tight. Thank you so much!

[@mikem6108]

I’ve been working on the first two exercises the past few days and I already notice a huge difference - totally opened my fretting hand up. You rock Bernth 🤘🏻

[@braxal6983]

Bernth, thank you so much that you show the back of the neck for thumb placement and helping us not to do the grip death on the neck. I suffer from the death grip a ton and need major help.

[@vicjames2743]

I’ve been locking my thumb all along going from low E to high E and vs versa. I’ll learn the method you have shown and it really makes sense to me now to move with my fingers.

[@Bernthguitar]

Not satisfied with your finger technique and legato skills? Get my 30-Day Legato Course and all your practice files for this lesson here: www.patreon.com/bernth 🤘

[@sonkegrewe4111]

Bernth du bist son Boss. Ich spiel seit 15 Jahren und trotzdem gewinnst du diese Wetten. Hab deinen Channel vor 3 Wochen entdeckt und hab in der Zeit so einen harten Boost bekommen wie schon lange nicht und mich wieder ganz neu in mein Instrument verliebt.

[@dhyde9780]

Your videos are amazing. I had surgery on my hand and these examples are really helping me get back into playing.

[@brianmagana4478]

I don't know how many times I've come back to this video. I watch it and I practice for a week, focusing on hammer-on and pull-off clarity and accuracy, relaxing fingers and positioning thumb along with middle finger, shifting up and back down the fretboard, and I can't believe I've improved so much. I started playing guitar about 18-19 year ago and I NEVER got this technique down. As a result, I was never able to play any technical stuff, so I put the guitar down for years and rarely touched it. I don't know why, but I decided to pick up my guitar recently, perhaps because it's still a fairly new year, and really practice and learn some good habits and techniques instead of just doodling or learning random songs. I came across your channel and for whatever reason, I thought: "yeah, let's try this stuff out, let's see if we can get somewhere in a week". I started seeing results within two-three days and I can't stop. I've been practicing consistently, everyday, for about three weeks now, and I've gotten to a point where I can actually focus on improving my speed instead of my note accuracy and clarity and basic stuff like that. It all seems so easy once your hands and fingers are strong, yet relaxed when you play. It is so much easier to pick up new tidbits and get up to speed. I only wish I had sat down maybe 10 years ago and just focused on getting this down first instead of trying to jump into the impossible, failing, and giving up. When I watch other guitarists play, I don't feel intimidated anymore and discouraged, in fact, I feel inspired to get closer to their level of fluidity and play music as they do. Oh man, you've been an absolute life-changer, Bernth. I can't thank you enough for your channel, for your content, and for your willingness to share what you know with the world. I wish you nothing but success and happiness and I thank you for reigniting my love for music and enthusiasm in playing guitar again.

[@darthwoopv573]

Well crap, I just realized the "snapping" of the pull offs with my fingers last night!! Now I have some exercises, thanks Teach!!! Early Axemas present!!

[@TcJv1213]

Ever since I started playing guitar I was making this mistake and I didn’t know why it was so hard for me to play even simple scales, thank you for this video it’s helping me a lot

[@elpilloyelburro]

Damn man. Your videos are amazing helpful. I really love them, I can't get tired of watching you explaining how I can get better, you also motivated me. I'm really thankful.

[@kanetolley]

moving thumb along with the fingers is wild i’ve never even thought to do it

[@beastbeatsgamers6065]

I just got my guitar a month and a half ago and your videos helps so much thanks man you’re the best

[@slimcastillo8786]

Another informative lesson to add to My arsenal, thanks Bernth! You're simply amazing!

[@dilipvivekrocks]

I instantly clicked by watching the thumbnail, I knew it was going to be helpful and as expected it was what I needed to see. Thanks for sharing. Subscribed.

[@painkiller9404]

I think this really made sense in my mind always, but I wasn't aware of what the solution was. Just the other day I was playing some patterns and noticed, as you, they were waaay easier on the lower strings. I've also noticed that I do this, but only sometimes on certain licks I don't for some reason, I tense up and grip the neck when I don't do it for most other licks. Gonna spam this now, thanks so much. The fact that this is free knowledge is why I love the internet.

[@godchickla7295]

Helpful, useful and fun as always! 🔥 ❤️

[@junkbakalraket9490]

Hey bernth im subscribe now . Im 10 years guitarist and now your my savior berth i searched about alternate pickings technique in KZbin videos but you nailed it bernth .im here in Philippines now . Im your 1fan berth godbless

[@angeljavier9541]

You always giving work .. good details with the thumb excelent 🤩

[@edthejester]

Finger. Great lesson Bernth, thank you so.much! Petition to always show your thumb camera from now on haha!

[@hideouslyugly1361]

You share with people what makes you grow that’s so awesome

[@Robbie28]

Not sure if ya celebrate it, but merry Christmas. Thank you for your videos. They are the best gift we could ask for.

[@Anton_the_Vampire]

Thanks, Bernth. I always find your tips helpful. Fun fact, I had to change my pressing hand technique after about 5 years of playing because it gave me tendinitis in my hand & arm. I adopted the rolling hand movement, which you describe as a mistake. It may not have helped my speed, but I never got tendinitis again because I wasn't over bending my wrist all the time. Looks like it's time (some 30 yrs later) for another change. This is cool. Let's see what it brings.

[@redmetalpanda9051]

Wow this video helped me a lot. Also Ive always seen articles and videos showing a pretty horizontal thumb placement and it just doesnt work for me and I see it can work with a more vertical thumb.

[@maxkelter3561]

Great tips Bernth! From the master shredder of guitar. Thank- you. Question is one has to know the scales beforehand - really good, so your hands know where to go.

[@rickclick8359]

Another excellent video, will check my thumb position. At higher tempos with a low action you can get into hammers both up and down without pulling off, sounds the same, got this from a Rick Graham video.

[@ashndust351]

OMG. as someone just starting to learn the guitar this is a genuine revelation. i have a feeling this is going to save me a lot of frustration

[@AliMateen]

Bernth you are cool man. You really helped me a lot building up speed.

[@Maki_le]

I should be seeing 1million + subscribers for you because you are the best teacher!!! Really helping me enjoy guitar

[@kylerobson5194]

at 3:26 seconds you show thumb placement for low and high e placement and mention the middle finger connecting with the thumg. This would be a great youtube short. nothing like a good 10 second clip of information.

[@MLennan-io2kz]

These techniques were very useful. Thanks! Could you do a video on power metal techniques please?

[@joie7457]

Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@MrGranitealchemist]

2:31 this had me dying 😂

[@Bernthguitar]

😂🤘

[@tomi1537]

great lesson! subscribed!

[@goldtop68]

You are really helpfull,thank you. so fluid and clean.

[@tattoogypsy1970]

Thanks. I'm new to your stuff. Looking forward to more.

[@GrimFowler]

Nice! My left hand is less shitty than I thought, and now I can improve further!

[@asyraafshazree2051]

Bernth I am having trouble doing hammer ons and pull offs on the higher E string. The higher i go the fainter the sound gets. Can you give a few tips on how to properly do pull offs and hammer ons? I love your channel a lot you've helped a lot of people develop amazing skills in a shorter time than expected. Much love and support from Malaysia!

[@robkalibra3218]

OMG! Amazing advices. Thakns.

[@kerryfromaj9032]

Yup thumb issues👍 I have big meat hook hands with not much flexibility. I play a lot of Psychobilly. Heavy strings compounds the incorrect thumb problem as well. I run my thumb parallel with the neck like for slide guitar I learned. I have pain in the big thumb joint on the fretting hand that I have accepted as just the way it is. Only during the last few months have I been trying to change that. This video is good for me to study and see if I can apply it. Thanks.

[@bjornerickson6075]

Actually that thumb mistake I kinda managed to fix on my own before seeing this video... But still subscribed 😊 Really like those work out routines.

[@settratheimperishable4093]

I play legato *a lot* (left handed playing a right handed guitar) so my technique is already fairly good, but the thumb thing will certainly help!

[@willman100]

Amazing playing.

[@klodinsky3132]

Great!! Finally i got the insight!! Danke alter!!!

[@ever_grey4468]

these are great exercises for bass!

[@bazarista4720]

I like doing photosyntesis throu my fingers. Thanks again for your tips

[@jonnas_senna]

Você é o melhor! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Fullcollapse1]

Thank you so much ! I used to lock my thumb higher up when hitting the higher strings. That killed that myth I thought my fingers weren't long enough to play faster.

[@HP_J78]

Thanks a lot, man!😎👍

[@andreskosberg4566]

I've played with an incorrect thumb position my whole life, Always have putted the thumb in front of the index, this is so much better gives you a los of control and relaxation

[@TheStrykerProject]

Meine Fingertechnik, especially my thumb placement, is indeed dreadful. My thumb tends to remain anchored as I go up towards the higher frets. And, as encouraged by this video, I just proved to my self that keeping the thumb up by the index finger gives me much stronger/clearer Pinky Pull-off Power! However, I get a pretty strong pain in my wrist. It's very uncomfortable, and I've raised the guitar as high as reasonably possible. I do some stretches before playing, but it still hurts.

[@spooky3120]

Thanks Field Marshal!

[@robohippy]

I have taken to practicing the spider exercise with out my thumb on the back of the neck. Trying to convince my brain that I need almost no pressure from the thumb to make things work. It still blows me away to see SRV (Stevie Ray Vaughn) playing. He always has his thumb wrapped around the neck onto the low E string.... Must have had huge hands....

[@Gherson069]

Useful tips as usual. I hold the neck with a death grip & in combination with a glossy finish, wherever I put my thumb, it´s not gonna move no matter what.

[@zurikaten]

Same here :D

[@CHOPERUS23]

Sand the neck so it's a satin finish.

[@Gherson069]

@@CHOPERUS23 It´s an 1985 Ibanez Roadstar II DeLuxe so I want to keep it original. But, yes I should get a modern guitar with a satin neck.

[@thebuck1152]

It seems like every time I start a new exercise group you drop a video showing me what I'm doing wrong. Defeating this death grip is serious

[@ohmuseek4290]

Great advises

[@Eden21425]

I'm 2 bars in into Cole Rollands Version of the Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement, and this video is helping me a lot, thank you. Could you maybe touch tapping and sweeping at the same time, or getting a higher consistency with pinch harmonics in one of your videos?

[@Ranakade]

It has always been my thumb palm muscles that get tired and sore quickly from barre chords.

[@valeriyreiter4199]

Thanks for your lessons, Bernth! It's easy to do with Ibanez, but I tried the same on 1984 Aria XX Deluxe Bullet and 1982 Jolana Diamant - really hard to keep your fingers right with this vintage frets and neck profiles)) You have to really push the strings like a man)) Even though it's straight

[@johnmcminn9455]

I have to try that! I actually knew something was wrong, my thumb hurts after playing sometimes. Putting way too much pressure on the fretting thumb!

[@Wagnar6000]

WAS STOKED to see my thumb was on the money and was already doing this

[@patrickshannon1519]

Bernth, you are the best teacher I've had

[@Efferri]

You got me. Subscribed.

[@TheBibleBelieverChristian]

Thank you for this. ❤❤❤ 🇿🇦

[@kevyntime8278]

I noticed an odd problem developed after I figured out how to literally "pull off" descending legato. It messed up and held back my alternate picking for a long time, years maybe, until I realized both hands were trying to start each note. My fretting hand had over-learned the legato technique and would move that way no matter what. I had to relearn lifting my fingers instead of pulling off for picked lines. It made it hard to keep my hands in sync and was a waste of energy

[@aaronsoto6007]

You should make a video of how to make your practice routine!

[@eksairetic]

Great vid as always my guy. I was wondering, in order to fix my bad habits should I completely give up on the way I feel comfortable playing? Can I practice the right techniques and yet still play other stuff with some old bad habits until I can sort of "blend in" the right technique into them or should I just take a step back and relearn everything with the right technique, without ever playing in my comfort zone?

[@raulbargas6060]

Gracias por compartir técnicas y conocimiento q tengas una feliz navidad.

[@UTeeTee-xd8dl]

Thank you

[@SofaKing880]

I’ve been playing guitar for 3 days, and I can confidently say that this man’s videos are directly responsible for 90% of my eureka moments thus far regarding both theory and technique.

[@rchaelk2319]

How is it going now?

[@chasinglatitudes1424]

“Thumb Position” that’s why I have a Strandberg guitar !!!!😉😉

[@NWTMasterWolf]

I'm thinking a D neck would be more comfortable for the thumb movement. Grip is something I became aware of just by realizing it was hindering me. Working very hard on thumb position as I have arthritis in my thumb joints but I'm getting there. Yes I am a beginner. 57 years young :D Thanks bro. You shred.

[@CHOPERUS23]

If you have large hands then a fatter neck would be better yes.

[@mnajle]

I lost the bet. I expected it to be kind of a click bait but was 100% true. I anchor my thumb and also my hand is the complete opposite to relaxed. I can't subscribe as I was already subscribed but just subscribed to patreon and will be adopting you as my summer teacher (it's summer where I am xD)

[@MrSlaroW]

I love you!!!

[@epiphone278]

Great lesson Bernth. One of the things I struggle with is string noise particularly on the thinner strings, pull offs tend to graze the other strings and even when I try and use my first finger to mute often times when pulling off with my pink I end up accidentally just fretting the first finger feet. Any ideas?

[@rasmadrak]

Legato!

[@nitumonibaishya5012]

Good lesson sir or please lesson Sweeping leson

[@adityamaanas9470]

Hi Bernth, the thumb technique you showed is amazing for this playing style, but do you have any insights to share when it comes to people and other styles with which you can see soloing happening with the thumb over the top of the neck almost 100% of the time, or when the thumb shifts between the over the neck and behind the neck positions? Is this just something that is different for different styles of music/different for different players?

[@opgkoyote7989]

I just got a Jackson Dinky. It’s freakin sweet. Too bad I just can’t hold the neck right. I have the same problem on my Epiphone Special; I feel like I need to use the joint on my thumb to hold the neck up. I also can’t seem to really have the guitar(s) in my lap for good results, along with using my palm right underneath my index finger to hold the neck up

[@nkolchenko]

ouch man, that's an awesome stuff. Recently I've started doing lessons with the guitar teacher. That thumb stuff was the very first question I've asked him. Guess what? He's doing it the same way. I've tried that and I already see some progress. Any chance to to a lesson about bends and the vibrato? Same camera angle please :-) I think that would be the last bit to seduce me to become a patreon :-D

[@lateadoptersgaming3237]

I'm so glad I found skwisgaar himself to give m guitar lessons on how not to suck.

[@carl538]

Question does light grip on the thumb help with alternate picking and hand sync?

[@kirs1746]

Спасибо

[@jsteel1399]

Heeeyy in exercise #3 when you're coming back from the G string to the D sting -> do you pick the 7th fret(D string) or you just hammer onto it?

[@vizzo7]

are you always placing the thumb flat behind the neck or sometimes only using the tip?

[@brandon.glv.guitarist]

This technique its fucking amazing!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Madreadious]

Hey man, I just started watching your videos. I'm having a hard time with my thumb position, it's almost always up in a bending position. I've seen a lot of pros, namely John Pettruci and Synyster Gates with the high thumb position when they're shreding. Could you give some insight? Also, I'm wondering how to incorporate bends when playing fast? It seems that without the high thumb position, my bending feels weaker. Thanks in advance :)

[@kevincourville1164]

I handed a guitar to a friend of mine for Christmas, I referred her to bernth to start learning

[@arale2k]

Ok you won my sub ;)

[@asifmallahofficial]

Great 👍

[@marcospastortagle5720]

Hi Bernth, I want to get the 30 Day Legato Course 🎸💥 ¿ Which membership should I purchase in your patreon? Great video on KZbin 💯 hugs from Mexico

[@_weighed8302]

thumb technique is a game changer

[@themusketeer9458]

Hey, my thumb goes upwards when on the highest strings (the highest pitch strings thqt is), and not downwards like you. Is there much downside tho that? I also feel, at least going past 12th fret, my thumb REALLY wantw to go up and ober the fretboard, it is really uncomfortable to keep the thumb at the same place as index finger there, unless i keep the guitar in a classical position. Standing up, my thumb needs to come over the fretboard, and my finger gets a bit diagonal on the fretboard. Tips? Also, is this thumb position onlu for legato? Am i correct in reversing your thumb movement when playing normal guitar solos?

[@xilop]

Bernth you did a guitar Monster from me... Thanks for everything

[@anthonyflores7521]

Very useful! Thank you! I agree on having a relaxed fretting hand other than a stiff hand, fluidity is key and always sounds sick! Love your video man!

[@rivervaughanmusicstuff5771]

Bro I've been playing for about 12 to 13 years and I'm just now learning this. Legato is also my strongest technique. Thank you! Also, about your music. Would you copyright strike anyone who uses it in a youtube video or live stream if they credited you for your work??? I love your music and until I can get my own stuff recorded I am in need of some damn good music because all I can find are hip hop and lo-fi beats which I'm not a fan of.