Technique Check: You Still Fretting Like This? ★ Acoustic Tuesday 182

[@jacsvihus]

It is my practice to play exercises 10 minutes a day (minimum). This intention keeps my practice of playing alive and dynamic. Without this intent my practice starts rolling more slowly. As a developing player I am intently focused on progress which does not alway come easily. Intent provides the inertia to keep rolling. 10 minute intention reaches the parasympathetic threshold with very little resistance. This is the key to my progress

[@dnd98]

I'd love to see something on strumming technique. I struggle with this.

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@terrywood685]

Thanks Tony. The tip on fretting pressure rings true for me, to the point where I now spend a few minutes a day continually reducing pressure to remind myself how little I need and still have clean chords. The bonus is my fretting hand is more relaxed making transitions faster and easier.

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@girliedog]

As a senior guitar enthusiast, I can tell you working with physical therapy to strengthen my hands has improved my chording.

[@jamescavanaugh3682]

The comment on playing 10 minutes a day hit home for me. When I first heard you say it I thought What??? What could you accomplish in 10 minutes? But I also found “Life gets in the way!” Even though I do play at least an hour a day, there are times where I can only find that 10 minutes. Sometimes just before I go to bed. It does make a difference! It also leaves me with a sense of accomplishment!

[@texhaines9957]

There's a difference between playing and practicing. I "play" and sing with the guitar every day and during prayer times. I volunteer play twice a week at a retirement community and once a week for Church. For practice, I've been using Tony's Acoustic Challenge and go back to some of the lessons on the weekend. His lessons sometimes don't sound like much but I learn new things and add them to what I already do. And I do sound different, better according to some of the residents.

[@bluekinglion]

We always think we don't have time. But once I get my guitar in my hand I may well play for longer than 10 minutes. I have a Klos travel guitar, and I use the case as my main backpack. If I needed more stuff a camping backpack would do the same job, but in any case(no pun intended) my dream was to make the time I end up waiting for people into guitar time. I never walk, cycle or drive anywhere without my guitar, and not all of my playing was amazingly focused practice. But *all* of it reminded me why I love playing and how rewarding practice is. The shortening of the distance between guitar sessions is a good way of getting (and staying) out of the rut, and in to the groove.

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@jamescavanaugh3682]

@@spikejones7450 I have been playing, on and off since the early 1960's. But really got back in about 7 years ago.

[@thomasnowicki5844]

Thanks Tony! Some great info here on achieving proper fretting technique. I wanted to also give my input from a guitar teacher's perspective. One of the biggest problems I see in students is improper position of the fretting hand, namely the wrist bent to the point where the palm is touching the neck. I simply tell students to bend their wrist slightly upward and act like they're holding a baseball in their fretting hand, and bring it up and around the neck so that the thumb and fingers are pinching it, not gripping or squeezing. That way the thumb position isn't too high up over the fretboard, reach and finger arch is easier, which makes proper fretting easier.

[@gerrykavanagh]

Good points on the 10 minute rule. What works for one may not work for another which is why it important to not have a blanket yea-or-nay point of view. I, like you, have many things all calling for my attention and consuming my limited time. If I did not follow a personal rule of 'thou shalt take 10 minutes every day to play guitar', it might not happen, and we all know where that path leads.

[@MuskMonkey]

A good setup can help with muting adjacent strings too. If action is too high an open string can run into a finger that is fretting next to it. On the 10 minute rule. One of two things happens with me. Without it I will either just play, which is different from practice to me, or I will launch off on obsessing about getting something perfect on the first try until I am too fatigued to continue or hours have passed, and the diminishing returns have well... diminished to the point that I am practicing poor technique.

[@theinstigator1931]

Perfect explanation Tony!!

[@michaelstaeheli1598]

I have all of the fretting problems you have mentioned here, but only from time to time. It’s been hard to spot the patterns. This has been incredibly helpful. Thanks!

[@walterstreet1467]

I love your fretting tips

[@stepheno2462]

Just started watching the videos. Great videos a d layout of series. Very easy to follow

[@richsommer3337]

Tony, if I may add my two cents to the 10 minute play time discussion. I have taken lessons in the past where my teacher wanted 1 hour of practice every day. Well that just didn’t happen, there were to many things pulling me away and it definitely was not fun to struggle through an hour practice when your just beginning. Talk about a chore!! I am not looking to be a professional musician and not really interested in playing for, in front of, or with others. I would eventually like to play with my son’s (who all play), I play for me and my fun with the guitar. Your ten minute rule with daily lessons has worked wonders for me and I have found the fun I was looking for. Don’t get me wrong some days I do that hour of practice and more but I know that I can still accomplish something fun in just 10 minutes. I am sorry to see the song vault not a part of the program any longer, I thought the culmination of the daily skills was a perfect aide to working towards playing the songs and have fun working on the songs. Any way I hope this wasn’t to long winded, I have completed my first year with TAC this month and look forward to many more!!

[@robertfarmer4394]

I had a revelation about setup. A world class luthier moved into my town (Empire Guitar Works shameless plug). VERY reasonable prices, so i took him a couple of my guitars that played well (I thought) for a setup. He watched me play, interviewed me about expectations and preferences, and then gave my boxes a setup. The results were amazing. Again, I did not think I had a problem with them. A costco Yamaha about 20 years old, and a Larrivee L02. Both came back playing way better, easier to fret, tuned all the way up the neck. So whether you have a cheapie, or an expensive one, if it has never been done, of if it has been awhile, get it done. These living breathing pieces of wood will show you their love if you do. He has since done 2 more of mine, and will do more soon. BTW Tony, he did a little fret work on my Mule #620 that I bought after watching your review. It is even more amazing than it was. Cheers! go Hawks!

[@sbolfing]

Tony, another great show! Please continue with the section on techniques - even though I started playing guitar some time ago (1964), I am far from a professional and learn something from every episode. Like the other Steven B (great name!) I wandered around with a few other courses, but have decided to stick to TAC. Between my work schedule and slow internet at home, I haven't interacted with the TAC community and that is something I regret and would really like to change (tips on how to improve that appreciated - I'm not technically challenged, but not really into keeping up with the latest tech). FYI: My current practice routine consists of warming up with scales/basic runs/finger exercises and then trying to perfect whatever song I am currently learning. I usually like to finish by pretending I am playing a set list at an open mike (limiting it to 4 or 5 songs). This last part is where I measure my progress - can I get through the list without any flubs (or just as important, can I keep going when I make a flub).

[@rogernelson4053]

Tony, Very helpful for a new guitarist like myself. May want to include this as an early lesson in course.

[@nicolen.9642]

Yes, buzzing is my enemy. I correct it. You're right, fret next to the fret, and not pressing too hard. Thanks Tony for these helpful tips 🎶🎶🎶👍

[@ralphrounds709]

Great stuff there, Tony, all of it. If you fret an A major chord with three fingers, at least one finger will be further away from the second fret than you would like. Learning to play that with a kind of “double jointed” ring finger really helped me a ton, not just with chord clarity, but with my speed playing changes. Helps you ace the A shape barre chord as well

[@sarah_raposa]

I appreciate this video so much...I'm a professional classical musician (viola) and know how important technique is. I just bought a guitar, and I spent awhile searching youtube for someone who could actually explain the physical aspects of how to play so I know what to focus on from the very beginning. Thank you!

[@michaelbrooks4307]

Very helpful...I have experienced all three problems. The toughest one is finger arc and getting my palm closer to the neck. I also doesn't help that I broke my ring finger some years back and it is tough to get an arc on that finger. Please continue with these kind of technique "fixes". Another problem I too often have is locating the right string with my right hand when I am arpeggiating or finger picking...my fingers sometimes pick the wrong string. Anyway keep up the good work!!! Mike Brooks

[@timnewman1172]

The "classical position" the best and actually the most comfortable, especially if you have back issues. It works better with electrics and smaller bodied acoustic guitars, but in the end it is much easier for the fretting hand.

[@timnewman1172]

I highly recommend the Christopher Parkening Classical Guitar book, it is invaluable for beginners!

[@Nooneknows74]

10-minute rule is great if one lays out an organized schedule to ensure all major skills get equal honing. I.e. Chords Monday Scales Tuesday Speed/Dexterity Wednesday Etc.

[@RoloTomasie]

Awesome video, Tony. I'd also recommend to anyone struggling with buzzy or muted barre chords: check your string gauge! I switched from 12s to Custom Light 11s, and not only did general playing and bending get easier, my barre chords really rang out.

[@parguitarzzz]

Very nice 👌🏻 👌🏻 👌🏻

[@Glicksman1]

This kind of vid is always a good thing. When I was learning to play, such things did not yet exist. I learned how to make my guitar sound good (better) by finding the best way to fret the notes and to strum/pluck by changing how I was doing it until it sounded as good as I could make it. That still works, BTW.

[@wellnowyouknow2023]

Out of tune notes... You have flicked on a light in my head! My fretting pressure must need to be addressed. Thank you!

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@keithrialson7233]

I too brother. Or too much loud in general

[@wellnowyouknow2023]

No been playing for a few years but always wondered why certain chords didn't sound 'quite right'. This could be the reason

[@gailbevilacqua4627]

Excellent tips and reminders. Kudos too for including markers for your video! Look forward to browsing your channel more : )

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@weskasprow4312]

Thanks for the suggestions for cleaner fretting on today's show. I really notice "the thuds" when holding a chord shape and flatpicking individual notes (like in the recent cross-picking exercises on TAC). I can get enough arch in my fingers *eventually* to sound all of the notes clearly, but not nearly fast enough to keep a steady tempo. More practice is in order!

[@marionsiempre7417]

Very helpful! 😊

[@JonDSpeer]

Yes, Tony, the tips are very helpful--especially about pressing too hard, of which I am very guilty. And the palm location to maximize arch tip is a goodie too. As far a new series: Yes! Tips and techniques for barre chords is one example I would benefit from.

[@JonDSpeer]

And slides, hammer ons, and pull offs. :)

[@MuskMonkey]

Keeping that palm up is the one thing I am having trouble getting my son to do. It has been weeks long "move your palm up" feedback. he will get to it.... And I still crush the strings with a grip occasionally, especially if I am working on something new. I am working on that.

[@alextw1488]

Yes! I also have to be extremely conscious of the death grip when practising something new. I've even injured my hand due in part to this (with unvarying repetition playing a role too).

[@maxherron1376]

Tony, this was very helpful. I'm struggling with buzzing chords right now. I know I have developed a few bad habits along the way (not playing with the finger tips and too much pressure). Now, I have your tips to hopefully correct those issues.

[@scottrill17]

One suggestion that worked for me is that my fingers were too fat for a 1-11/16 in wide neck. I moved up to a 1-3/4 and buzzing improved.

[@RR-mm2jq]

Helpful!!👍🙏

[@TommySG1]

Keep your fingernails short on your fretting 🤚 too, that’ll help 🤙

[@TommySG1]

@@user-otzlixr , aye. I keep a clipper inside my work van as well 👍 On another note ( no pun tended LOL ) - the fretboard will stay a hell of a lot nicer too. I see lots of rosewood boards with nail indentations on them and it makes it look like crap.

[@scottwest9443]

This is the entire reason my wife gave up on learning guitar pretty much immediately lol

[@TommySG1]

@@scottwest9443 LOL! 🤣

[@richellmcknight446]

Yeah, that is soooo important! I have a strange looking manicure, I have my nails done at the salon, short on my fretting hand, long on my picking hand( and shaped like a guitar pick tip, it works great!)--I have her do the same colored powder on the short nails, so they're hard, so I have found my dremel tool works really great to take them down!😂😂🤣🤩 I grind them once a week!

[@mintonmiller]

guitar solutions. I have smapp hands and have always had jobs that are hart on those small hands. For many years I played steel string acoustic and electric. it was always a painful experience but I kept on because the joy of music out weighed the pain. I find that narrow necks are harder for me to play on despite the fact I have smaller hands than my wife. Recently I switched to a classical guitar. I find I am 10 times the player on classical with 1/4 the pain. The classical is a slightly different style of playing to really make it sound good but I can play cleaner and faster. My other change is I play a lot more dobro. Much much easier on my poor old hands and keeps me playing music.

[@justinray9895]

Great show Tony!

[@undrellx]

U covered the fretting thing pretty well there! i would agree with @Rolo Tomasie that string gauge makes a huge difference ... i've been on extra-light strings (10s) for many years and have never quite understood the need for anything heavier.. perhaps u could discuss that sometime (if u haven't already)... the other factor that seems to make a big difference to me is nut width... anything under 44-45 and I start to find it difficult to avoid some level of damping of adjacent strings (big fingers).. particularly if a piece involves rapid changes.. as regards alternative tunings, its a luxury to be able to dedicate 1 guitar just to that, but if u can it makes it more likely that u'll play ... I favour my parlor guitar for DADGAD as mostly I'm playing lower down the neck with a lot more open strings and the tone is fantastic.. thanks for your channel Tony.. cheers

[@edd338]

For techniques I would like to learn more about volume control or "how to use your right hand" for maintaining a steady volume, for instance.

[@yiren7061]

Pay attention to thumb positions!

[@nedludd3641]

I love acoustic guitar when it's used in movie soundtracks. Ry Cooder: 'Paris Texas' (acoustic or National guitar?), Bob Dylan: 'Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid'. What's your favorite? The PS4 game 'The Last of Us II' has guitar licks that'll tear your soul apart.

[@YogeshKumar-rk8xz]

Heye mate your video is really helpful To me!! Thanks a lot for it!

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

I would rather people be honest than kind, if it means I'm going to get better after hearing the honesty. "The truth hurts" isn't just a fun little slogan, it's a little nugget of wisdom. There's a time for "kind" and a time for "honesty", and you can use a bit of couth to figure out how to navigate interpersonal relationships. Online, that's extremely hard to do, so it's best to be honest.🐰🇺🇲🎸🎶✌

[@ronneufeld7272]

Great advice about fretting. I somehow missed this show and glad I found it. I often think about hand position and know I'm doing things wrong but don't know how to fix it. These ideas give me a starting point to focus on. When I move my palm closer I don't see a better arch in my fingers but am trying to improve that. Always confused about my thumb. Middle of the neck or wrapped around the neck where it usually ends up? Thanks so much for the show. Lots to work on.

[@RandyHall324]

Hey Tony, I'm a subscriber and probably catch about 90% of your Acoustic Tuesday shows, at least for the last couple of years. I've been playing for ages, but only started taking lessons a few years ago. You've helped me with a number of technique issues in that time, but I'm wondering if you've ever addressed an issue that continues to plague me, specifically "flying fingers" - When playing any kind of scale, as soon as I press down on one finger, the others move way more off the fretboard than they should. I'm sure others have had this problem - just wondering if you know of any specific drills or exercises to address it. Thanks in advance! Love the show!

[@garrettlowell7637]

I apply the (minimum) 10 minutes a day rule in all aspects of my life: working out, reading, playing guitar-anything that requires consistency and focus.

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@garrettlowell7637]

@@spikejones7450 no, just practicing to remain competent. Been playing since-well let’s just say since some time in the last century.

[@MashaT22]

Amazing video! Can you speak about power chord techniques specifically and arm/hand/wrist pain? I keep getting extremely bad wrist pain despite seemingly bending my wrist and doing everything I “think” I should be from what I’ve read/seen. Maybe there are specific exercises I could be doing to make my wrist and hand stronger? Or maybe my positioning isn’t as proper as I think? Thanks! Rock on!

[@texhaines9957]

I agree with the 10 minute practice a day, although I don't call it a rule. For example, with grandchildren, I tell them to practice something that may be a challenge, simple but challenging. One of them told me her violin teacher said to practice 35 minutes a day. She than said she brushes and glosses her teeth more than that each day. I told her after she practices or warms up, she can play something she likes for as long as she likes. It works.

[@parguitarzzz]

Hey buddy why don't you share a video about alternative tuning. I am curious to learn about it.

[@keithrialson7233]

Yes. In general I suffer a percentage of that "funky- plunky" fretting bugaboo. If lm fatigued etc. Happens to everyone.

[@CB-wi3vc]

I bought a new Taylor 214ce March 1st. Came from Guitar Center. When I asked about a set up before I took it home, he said he would need to keep it for 2 weeks! I just got it, and then give it up for 2 weeks now? So I called two other local shops/luthiers. Both said they would need it for a few days (which is fine), but they also said something interesting, and the point of my comment: they said "Taylor sets up their guiytars pretty good, so you probably don't need a set up," yet I hear repeatedly that I should have my new Taylor set up. I don't know who to believe or what to say to these luthiers telling me I don't need one. What should I do/who should I believe? I'm a beginner, so I don't really know. Thanks.

[@larryphelps6607]

been fretting over fretting, my strings they feel like chords... once i discovered pull offs, i don't have to look for broads... been fretting over fretting, but i guess I'll hammer on... but my old engine's lost it's spark, and my sour diesel's gone.....

[@MrMJWhyte]

Duo's? Mark and Chet better be there!

[@ScottRandall31]

Wow! The Whole World's Got the Blues! Cool!

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

I've had a problem with lightening my touch. I starte, and still work as a bassist (P basses with vintage spec necks and flatwounds) before picking up guitar just because I got tired of depending on a band to get songs out. I have a bad habit of pushing down too hard and I can only seem to fix it when I concentrate on what my left hand is doing. Which obviously doesn't work while performing live and singing/playing harp. It bends the notes slightly and it drives me nuts, but I can't seem to get myself to a point where I can improve my technique while having everything else going on. :/

[@alanjones2067]

another great Acoustic Tuesday looking forward to my Taciversary. how about tips on keeping the pick from slipping.

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@andrewdunn6793]

I would like to see the proper finger picking technique to learn how to pick with short subtle motion with volume as opposed to bicycle fingers.

[@TerryWyce]

Great stuff! And yes please continue with the technique sections. I would very much like to see with regards to technique how to strum 8th notes and 16th notes specifically like how John Lennon does in the Beatles song “All My Loving” .

[@spikejones7450]

Are you learning guitar late in life

[@TerryWyce]

Yes

[@DD-eight]

Picking technique

[@1231trainfan]

Technique help request.....Barre chords. They are troublesome and not consistent. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

[@stickgs]

For alternate tunings music you can't beat David Wilcox or Laurence Juber!! Check them out!

[@blindcanseemusic]

Thanks. WHAT is that guitar???? (Couldn't read the logo). Buzz can be finger nail too close to next open string. What about awkward finger stretches for walking basses?

[@willscorner8423]

I always say look at Gorillas 🦍 how do they put their fingers on the ground when walking? Right, each finger is put as if it is a hook 🪝. Hold your fingers like gorillas when they walk, maybe even practice that on a table or maybe when playing with your dog/cat or kids. Practice that Finger position with your fretting hand and use all 4 fingers. If you watch closely the hands of a gorilla the position of the fingers and thumb are just the right way as if you could put a guitar in his hand and he starts to play. The thumb supports the neck if needed, when the fingers positioned like hooks 🪝 fret the strings. So when you play or practice, search your inner gorilla!

[@tommaso1savoia]

My biggest problem is that, putting a capo from 4th fret to forward my guitar sounds like a cheap ukulele out of tone. About fretting, something, my chords play well, other days they are not clear. I began to play guitar in early seventies, but had a 40 years break until last Autumn. Thank you for your videos.

[@MuskMonkey]

The 4th fret capo thing could be a few things. First is tune after you have placed your capo. It has been my experience that capos tend to make some strings sharper than others, but all of them a little sharp. you could have too much or too little relief in the neck, which is at best a truss rod adjustment, at worst a neck reset. and the last thing that I know of that can cause this is high action... again this goes back to setup. If the action is too high, then when you fret you have to put more pressure on the string pulling it sharp. Don't know if that will help you but I hope it does.

[@tommaso1savoia]

​@@MuskMonkey Thank you, @@MuskMonkey, I'll try with the Allen key

[@texhaines9957]

When I play/fret with the classical arm raised, the strings are not muted but soon my hand goes numb (cubital tunnel) so the doc says don't do that.

[@ac9110]

I have a problem getting the bass note of a barre chord pressed down quick enough before I play it.

[@CamBaldeon]

What Martin is that in the thumbnail??

[@riteshkumarmallick8262]

When I play frets higher up the neck and when I release the strings they ring out loud any tips for muting strings and bringing in that clarity in playing

[@jkrause365]

I have a tip: Trim your fingernails on your fretting hand. I had a student who was doing everything right, and still couldn't produce a clean, ringing tone. I finally asked him when was the last time he trimmed his fingernails. Bingo!

[@douglaskramer9197]

Acoustic players want to play with their fingertips, and want as much sustain as possible. Electric players play flat, to help mute other strings (lead mostly) and they control the silence. Acoustic - sustain! Electric - silence other strings.

[@alanfloyd3205]

Where can i get that hat?!

[@nedludd3641]

Anyone know if there's a way to register your warranty with Martin Guitars if you live outside the USA/Canada? I just bought a new HD-35 but the Martin website only registers the warranty if you have a USA/Canada address. I tried registering through my authorised dealer but no luck. The dealer offers a one-year guarantee and that's it. Any suggestions?

[@001USA001]

Call or email.

[@nedludd3641]

@@001USA001 email

[@isadorealire5722]

Personally, I found stretching my fingers, including the knuckles individually really helps me. But I also have broken fretting fingers in the past, including my thumb. So, I can't go over the top of the fret board to fret the low E without a good stretch.

[@ZionForman]

um, Richard Thompson

[@janeandthecoolcats5033]

The question is not how to fret but how to refret ..

[@dp110]

1st !

[@ronmiller7248]

Good for you, I'm sure your parents are proud

[@prince5922]

@@ronmiller7248 what ails you? go buzz off.

[@spikejones7450]

Dude are you playing guitar late in life... Now repeat that all day...not only age inappropriate, but so annoying you're about to get dropped.