This is Why You Suck at Guitar: You Don't PIVOT!

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Its Uncle Ben Eller here back again with a brand new installment of This is Why You Suck at Guitar!!! On episode 26, we are going to explore the secret technique ALL the pros use to slip and slide all over the neck with ease. Somehow, i've NEVER seen anyone talk about this unique "pivot" technique that you're going to need to play songs like Blood and Thunder by Mastodon or For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica, among HUNDREDS of other classics.
It doesn't matter what style of music you play or if you're a beginner or advanced player, this will change the way you play! Grab your favorite axe and learn how James Hetfield, Brent Hinds, Dave Mustaine, and many more make it happen!
Gear:
Jackson SL3 Soloist
Fractal Axe FX 3
What technique do you suck at? Let me know in the comments and get ready to see it on a future installment of TIWYSAG!

[@viktorekdahl1707]

This is pure gold, uncle Ben saved me from a problem I didn't even knew I had. Not the first time and most certainly not the last, thank you so much.

[@andersoncesario26]

on the same boat here. Thanks uncle Ben🤘

[@Kriegter]

looking back 10 months later this was the most important guitar lesson when i started

[@allboutthemojo]

The other thing I had noticed when constantly sliding the thumb instead of pivoting is that it becomes very difficult and inconsistent to land on the power chords accurately.

[@agirlsname7159]

I've comfortably sucked for 30 years. Rarely learn anything "ah ha" anymore. Never thought about this for those rapid chord slides...what a great technique! Thanks.

[@davidlindquist1499]

Uncle Ben once again teaching me things that seem obvious after he shows me, but that I never would've thought of on my own. Thanks Ben!

[@voronOsphere]

That's exactly it! I never thought of this!

[@TobyKBTY]

This combined with controlling of tension is honestly gonna make overall playing WAY easier for lots of people. I stumbled upon experimenting with this a few years ago, and this video has further refined it all for me. Uncle Ben the GOAT

[@michael1]

Yeah, I think as many people are going to be struggling doing quick power chord (or perfect 4th chord) changes because they grip far too hard. A good, but old example of this is playing the intro to Rainbow's lost in Hollywood, although there's not a lot of good quality video showing Blackmore playing it. Yngwie did a version with Alcatraz (infamous for the video version where his guitar cuts out) but he cheeses it by playing a single note riff instead.

[@DruEllz]

Thumb pivot is such an important technique for bass. It makes huuuuge fret stretches easy peasy.

[@harrypadarri6349]

Yooo, thanks for reminding me that it also applies to bass! I just tried it on the low B string and managed to play the fret pattern 1-4-2-5-3-6-4-7 without changing hand position and it felt super relaxed. Seven fret reach on the thickest string at the first frets, that’s insane!

[@bluestringmusic]

Been playing for some 15+ years and never knew about this ! 😱 Makes so much sense, I’ve been playing these type of riffs in hard mode for no reason.

[@djabthrash]

Same

[@litos_mendes]

if you pay attention you can see how economic and ergonomic the picking and finguering hand of bill kelliher is

[@breatheinthepinkair]

Going to name my first born son Finn Guering now

[@litos_mendes]

@@breatheinthepinkair mike litories is better

[@justtheguy27]

Great lesson, Uncle Ben! Also, the addition of Ross' "PIVOT" with the reverb had me dying hahaha!!!

[@Electric.Spaghetti.Neon.Studio]

I’ve been playing guitar for 36 years and I never even thought about this before. You kinda blew my mind, dude.

[@Arigator2]

Ok, this is a weird place for this question so pardon my rudeness. But I am a beginner. I am having a hard time not muting the bottom string when I play chords. Any advice?

[@zegnar3420]

I do this so instinctually that I used to think it was a mistake... luckily I never got around to 'correcting' it

[@coolintruddle]

I just spent ten minutes trying this out. I thought it would take some getting used to, but it is super intuitive. You literally added 20% more better control to my playing.

[@nafis6668]

In recording, that 20% improvement might turn out to be 20 miliseconds improvement in tightness. When our hands synchronised better, we get clearer brighter attack.

[@voronOsphere]

I can't wait to apply this and get more better, moving my arm-hand less.

[@WitchKing99]

I never cared a lot about my technique but this time I gave it a try: I can 100% recommend at least testing "The Pivot" for like 15 minutes. I personally had great first results and see a lot of potential & improvement in this technique especially for my love of chromatic melodies and riffs! Thanks a lot to Ben and to the Patreon Supporter!

[@rkchang77]

Uncle Ben has helped me tremendously with this. Also, love the Ross "Pivot!" soundbite that recurs through the background! 🙂

[@nabicx]

oh that was from the video? i thought it was my drug induced schizophrenia

[@TheExoticXD]

Not gonna lie, I thought I was doing it wrong the whole time. I always pivoted my thumb while playing rhythm. It always felt good to me, but when seeing some players live, they never did. I tried to learn without pivoting and it was more difficult. I eventually decided to switch back (Thank God lol) and I've been more consistent then ever!

[@sanny8716]

As long as what you're doing works for you, it's not wrong.

[@88grinder]

We all had to learn this to play certain riffs, but it's weird how no one talks about it. Thank you Uncle Ben. You are the best Uncle in the whoooooole world 💞

[@replicated]

Best guitar tip I have seen in a long time. I struggled with this hard, and funny enough, was wondering the other day why the simple FWTBT riff was so difficult to play. Gamechanger for my rookie ass.

[@justmayhem771]

Never thought I’d crack up at a tutorial but the reverb every time he says pivot is fucking gold, it’s for sure gonna help me remember it at least

[@SuperSpear2009]

Beautiful Jackson.

[@SuperSpear2009]

May it never get the dreaded "ding" at the tip of the headstock.

[@AnonAlmostDelivers]

Mind absolutely blown. I wish somebody showed me this sooner, thank you so much!

[@aarong5716]

Me, too! I never had trouble keeping up with these riffs, but the squeaking thing drives me nuts.

[@zachdelagarza1609]

As someone who’s pretty technically savvy, I’ve never heard of this. I always get reaaaaally bad pain when playing a ton of power chords. I’m Gonna try this. 🤘🏻

[@KenDWebber]

When I was your age (young) I could play those type riffs like no tomorrow. Arthritis in both shoulders now and I can't seem to play those chug a chug fast-switching riffs in Diary of a Madman anymore. My left fret hand has the shoulder in which bone spurs have cut a muscle, the rotator cuff, and it's hard and extremely painful to go fast in those two directions - up and down the neck. I can't even raise that arm above my head anymore. I can still solo and shred about as good as you so not all is lost. And after hearing your guitar I am currently fighting the addiction to head over to Sweetwater and plunk down on a new Jackson. Been eyeballing that new green glow model! Besides all my bitchin', loved the video and I've been a long time subscriber. Keep up the great content.

[@KenDWebber]

and just like that... the addiction wins. Saw the specific guitar I wanted was in 3 other people's cart so it was grab it or lose it and I got that huge sweetwater credit card doing nothing in my wallet, so... It's going to look so AWESOME in my studio! I feel like that scene in Rob Zombie's new movie where Herman Munster gets his first date and he's howling behind the door.

[@DRTyD]

Man! I just had to stop this video before even finishing it to say “Thank you, Uncle Ben!” Holy shit man, I am so glad you included that riff from “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and also showed it from the back angle with the pivot. I think this might be exactly the advice I needed to play that riff more better.

[@heitornolla]

This lesson absolutely saved my life. You're right, no one has ever talked about this, not that i've seen. Gracias, Tio Ben

[@gaberox1]

Nothing beats a pristine clean snow white Jackson Soloist. That guitar makes me want to cry.

[@GillRigged]

Ben Stellar Eller 🤘

[@stilts121]

I read the title in Ross' voice when I saw "PIVOT" in it!

[@tomassedlacek8202]

Every single "PIVOT" has managed to make me laugh, good one uncle Ben!

[@RicardoAndrade-hv2ik]

Hearing Ross scream pivot throughout the video made my day.

[@makainwiginton5967]

The "PIVOT!" bit got me every fucking time lol

[@sbg423]

I'm now convinced I'll be hearing Ghost Ross yelling "Pivot!" late at night

[@HaruSkage]

I was doing that pivot out of instinct, then I thought it wasn't proper technique, so I started attempting moving my thumb for the shifts and it made things more complicated... going back to the pivot.

[@franciscohartung4406]

that "PIVOOOT!!" in the background with reverb..... killed me

[@jm7859]

Now this is new learning.

[@johnathondupuis1301]

As usual, uncle Ben never disappoints. Fantastic lesson.

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

PIVOOOT! PIVOOOT! - Ross Gellar

[@InsolentMusicalPeasant]

Well this is amazing. So much easier than trying to slide everywhere. A lot less tension in my thumb now. Much appreciated!

[@roby924]

dude Uncle Ben you blew my mind just now. I have been struggling with this for ages.

[@travistweedle9674]

I'm typing this before I watch it because I have been struggling with Iron Man's 10th fret to 9th fret back to 10th fret transition in the main riff since I first picked up a guitar back in 2010. It's to the point now that my hand intuitively tenses up on me increasing my frustration over it. I really hope this gives me the answer to conquer it. Now on with the show.

[@aaronadkins6858]

Hahahaha. The reverb “Pivot!” is fantastic.

[@thedonal]

I've been throwing this at a few students just recently- due to the large interest in Master of Puppets. Really reduces friction overall for those sliding power chords!

[@patrickriley195]

That is a super sweet Jackson soloist.

[@richieismyhero]

Nice Jackson, thanks Uncle Ben for this lesson

[@f8tlbyte]

not only have you taught me more about playing guitar than anyone, you've now given me nightmares with that echo of Ross yelling pivot!!! Brilliant video and thank you for this one!

[@torreyintahoe]

I've been working on the Metallica riff for years and this made a huge difference for me. Thanks Ben, you're a great teacher.

[@tonglenn7462]

My first classical guitar lesson was all about "How to handle your guitar little man." And the first advice was about left hand position on the neck, and the first thing to be done was, you guess it, positioning your thumb behind the neck at mid-height. Thats what you show without telling by the way. It comes naturally maybe. Best position to position your other fingers over the strings and frets 👌

[@Reads_]

Hey! That thumb position question I asked a while ago got answered here, thanks uncle Ben !

[@BenEller]

Huzzah!!! Hope that helps!

[@SatsJava]

Immediately practice it Damn It's works

[@breakfastmeats]

I try to maintain a small but consistent amount of suck in my playing in order to get maximum benefit from Uncle Ben’s videos.

[@bradsims7089]

This is going to make my chords at least 10x more powerful.

[@BitcoinAndChess]

It turned my power chords up to 11.

[@weseastham5486]

This is gold. Been playing for 25 years and I’m now subscribing to your patreon

[@rhapsody1979]

I use this techinque from the very first moment i started playing guitar and i never knew about it until now that i watched this video. There's economy picking and there's economy hand movement, both are awesome ways to make everyting sound much clearer and effortless.

[@Victimesty]

Thank you, this is truly a gift I didn't know I want. As a rhythm guitarist, I guess it's time to unlearn everything I've learned to far 😊

[@msihcs8171]

I concur, I need to relearn how to hold my guitar, I've always held with the thumb on top of the curve of the neck and never went to the middle or below which always caused me to react by squeezing harder, on the strings in a vain attempt to be more precise. A nice light touch is hard to learn since I'm used to lifting where grip strength is a huge component

[@chewybang]

Haha, love the Ross sprinkled in there. Great lesson, Uncle Ben!

[@EVH5150iii]

Bro Thank you! “Harvester of sorrow,” has always been my heel; this helps immensely

[@brycemeng]

I feel like a fucken lad for having been doing this the whole time. Ben, you're fantastic, and make me feel like a better player than I actually am.

[@sudan47]

Uncle Ben. I really love your This is Why You Suck at Guitar series. So, awesome!!

[@sudan47]

Thank you, sir. Really? What I won?

[@lordduckington4978]

this is funny because the other day i was watching a short clip of trivium practising and i noticed this with Coreys playing and have been intending on investigating. but this saves me a lot of time! thank you!

[@waynegram8907]

BEN ELLER< try to make video lesson on how Randy Rhoads used pivot notes in his scale runs because he would shift and pivot on certain scale degrees to go into a different scale mode or scale position, its what violin drills use to do in classical

[@supersaabclaire]

Brilliant! I said the 'pivot' line from Friends when I saw the thumbnail for this video, and then you actually said it in your video, Brilliant 🤣

[@johnconroy9989]

damn... that's really clever.

[@chrisnimmo8527]

Brilliant video, thanks Ben

[@heckatron2586]

Amazing lesson! Thanks, Uncle Ben!

[@markriffalo27]

those random ross's pivot screams got me. anyways thanks for the tip, something that i never said to a priest

[@billyruben6540]

Sunuvagun. I've been playing way too long to not know this. You've unlocked a new level for me. Thanks, UB!

[@urbicz707]

I've never ever thought about something like this pivoting thing in those nearly 20 years I play guitar and after watching this video I didn't even know what I actually do. So with guitar in hands I must say that I'm pivoting like crazy and whole the time I really didn't know or care about it. Interesting.:D Thanks uncle Ben!:)

[@Eliphas_Elric]

Same. Took me a minute to even think what I do, and this is something I’ve been doing for years.

[@Dji-gurda_Jdi-druga]

I was applying pressure with my whole hand instead of just the thumb. That hugely increases friction making even simple rythm parts hard, so I was always sticking to solo parts. This opened my eyes.

[@cnemi22]

Ahhh Blood and Thunder. Awesome video man! Great advice and explanation.

[@luisgpr1]

First time in my life i hear of this and it makes so much sense! What I have missing all these years. Thanks

[@druidhugger6311]

I have been playing for 50 years man and boy , I had no idea about this lol . Thank you

[@alastairc293]

Thats a damn good lesson. Thanks for taking the time to put it out there. Clearly a lot of thought went into it. Nice one Ben

[@zarlodious1]

Awesome technique it should really help me out thank you Ben!

[@guitargeek1984]

Awesome lesson! 🏆🤘🏽

[@josephwade3241]

I've always been aware of the scratchiness of the position changes on my strings and I've never been able to help it much this fixes it tremendously. Thank you uncle Ben. I go riff now more better. You alright guy.

[@chiparooo]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@jakenogard9667]

Master of puppets has also slippery riffs when the first line started😁🤘

[@400_billion_suns]

I really appreciate all the tips you share. Thanks man.

[@SpacePirate313]

Just started playing again since I was a teenager and I'm finding this channel to be helpful. Thanks for your work much appreciation.

[@dirktucker77]

WOW, this has seriously helped me way more better. Thank you.

[@hexcoreZz]

Great video - thanks for putting this out there.

[@staggs5034]

Great stuff! Thank you uncle Ben

[@BitcoinAndChess]

This series is my favorite. Very educational.

[@EisensteinPrime]

I wrote a riff just the other day and this technique helps me do this particular riff so smoothly. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@robertourista4743]

Thanks Uncle Ben! Your videos are helping me a lot with my guitar playing 🤘

[@jwraith14]

Great lesson, love the soloist.

[@Zumies546]

This was super helpful dude! Never thought about it until this video, thank you!

[@metramaks]

Wow, just wow. That's exactly what I needed right now. Strugled with that For Whom The Bell Tolls part for quite a while. Thanks uncle Ben!

[@genesnodgrass]

Always learning something new and useful here.

[@demonology2629]

I mean I've written a song called "Eat death" back in 1999! And the way I played it back then was just can wear you out I've only played it once in a blue moon now and it astonishes me how gymnastic I was on a guitar back then. Because it can wear my hand out if I don't play it fast enough now! 🎸🎛🔉🎵🥁🤘🏻🎤🤬🎸🎼🎚🔊🎶

[@Beautiful_Evil]

after watching this video, I had to get up and go over and pick my guitar up and actually check how I hold the neck. I am very happy to find that I actually do exactly what you are telling me in this video. Hell yeah I'm actually doing some thing the right way kick ass.

[@alanguitars]

Learned something new. Thanks for sharing.

[@panterarocks9326]

Definitely never thought of this! This is going to help a ton

[@aj_page_]

Takes me back when I started learning the Dennis Sandole approach to jazz, taught to me by one of his students. All my friends are telling me to play like Hendrix, with the thumb over the neck. The pivot is ingrained into my playing …..thanks Ben for sharing this valuable technique 🤘

[@kconrad83090]

thanks for another illuminating gem of info Uncle Ben!

[@MrSilverFlame]

best advice I ever got. thank you so much 🤘🏼

[@shalomshalom735]

WOW Ben! what a great video, such a cool technique that is so easy "not to think of". This is an incredible tip! Thank you.

[@sanderschram3329]

This technique just blew my mind!! Exactly what i needed. Thanks.

[@Slayer821]

This is amazing, I just tried this and it makes those riffs so much easier to play.

[@craigbuckley4832]

This video explains alot, many thanks for your time and advice 🤘👍