Tom Quayle | Developing Professional Technique | Part One

Class is in session. Tom Quayle brings you a brand new and exclusive lesson for Guitar Interactive Magazine.
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[@menamgamg]

Wow... Sometimes literally just hearing something is enough to instantly make progress. Just the realization that the fingers naturally want to curl down to make a 90 degree angle to the strings made me realize how i've been trying to do the same thing but with effort. Just relaxing into it makes all the difference.

[@KingGrio]

This lesson I think is very important, and it resonates a lot with me. I am not an advanced guitar player, but I am definitely intermediate and attempting to play some Van Halen, even a Joe Satriani song (not anywhere near their standards of excellence mind you). And yes, I've noticed, some days, I hear myself jam to the songs, and hear the flaws, and decide to stop jamming and actually slow down to focus, find what bad habit I have, and often I end up doing exactly what Tom describes here: try to have precise finger contact with the string, and while doing so find out what kind of wrist adjustment or thumb lower/higher behind the next adjustment is necessary and then drill that new corrected habit into my playing in the following days. And it goes in cycles: I repeat this corrective process regularly as I decide to fix the worst sounding things/biggest inconsistencies in my playing. It's miraculous at how much it makes me improve, but it is also a very painful process to go through. Deconstructing what you worked hard at practicing, unlearning bad habits and relearning good ones feels like making a step backwards to make a better step forward. My mind wants to resist these moments of growth with a feeling "Ooooh not again !!! I thought I was done with this, I thought I had mastered it, I thought I could play it and never have to worry about it again !". It's very important to do it but also very painful. I try to put some breaks in between technique practice like this to learn fun things like new chords, or chord progressions, or try to sing while playing the guitar, because this technique unlearning/relearning is a very painful growth process.

[@Athraminaurian]

This was a fantastic lesson. I have been really frustrated with how "unpolished" my playing is lately. I just haven't been able to get my ideas out in a smooth manner and this lesson really hit me. Also, Tim Miller really has that consistency of phrasing down. Every note the man plays is just pure beauty, even when he is going off into outer space.

[@CatPickStudios]

Tom is a fantastic teacher and even nicer guy!

[@lukes_guitars_]

What he said is GOLD. Pure gold.

[@chusssMusic]

One of the magical tips that helped me focus on using finger tips long ago; is the positioning of thumb on the back of the guitar neck. if you try to keep it centered and loose enough to be flexibility to move slightly as needed. That will help you easily use your finger tips almost all the time. Great lesson by Tom Quayle. Thanks GI.

[@jianhuang0124]

We are so fortunate to have this valuable class, and for free! Thank you!

[@kevinhenderson9841]

8 years of playing guitar, had two amazing jazz guitarists as teachers and no one has EVER mentioned the placement of the finger tip on the the string. Thank you v much.

[@briannedunn6938]

Seriously, SAME. I only ever had one teacher at the beginning, and he was a fantastic player, but neither then nor the 15 years since have I seen anyone mention the placement. There's been this misconception that as long as I hit it, it's all good. Lol. I use the edge of my tip/pad way more than I'd like to admit, especially with my ring finger and pinky >

[@kevinhenderson9841]

@@briannedunn6938 totally agree, it's now our duty to pass it on to every guitarist we teach!

[@jakeah1175]

Modest video from the great TQ here. Joey is phenomenal but so is he.

[@jazzercaster4749]

Insane timing, I've been struggling with this feeling over the past week or so, great lesson.

[@kayrules2]

We want 2nd part of this lesson.!

[@burado1974]

Totally get it, I was learning Under The Bridge and kept on muting strings, I was flattening my fingers and had re-train to train myself to use my tips. This a great lesson, it does make a difference.

[@jean-renepirlet]

I love this kind of lessons, like going back to the roots, so easy to forget, makes me wanna practice right here, right now, with "more consciousness", thx a lot

[@BC_J0MBI]

Thank you, i've been playing guitar for over 15 years while not a master at anything i enjoy it. Here recently ive decided to get better, but every "technique" video is play this lick over and over. I was looking for a video like this to reinforce the basics in the correct way to get better tone and dexterity.

[@memoyann]

For someone with tendonitis this is pure gold. Been trying the finger placement described here for a week and it feels like night and day.

[@ThePanchomack]

Man that is a great lesson ... Think Fingertips! I find that when you miss these fundamentals, all that follows is affected and is not as fluiditly as it could. And the tone takes great benefits from that! Tom, you're a great teacher! Thanks for posting. Now it's time to play and practice ;)

[@Cluless02]

Indeed, Mr. Quayle is spot on - keeping it on the tip, right next to the nail. Think Ritchie Blackmore.

[@Apafockl]

It's really so deep and fundamental that I didn't attach any importance to it before. Thanks for that knowledge🙏🏻

[@jdcaporali]

Fantastic lesson, Tom is a great teacher!!!

[@blackberrywhite7581]

I tried placing my left hand 🖐 fingertips accurately on the Fretboard while playing some Arpeggios, Shadow Voicing’s and Phrases and it was a complete disaster, so I sat down like Tom said and re-looked at my fundamentals and to my astonishment I realised that if I do not do or follow what Tom Quale advices I play a whole lot more consistently and my shoulder stopped aching, how come I asked, and it dawned on me “Dexterous Discrimination” has risen its head in the 21st Century yet again and I momentarily fell foul of it, so I put my right hand 🤚 on the fretboard and all was resolved - Actually to an E7 with the Root and 5th missing but that was not entirely a fundamental fingering issue. Fantastic Lesson Tom keep up good work and remember Iommi could be Watching!

[@frmcf]

You are the James Joyce of KZbin commenters.

[@TheBladepolisher]

To think that there are other guitar teachers who say you can't learn anything on You Tube . . . . . . to which I respond with a thunderous " Horse Shit ! ! ! ! ! ". Maybe they should be learning how to tech from Tom. Tom's technique as a teacher is as developed as his playing. He doesn't miss the small pieces of info and he explains it in a way that answers all the questions. We are so fortunate to have this extremely gifted artist as a mentor and teacher. Can't wait for his Solo to come out on Android ! ! ! !

[@rst4641]

Very helpful, Tom! Thanks! Lookin' forward to your next lesson!

[@zonakmahanta]

Thanks a lot Tom...you have no idea how much your finger placement technique helped me to be so much clean player suddenly 🙏🙏🙏

[@williamhogancamp7716]

Spent 15 years playing SRV almost exclusively. Since that often requires you mute with the fretting finger the string above and below, you do not use just the tip. Now I am getting in to jazz and that definitely requires less left hand string muting and use of finger tip, it takes some getting used to. The bottom line is that it depends on what your a playing as to which part of the finger you use to fret a note. You cannot do a 5 fret bend with the tip of your finger, ala Jimmy Page.

[@gusrion8902]

What this guy says is super important and I cant stress the word important enough. When you are building technique, in terms of speed and endurance, its like building a tower. If you don't take care of the foundation, the building is gonna collapse at some point or you are gonna get stuck which is you body saying to you ''You are not worthy for this speed mate, go back at the start and learn your lesson properly''. In high levels of techniques the term 'ish' does no exist, its either you are there or you go bad and try to refine your playing :)

[@minkorrh]

This is a very interesting video for me at this point. I've recently purchased (another) guitar which I've been playing 'as is' due to the fact is was restrung and set up just before I got it. It's rather unforgiving on the high E string as it's been set up with the action slightly too low, so to really get clear notes on the high E string I have to do exactly what you describe....perfect downward pressure and a fair bit of it which leads me to play in a very classical hand position with my wrist dropped and a nice arc of the fingers to the fretboard. It makes things super-accurate and has increased my speed and articulation overall (now I know how you get that _really_ cool staccato legato sound). I started out as a kid playing classical so the hand position was a no brainer. Great video, great teaching. Thanks Tom!

[@sonsauvage]

You and tim miller to me are prime examples of this idea

[@kahfigitar]

Spot on

[@guitarz99]

i have seen fellow canadian joey landreth live at a local small venue, you’re right about the accuracy its impressive

[@saepiumv3813]

Excellent lesson! Hope we get a Part 2!

[@TomsRockHouse]

Thank you for reminding! Very good lesson

[@artemmarkov9285]

Awesome workshop! Anyone found the rest of the series?

[@jazzercaster4749]

Is there part two coming out soon?

[@xyz6865]

Thank you Tom for this great lesson its really an eye opener for me. :)

[@rustycage5351]

Very good advice / lesson Tom.

[@jimsteed8517]

Top tips from Tom. Nice one, thank you.

[@joshmontederamos4813]

This video's heaps useful. Thanks!

[@Lovely_Lizard]

Great lesson, it’s gonna help me a lot cause I have that issue, my chords always seem to be a little to dull and muted, y licks are ok but wit this lesson I’m gonna keep in mind my left hand position and consistency

[@Zualra]

Thanks Tom, this is a godsend!!

[@MrDavyBigot]

Awesome!

[@frankzimmermann1318]

Great lesson Tom, thx a lot. As you’re pointing out the importance of playing with the fingertips I was wondering how you manage to mute the strings you do not want to ring. The basic rule I was taught was to keep the first finger on the strings to mute. Well, at least in single note lines…..Did I miss the difference between chordal playing and single notes vere?

[@Saesangism]

Where are the other parts?

[@francosuarez3039]

Thank you very much Tom! Really cool lesson! You Really needs to be aware of every detail!

[@ThePanchomack]

12:58 Funny hearing Tom talk about " ...us, mere mortals"

[@TheLadsBandLive]

Is there a Pt 2? If so, where? Thank you.

[@endisbandage7733]

PART 2?

[@BluesLicks101]

When I think of flawless, I think of Guthrie Govan. Perhaps the most thoughtful and deliberate player ever.

[@trevorowers44]

Superb lesson. The technique described might be challenging when playing Funk rhythm/muting and whilst trying to execute Gilmour style bends. Opinions welcomed please.

[@PeetaPlays]

So what happened to this series? I really wish it had continued, but I guess there wasn't enough demand for it?

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks, Tom!

[@jakem834]

This is going to sound incredibly naive but does placing your fingers right up against the frets create a better sound? I’ve always placed mine in the middle somewhere

[@petezah4597]

05:55 to 06:15 funny, that's exactly how I feel about Tom's left hand

[@stratmanuk]

Ho could anyone give Tom a thumbs down?That's just crazy jealousy surely!

[@hokahey8051]

Thanks for this video...I guess. I am a beginner and I'm so so so confused with what I see and hear on this video. It's because I believe Tom is an expert but then I watch SRV, Bonamassa and some other beasts and it looks like they are doing it very differently. I don' know what to learn, what to believe and what is correct. I like blues btw.

[@przemyslaw1235]

😊great teacher 😊⭐️

[@jeffmoreira1970]

thanks,,,,

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

5:30 What is his name? Joey Landreth ?

[@TomsRockHouse]

Yes! Have a look at "kzbin.info/www/bejne/poK9f56YetxlqMU". My favourite . Or him at Carter Vintage Guitars, checking some great guitars. There are lots videos of him on their KZbin channel

[@jean-renepirlet]

@@TomsRockHouse thx

[@clelandstephen4181]

All i found was Joey Landreth the slide player. He can't mean him...

[@BurntMcgurnt]

@@clelandstephen4181 he does for sure hes amazing!

[@colmcahill9549]

@@clelandstephen4181 was thinking the same

[@masterbanda4130]

How do I deal with the thumb Tom does it have to be on one position

[@jesseascriven]

Why is that light bulb on the left laying so low??

[@sweeptapper]

Ambient lighting!

[@stevenstabile4379]

something seems weird with his tuning because when he hits the high Eb it on a standard tuned guitar sounds an E?

[@procarpenter1788]

He tunes in all fourths. Great ear!

[@aragoza]

Part 2?

[@RichSieben]

hi, where are the other parts?

[@065kunal]

Can anyone give me the link to part 2 ?

[@willemsgrahpics]

Are you Rick Graham in disguise? Your talking voice sounds identical to his

[@jamesmstith]

Hi Tom, what model Ibanez are you playing in this video?

[@looneyzombie]

Its his Ibanez AZ signature

[@jamesmstith]

Looney Zombie thank you

[@amiraligh6493]

where is part 2 ? :(

[@Dave-ug9bh]

Tom one of the worlds greatest players calling himself a mere mortal 🤣

[@jjmatashi]

My fingers are ashamed of the frets :-(

[@javaclouds8017]

could anyone write the name of the guitarrist that Tom mentioned here, please?

[@uzer_zero]

Sounded like Joey Landreth (?).

[@javaclouds8017]

@@uzer_zero thanks for reply...BUT...this guy couldn't be the guitarrist that Tom is talking about...i saw videos of Joey Landreth...and hardly this guy adjust to what Tom describe. Maybe i'm wrong?

[@uzer_zero]

@@javaclouds8017 It's a guess, so I'm not actually sure. I just checked (should have done that earlier) and I see that others in the comments heard the same name so...?? :-)

[@javaclouds8017]

@@uzer_zero i know that is named here...but i'm not convinced or i can't believe this is the guy. Seeing him performing, for me is just a regular player...nothing special, and the most of time he uses a slide in the pinky finger!!....

[@ItsJustRyan89]

@@javaclouds8017 you’re looking at ‘Sonny’ not ‘Joey’

[@Win7ermu7e]

But Joey is a slide / finger-picker. How the heck and I supposed to watch his placement lol. . .

[@moloqai]

Please, could somebody write the name of the guitarist Tom is reffering to? Thank you!

[@tonywhitter]

Joey Landreth

[@moloqai]

@@tonywhitter Thank you!

[@peroherljevic7323]

thnx

[@frmcf]

As a language professional, I can tell you that your spelling technqiue in the thumbnail is not up to scartch.

[@solo_majolo639]

Lol, the irony😂

[@ChuloDavidcito]

I Argee! :) Typos are loads of fun.

[@fr3tw0rm]

please let this be a joke

[@raksh9]

I dond know what you're talking aboot

[@jasonwilding6334]

THIS.

[@siegmac3267]

Theres 1 stupid jelous guy who cant play a note and disliked the video.

[@vestigeal555]

Grab a guitar practice in front of a mirror and see the result

[@phantasm8180]

Zzzzzzz