Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: vampire14 Jan 17 2009, 12:38 PM

i wanted to share and get your opinion on something i just begun to notice.
i want you to try something.
take a simple 3 nps riff something like that and try to play it but only with your left hand no need to pick and no need to make a sound just play it as if your were picking and do it as fast as you can.
now take your pick and pick the strings of the riff without holding it with your left hand and see how fast can you do it.
now combine. if you play it now slower than you did with only the one hand than what i came to realize that the fastest way to improve for you isnt practicing left hand speed or right hand speed. its actually practicing how you synchronize them while playing. tell me what you came up with this experiment.

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Jan 17 2009, 01:41 PM

Thanks for sharing that idea.


I was introduced to this concept years ago when I started and it really helps a lot improve faster.

Nowdays I do variation of it that I consider to be even better. Its something between visualizing process and finger memory.

I advise my students to take a passage and play it 10 times by looking at both hands. Then I tell them to play the same passage 10 more times just by looking at Left hand. Then same thing looking at the right hand 10 times, and finally closing their eyes and playing it !

During playing they should focus on each hand and finger (or pick stroke) and visualize whats happening.


I have actually taught students their first song as Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton this way. Its amazing how it works. You can apply it to anything you learn.

Try it out and let me know how it works for you !

Posted by: David Wallimann Jan 17 2009, 05:22 PM

Very good insight guys!
I'll have to try that myself and try it on my students.
Thanks for sharing these ideas!!!

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jan 18 2009, 12:29 AM

Ha, I was thinking of that too these days. I am really good picker, but when it comes to left hand....really weak.
I can do legatos and stuff, but togehter left and right....I have problems with sync.
I noticed that whenever you don't press the fret hard enough it's harder to pick. You have to invest more energy in that single stroke. Also, the really important thing about left hand is how fast can your raise your finger from the fretboard. That determines overall speed. Just a thought, I may be wrong.

What certainly works? Playing with metronome. NOTHING can beat the metronome.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jan 18 2009, 09:14 PM

I agree with Vasilije. The best advise I can give on the subject is taking a metronome, starting from whole notes @ 60bpm, and practicing away....

Posted by: 29a Jan 18 2009, 10:20 PM

I did beat a metronome once. And then it broke!

- Jonas

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jan 18 2009, 10:52 PM

sometimes I want to beat mine!

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Jan 19 2009, 03:17 AM

Thats why I use metronomeonline.com
Had some weird experiences with metronomes in the past

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jan 20 2009, 12:25 AM

You would believe what metronome am I using. Hand made(Do it your self type). I bought a "metronome electronic kit" in the store, and my friend wired it electronically, and put it in the old walkman case:)
Nobody can figure it out what is it when they first see it. Paid for it 3-4 $, 7 years old. But I love it, and it still works:)

Posted by: Budmas Jan 20 2009, 02:45 AM

I go through metronomes like they're going out of style... My wife keeps tossing them out, she hates the clicks, lol... Though my favorite one is the Quiktime one (I think it's also one of the cheapest). The only one I have left is my daughter's Korg Metronome that's all digital (looks like a little blue guitar tuner). Can't beat practicing with a metronome for speed and accuracy.

Buddy

Posted by: Jose Mena Jan 20 2009, 03:13 AM

I haven't done this, but I belileve you are absolutely right, the key to shred is to synchronize left and right hand, good advice

Posted by: Frank Jan 20 2009, 04:07 AM

I have a very old fashen metronom,I got it from the Gipsis when i was a yung kid. I cal let tap your feet. By the way i'm using this left and right hand think fore a long time.I figur this out my self and i'm using it to this days:) That is how i anelise my hands speed.

Posted by: Toni Suominen Jan 20 2009, 03:30 PM

I always use that too

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jan 21 2009, 12:21 AM

Interesting site!
The problem is always that clicking, I tried one electronic, really expensive metronome and it has sound so annoying(Sega Mega) you want to smash it in the wall. Mine has better

Guys, I just found out awasome thing. On the metronomeonline.com there is a metronome application for the cellphone. Perfect! It's "try before you buy", original is 6 bucks. I am very much tempted to buy it!:)

Posted by: utak3r Jan 21 2009, 12:46 AM

hm, that's a nice idea
If someone has a WindowsMobile phone, I could write such an app for it (I have several WindowsMobile phones). I could write for Symbian, too - but then you would have to sigh it for yourself....

Anyone interested?