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Posted by: 29a Mar 31 2009, 11:45 PM

Some days ago I've noticed a problem with my playing. It was mostly eye to hand coordination. I had to stare at the fretboard to play! So I started to close my eyes while practicing. At first I often fretted the wrong notes and it was quite frustrating. But after just a few days (I think it was 3 days) of doing this as part of my daily practice I've noticed big progress with my playing. I think I broke my speed blockade because of this! As most of you guys probably know - it's a wonderful feeling to break such a blockade!

So if you (or one of your students) are constantly looking at the fretboard why playing I'd strongly suggest you to just try to close your eyes while playing!

Hope that helps some others on their journey into guitar land!

- Jonas

Posted by: Emir Hot Mar 31 2009, 11:48 PM

I agree that this method is very helpful although there is nothing wrong if you're looking at what you're playing I am glad you've made it.

Posted by: Joe Kataldo Mar 31 2009, 11:52 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience, you highlighted a good point

Posted by: 29a Apr 1 2009, 12:04 AM

Sure, but I think you (or more likely I) shouldn't be using your eyes to coordinate your fingers. My point is not that one should always play with closed eyes. I think it's very important to watch and check everything while practicing. But rather one should be able to play with closed eyes.

Cheers,
Jonas

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Apr 1 2009, 12:46 AM

This is known as visualization technique. I use it with all my students, it boosts learning pace and experience by milestone.

Good job man !

Posted by: UncleSkillet Apr 1 2009, 01:22 AM

Congrats!

I also find this very useful especially when I'm practicing AP or a lick with a metronome and trying to gain speed. It helps me focus on the timing and how clean things sound also.

Posted by: Déjà vu Apr 1 2009, 01:52 AM

It was my Geometry teacher last year (brilliant guitarist), who told me that when you rely on your vision while you are playing, you are using an unnecessary amount of your "senses." When your hand itself becomes familiar with the "motions", and when you close your eyes, you can then truly focus on what "sounds" best (I.E. Fixing all buzzes, unwanted ringing).

I'm glad you made this discovery on your own. I cannot agree with you more! This is THE best way to practice (the most effective, in my opinion).

Posted by: Evil_Invader Apr 1 2009, 02:25 AM

I use that too while praticing for a while now.

If I feel that I'm not ''on it'' at rehearshal or live I often close my eyes for a second and then focus more on playing ''right''. It's funny because people are like ''wow he can play with his eyes closed'' while I do that because I had a doubt for a moment.

Posted by: jdriver Apr 1 2009, 02:48 AM

Pedja is right... Visualization is a very powerful tool to help you learn. Go through the motions in your mind over and over, and it's amazing, you find you can play it.

Secondly, one of the ways I realized I was improving was when I suddenly could improvise Major scale over a practice loop without looking. Very good feeling.

Posted by: kahall Apr 1 2009, 03:34 AM

I've had that work for me as well. Especially when going from one end of the fret board to the other. If I am looking at the board I almost never go to the correct placement, if I am not looking I almost always hit the mark. Weird.

Posted by: Pragomatic Apr 1 2009, 03:39 AM

I normally look at a mirror instead of the fretboard because I am SHOCKINGLY HANDSOME and can't take my eyes off myself.

I'll advance this one step further - practicing without your guitar can also help a great deal. I've often struggled with a particular run and spent free thinking time while driving and such just repeating the run and the fingering in my head. When I pick the guitar back up often there is usually a noticeable improvement.

Posted by: Ivan Mihaljevic Apr 1 2009, 08:32 AM

Never tried this approach, but if it works for you, go for it...

Posted by: Marcus Lavendell Apr 1 2009, 08:53 AM

I do this all the time, not just while practicing. I think it's easier to get in the "feel" when the eyes are closed.

Great advise!

Posted by: Chris Evans Apr 1 2009, 09:03 AM

yea if it works for you then do it!

Like Marcus I tend to close my eyes more for feel, I look at the fretboard a lot but a little like driving I`m not always looking at what I`m playing, I`m looking ahead at the next notes I`m going to be playing, if playing a 3nps run accross several strings then I`ll be looking at the first note I`m going to play on the next string, if that makes any sense at all?

Posted by: superize Apr 1 2009, 09:17 AM

If i play a difficult part i always end up looking at what i am playing but when i play stuff i know by heart i dont have to look.....

I think its great that you can play without looking because then you dont think about where you put your hands it comes automatticly

Congtraz on the progress

Posted by: djohnneay Apr 1 2009, 11:04 AM

Congrats man !

I think it is very useful to be able to play without looking. I try to do this myself, but when I try, I mess up
Guess practicing is the anwser to that...

Posted by: Artemus Apr 1 2009, 11:18 AM

All my mirrors crack when I look at them

Regarding not looking at the fretboard - it can only be a good thing. As long as I don't have to jump around to much and change hand position, closing my eyes when playing works a treat. I can focus on minimising my hand movements, the cleanliness of my playing and my overall sound. However when jumping up and down the fretboard I need to look so as to target the notes I need to land on.

Posted by: David Wallimann Apr 1 2009, 12:05 PM

Thanks a lot for that tip man!

Posted by: Pavlov Apr 1 2009, 12:09 PM

Such is the curse of being really, really, really, really, really, ridiculously good looking.

Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 1 2009, 12:10 PM

Thats a really good advice!

Posted by: TheOldOnes Apr 1 2009, 05:16 PM

This is a really good idea - I normally look at the fretboard for most of the difficult parts but I have noticed that for some difficult rhythm parts, I can master them faster and better if I don't look at the fretboard.

As well, I picked up a Pod XT before Xmas and I have been playing through that alot lately using headphones. Because all my equipment is in our bedroom, switching to headphones allowed to increase my practice time with the wife around. One night though, I couldn't sleep and started playing at 3am. With no lights and a really quiet background, I was amazed at the sound of my playing despite making mistakes from not being able to see the guitar. So now I try once a week to get up in the middle of the night and play.

Posted by: Jose Mena Apr 1 2009, 05:25 PM

Good tip, never thought of it this way, will do it more often from now on, and see what happens.

Posted by: Nazgul Apr 1 2009, 05:28 PM

I'll try it, sounds good and useful to not get stuck at a certain BPM.

Posted by: Artemus Apr 1 2009, 05:40 PM

Hey! A Zoolander quote! So it's actually a mirror shaped like a giant spoon then.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Apr 1 2009, 05:51 PM

Definitely a proper advice. Closing the eyes and just listening what you play is something that means a lot. I use every chance I have to do this, I only look back at the fretboard when I have to move far across the neck.

Posted by: Carlos Carrillo Apr 1 2009, 05:57 PM

Cool advice!thanks!!

Posted by: Enucleation Apr 1 2009, 06:49 PM

I really should try this. Often times when i do a long 6 string, or so, run I end up looking at my picking hand... and I have no idea as to why! I think maybe when I was just starting I probably looked at my picking hand a lot and maybe it built up in habit. But now I can't see the fretboard and I'll make sloppy mistakes

I'm going to try this eyes closed thing if nothing else then it won't matter if retarded habits come out and it will probably break it.

Thanks.