Akward Finger Positions

[DustFerret]

I'm learning Ten years Gone by Led Zeppelin, and Closer to the Heart by Rush. However I find some of the finger changes very awkward. In closer to the heart It's very odd, since you're going from a 6 on the 3rd string, and a 4 on the 1st, to a 7th on the first. It's difficult to move my fingers that way. it isn't speed, it just seems very awkward. Should I just practise that over and over again, or are there easier ways to do things like that.

I also have difficulty going from 1 string playing, immediately to play several strings at once. I should get finger weights for my ring finger. Does anyone know where to get those?


Thank you in advance, love the site.

[IbanezAndTamaDrums]

Chris, just do it over and over again, you get used to it.

[DustFerret]

You're dumb Dusty. Shut up.

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by DustFerret

You're dumb Dusty. Shut up.

Actually he is pretty much right. However there are things you can do to make this method a lot more effective.

It seems like you are already able to locate the sections that need to be focused on, which is great. To make better use of time it is great to practice a single move at one time.

Keep in mind it is all about muscle memory, basically teaching the muscles how a certain change feels. So, try this excercise.

1. Place your hand in the position right before the change. It is impotant to make sure the hand is exactly how it will be while you are actually playing the whole part.

2. From this position, move your hand and fingers to the new position AS SLOWLY AS YOU CAN. This will probably not be as easy as you think it will. If at any point you feel like you lose control of your fingers or you end up hitting another string or fret than what you meant immediatly stop and rest your hand on your knee for a second to reset. This is to prevent teaching your muscles a bad move.

3. Repeat until you feel like you can confidently speed it up and always remember to reset your hands every time you make a mistake. If at some point you can't get it at a certain speed go back to doing it slowly, or take a break for a little while.

It takes some patients but it has done wonders for me playing.

[DustFerret]

I've been teaching myself, so my practice excersises are pretty weak. I will definately do that. I tedn to get very frustrated with a part I can't do, and then I do the part I can over and over again, which isn't helping much. I need to get on track practising.

[IbanezAndTamaDrums]

Told ya Chris

[DustFerret]

Ha. I knew you were right. I just like telling you to shut up, because I'm clearly 895759345473597345 times more awesome you are. Becuase I play lead. =P

[IbanezAndTamaDrums]

Because I gave it up to you so I can spend more time doing school stuff, anyway, thats off topic, thanks dagasto, I was in need of a better way to practise those akward motions as well.

[DustFerret]

Oh yeah!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I know. Darn you!

[gtrdr]

Hey Dust - good tunes. Technique is really important and you can develop bad habits if you learn it improperly. The best way is to take lessons, but I understand if thats not in the card (though really, one or two can help tons). Anyway, here goes:
1. USE ALL FOUR FINGERS FOR FRETTING. A lot of people neglect the pinky finger early on, and then can't pick it up later. This happened to me, and when I started playing jazz and other hard stuff, I, WAS, SCREWED. It took a long time to develop the technique, and even now i avoid the pinky unless I need to use it.
For the tune you mentioned, use your ring finger for 6th fret 3rd string, you index for 4th fret 1st string, and you pinky for the 7th fret 1st string. This also goes in conjunction with the next point...
2. DON'T CHOKE THE NECK. People like to wrap the thumb on top of the fingerboard and point their fingers down toward the bridge - even Jimi and SRV did this, but us mortals need better technique to achieve what the gods did (they also had HUUUUUUGE hands, as does John Mayer, though his technique is pretty awesome). This will kill your technique once you advance to the tough stuff (i.e. what you;re playing now). SO, make sure your thumbs is pushing on the back of the neck, you fingers are PARALLEL to the frets and PERPENDICULAR the the strings, and you may need to keep you elbow closer to your torso. This way, your fingerings will be more precise and you'll have better range, which will make this stuff a lot easier once you get used to it.

These things will feel REALLY weird at first, but you'll be able to play the stuff in time and youll be a much better guitarist in the long run.