TAC Family Forums

Hello!

I am new to TAC (first week), but not new to making music. I do not know what you have accomplished, but I’ll share something, just in case it is helpful. If not, please disregard.

I know how important music is, especially while creating your own on an instrument you love, have invested time, money, and heart into, and want to continue playing. I have a couple thoughts . . .

I am not proficient at guitar – average, self-taught – but I do teach piano, so I’ll offer a tip that might help (if what you are experiencing is not neurological). There are so many things to manage while playing an instrument, so being able to isolate one thing can make a difference. So, say for instance, if a piano student is tightening into an unhealthy hand posture during a particular passage, I take them off the keys, lower the lid over the keyboard (the fall board), take them through a couple relaxation exercises (posture check, Heavy Ropes, meaning let the arms fully fall from the shoulders like heavy weights, shake them out, then bend at an imaginary hinge installed in the elbow as they float onto the keys to continue feeling the same relaxation while playing). Then, instead of having them play the tension-building music/exercise on the keyboard, I have them play it on the fall board where we focus on looking at the hand, the fingers, and keeping that light, floating feeling in the arm as they play the piece on the top of the wood. When they are ready, we open the fall board, check their posture, re-do Heavy Ropes, float their hands to the keys by bending at the imaginary elbow-hinge, then work to keep their hands inside the same relaxation as they rest their fingers on the instrument. Then, as they keep their body feeling the same as when they played on the fall board, they begin to engage with the keys.

How does this transfer to guitar strumming? I’ll share a couple ideas that might help, or inspire new concepts from there:

· Remove the guitar from your lap to try something similar.

· Install an imaginary string to the top of your head that pulls your posture upward, as everything else relaxes (similar to what Tony says). If you are able, another way to check posture is by taking a few seconds to stand on your toes. It is difficult to have poor posture when standing or walking this way. If your posture is off, losing balance from a brief toe-check will tell you your posture needs a quick adjustment. (Ever notice toddlers when they first learn to walk? They balance themselves by walking on their toes. It automatically creates perfect posture). If you are able to stay on your toes, memorize the feeling. Keep the string pulling upward from the top of the head. When you sit back down, bend from the waist, but keep everything above the belt line feeling the same. Memorize the feeling and recheck as often as needed.

· While maintaining your posture, do the heavy ropes exercise by letting your arms hang heavily from your shoulders as the imaginary string at your head continues to hold your spine upward while your arms relax comfortably, falling heavily at your sides. No tension.

· Without the guitar, quietly bend your arm at the imaginary hinge installed in your elbow as you float your forearm into position, then lightly begin air strumming without a pick, as if you are strumming the guitar, much like my students do while playing on the fall board. This allows you to focus on your body rather than the instrument.

· Is your elbow relaxed? Your forearm? Shoulders? Is your hand relaxed from your wrist? Let it fall naturally, feeling limp. Is your body flicking your hand outward, or can you lightly strum the air? Try different types of strumming you have practiced. Create a body memory for each strum. Is air strumming working? Is your arm and hand remaining relaxed?

· When you are ready, replicate that motion over the guitar – but do not strum the strings, yet. Feel the sensation of moving a relaxed hand as you air strum in front of the strings. Memorize the feeling. Create the formation of new sensory muscle memory. Breathe . . . Relax . . . No stress . . . No fear . . . Let it feel safe.

· When you are ready, begin lightly strumming – no pick. Maintain the same air motion, the same relaxation, the same floating as your forearm hangs loose and continues moving with the aid of the pivot point of that elbow hinge. Keep it light. Don’t focus on sound or playing every string. Focus on the feeling. Check your posture, the upward tug of the head string, the motion in your hand. Is it flicking outward, now?

· If that is comfortable and seems successful, try adding the pick. You could begin the same way. Check your posture before beginning to air pick away from the guitar without a tight grip. Keep it loose and easy. Go through the steps to eventually add the guitar and bringing your pick to the strings. Focus on the feeling of relaxation and lightly draping your hand from a relaxed wrist, as much as you can. Ignore the sound, this is about establishing a new sensation to your playing, a new way of being. Then take it by steps while trying to isolate the root of the problem. Is it posture, the way you hold the guitar (some say holding it so the neck of the guitar is pointing more upward compared to parallel to the ground can take stress off the fret hand, or purchasing a little foldable guitar foot stand could help keep it high enough while playing without needing to anchor the heal on the edge of a chair, et al, while maintaining more relaxation in the body). Are you unconsciously squeezing the pick, playing too loudly that could generate more tension, holding overall generalized tension in the body? Are you breathing? In through the nose, out through the mouth? (I use these techniques for my own tendency of holding tension in my body. Sometimes it takes mindful mind-over-matter to make changes that may be drastic, or subtle, depending on the need. Tension can be unlearned, but it often requires uncomfortable change – but worth it.)

· If part of the problem comes from gripping the pick too tightly, you could try a Fender Mojo Grip pick (shape 351) which works well for me (they come in white or brown). It has a black rubber-type holder that fits over the top of the pick adding bulk and removing my need for a vice-type grip when I am picking. It changed everything. The rubber material is tacky, so it kind of sticks to my fingers, removing the concern of dropping it when I play. The pick can also be removed from the rubber holder to change it out to a different pick you might already have on hand. I purchased their medium pick, over the light. Light picks can take a little extra effort and motion to strum compared to the medium. But it’s all personal preference. The sales person at my local music store talked me into the medium, and I had my doubts, but he was right. I have more control over what I am doing with less effort. They come in packs of 3, and I love them.

I hope it helps!

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  musicrme.