-
Wrong strings both fretting and picking
I would think I’d have figured this out by now (nearly 2 years in), but I still have trouble fretting and picking the wrong strings. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s alternate strings or adjacent ones. I’m a little better at the fretting part, but often slip away from the sweet spot next to the fret (either up or down), and especially if it’s a tricky chord or note progression. I almost always have to look, either at my fretting hand or the picking hand. Fingerpicking, aside from ill-coordination, is a bit easier as I can actually feel which string I’m on (sometimes). I have tried using my pinky as an anchor for picking, but it’s not always easy to keep it down on the body of the guitar and still reach up to pick the lower strings.
I love finding useful workarounds, and right now I’m tempted to attach a bridge over the sound hole to rest my hand on so I can know where it is, but I don’t want to damage my guitar. Fretting is another matter; not sure what to do there. Muscle memory could help, but if I get shifted up or down it’s in the wrong place. I can’t type for the same reason.
-
7 Replies
-
You’ll get it. Muscle memory just takes repetition and as long as you are having fun you keep working at it. None of us are striving for record contracts… just a little music to brighten our lives.
-
Oh, I know, but if I keep hitting the wrong strings how will the correct moves get into muscle memory? And it’s not fun when I keep flubbing up. So I play easy stuff (strumming mostly). Even then, if I don’t look at me fretting hand at least every couple of measures I get shifted off course. If I could practice for longer times without getting tired I could probably achieve it quicker.
-
-
@BarbaraM just try to stay positive! Did you record yourself when you started? If so you might want to look at that and notice your growth.
Have you looked at any of the skill courses recently? Maybe you can find something there that can tighten things up. There are all sorts of courses for both the fretting and the picking/strumming hand.
Some of us take longer to learn than others, I am right there with you. Learning to play guitar has been slow going for me as well, but I can see the growth because
1. I remember when I couldn’t play at all
2. I have taken notes quite frequently while playing through the challenges
3. I have recorded myself at least every few monthsOne habit that has really exploded my growth has been playing while watching TV. I’ll stream one of my favorite shows and just have the guitar on my lap while I am looping through some exercise or playing a lick. This really helps getting it into your subconscious mind because you’re doing another thing simultaneously. In other words you learn to do things without having to think (automatically), like riding a bike or driving your car.
-
I have only recorded a couple of things that I like to play, not recently. I DO remember when I couldn’t play at all–thought I could never get it, then realized I just needed a smaller guitar. Now, reaching things is less of an issue, but I can’t seem to get over the string issue. It’s like I need a magnet on my finger(s) that will draw them to the correct strings at the right time. Or two sets of eyes!
Not sure if I could play while watching TV; my attention would likely be divided, but I’ve never tried it. But I will. I AM going to try getting more aggressive with my arthritis, and maybe more finger exercises; that might help with better agility.
-
The divided attention thing is the point. You are trying to get your moves to become automatic. Of course you do have to rehearse them while looking for some time but it all possible you can try to feel rather than look, that would be preferable.
-
You can learn finger placement separate from strumming/picking, that makes it simpler and easier to do while watching TV. Lauren Bateman teaches how to memorize chord shapes in your fingers (muscle memory). https://youtu.be/QCBmVesk8X8
-
-
-
I am still looking, but once it goes smoothly, I try to do some notes without looking. Exactly what I just played looking at it. I does help some I think. I agree it is repetition. I am trying to do without looking more and more
Log in to reply.