So I'm erasing 3+ years of bad playing...

[Basti]

...and essentially starting over. Long story short, I recently realised just how sloppy I've been about learning efficient technique, evidently I chose to ignore the massive build-up of tension I was creating in both hands because of wanting to get better as fast as possible. Meaning I have massively inconsistent picking accuracy and speed, fretting, bending, and so on...
Fast-forward to the present and I'm trying to re-learn songs, make exercises to focus on different abilities and techniques, taking it easy and trying not to kick myself too hard.

All I want to know is if I'm on the right track...I'm learning by a bunch of golden rules for both my fretting and picking techniques and I feel like I've made a step in the right direction, but I want to be cautious.
General rule: if I'm straining and tensing up too much with any movement, it can't be right.
Fretting: hand is relaxed, fingers are the ones that make the journey to the frets while the rest of the hand is there to shift up and down the board. Relaxation means my thumb is in the lower hemisphere of the neck and pretty much stays where it is. [bending (still pretty unsure here): as little strain as possible, rotating my wrist with anchorage from my thumb which goes to the outside of the neck.
Picking: just keep it simple, I frequently check there isn't any tension from my shoulder down to my fingers (well, except to keep the pick in place), often play clean without letting any of my right arm or hand touch the guitar, which feels weird but not uncomfortable or painful so I could get used to it with time.

I apologise for the wall of text, it's part of my making this a complete turning point so I can go back and do it right this time. If anyone knows where I'm coming from or has any helpful advice on the matter, I will be really, truly and extremely grateful.

- Basti

 

[Basti]

I'm beginning to have lots of doubts all over again. My main right-hand focus now is to concentrate on hitting the right strings using as little tension as possible.
Is this the right way to go about picking?

 

[groverj3]

I'm by no means an expert, but I've been re-examining my technique lately as well. Trying to eliminate my tendency to pick from my elbow when tremolo picking/fast alternate picking.

My approach has been to work with a metronome and speed up my normal motion when picking slow. Do it gradually. The great part is, because you already know how to play, the progress will be faster than you think.

However, I've found it's best not to set goals for this. Just practice 3 note per string patterns and increase 5 bpm every so often starting at 120. Do 8th notes, triplet 8ths, 16, and triplet 16ths. If you find a speed where you no longer have control, lower the bpm by 1 or 2 focus on increasing speed without increasing tension.

Seems to be working for me.

 

[Nyrrth]

Hi there,

I won't post about picking technique etc. because there are a thousand and one pick holding and picking techniques out there, and some mind-blowing players have quite unusual techniques. I think what's important is to understand what works for you and feels comfortable/natural and build on it.

I went through a similar epiphany recently, except it was about a decade of sloppy playing and noodling. As groverj3 put it, since you already know how to play, progress will be fast. That's exactly what happened to me.

I recently wrote a riff in 16th notes that required fretting different positions for each of those notes, involved string skipping, alternate picking, etc. In other words, it wasn't simply chugging 16th notes on one string (which I can do pretty easily). I wanted to play this riff around the 132bpm mark, and it was impossible when I first came up with it. The best I could barely do was 100bpm, and that tensed me up after a while. So I did what I've avoided for years. I slowed down. Slowed it down to 70bpm where I could play it easily. Really focused on accuracy, coordination between left and right hands, breathing, tension etc. Once I felt comfortable, I increased by 2bpm and repeated the process for several minutes. Long story short, in 2 days I could play at 100bpm MUCH easier than when I started, and in 5 days total, I'm doing my goal of 132bpm. I still need to clean it up so that I can play it correctly 100% of the time, so I'm going to slow it back down to around 110-115bpm for a few more sessions.

I think there is huge merit in just slowing down and concentrating, and focus on your hiccup points, and slowly building up. I wouldn't call it "erasing" what you know. You'll be surprised that what you've learnt so far will actually help in getting to your goal much quicker than a complete beginner, so long as you just have the patience to take it slowly and easily for just a few days.

 

[Basti]

Thanks guys, you really helped a lot. I guess it'll be down to lots and lots of patience, not to mention a friggin' metronome once and for all

 

[cwhitey2]

I have been going back and working on things I thought I knew.

Arpeggios for example. I have always loved them. The one I have been working on (for like 3 years now ) is a 5 string run. I jumped head first thinking go big or go home...instead of working my way up to the 5 strings. I think thats what was taking me so long to get it tight. Im finally able to consistently do it at 180bpm now (which was my goal). But I had to go back and relearn it to get where im at.

Point being is that it never hurts to go back and relearn something. But just make sure youre learning it correctly

 

[RobPhoboS]

Good post.
Something that is worth noting, no matter what it is - work/music/socialising etc

It's well worth seeking tuition for a few sessions, or even months to help get perspective from someone better, no matter how good you may think you are/aren't.