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I was just wondering what drives you crazy when playing? Is it a particular piece of music? Or maybe it is a certain technique that you are trying to nail down like really fast picado, compas, tremolo or Nunez-esque super fast 6 note arpeggios.
As I am a BRAND NEW beginner and I am working on my technique and the songs I was given I can see that I am decent (for a newbie) in certain areas and very poor in others and it frustrates the crap out of me.
I ask this because I would like to see where the veterans have had troubles and, more importantly, how you overcame them.
So, what makes you want to bite the guitar? That crazy PdL song?
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
Picado. All other techniques seem surmountable, but this one is like a mirage in the desert. One day you think you have it, the next day you can't string two notes along.
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
One thing I wanted to ask folk like Grisha, Todd & Ricardo etc...is... How long does it take you guys to recover your technique up to a satisfactory level after, not playing AT ALL, for say one or two weeks? Is it hours or days? I'd be really interested to know...
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
For me it's gotta be clean left hand technique.
In general since a few years ago when I started spending more time on accompanying and less on solo technique it seems everything's just gone down the drain except tresillos...
I'm also curious to know from the pros at which point are you not required to sit with a tough piece for hours a day to get it perfect - only to lose it a couple of weeks later.
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
These days I would recover the technique in 3 days of intensive playing. But mind you, there are techniques that are just easier to recover, like that of picado. What is hard, is getting the strength back in your hands. Sometimes, however, taking a break makes you sound much better.
Posts: 21
Joined: Mar. 6 2005
From: cRoAtiA,zAgReB
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
I don't have a teacher , so I do all by myself and my progres is slow and that's what makes me very angry. Little help from someone who knows more than me would help, but I can't find him. And as samwise said lacko of practice time.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
If I have to play, and my fingers, especially right hand, are cold...that is a big problem. Even if I play for a while to warm up, if my actual temperature is cool, than I don't feel in control at all, or at least very slow.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
Ok here is the secret. For me, one glass of red wine warms my blood. Maybe not the same for everyone, but it works for me. Beer does not work at all. Hard liquor might affect your playing, , but a glass of tinto does it for me.
But if I don't have an option, and some folks don't ever drink at all, you can put vasoline or some grease on the right hand finger tips. It is a weird feeling because your numb finger tips cant feel the strings, but like magic, you grip and plant the string just right and the sound comes out. Try it for tremolo when you are cold and you will be surprised. A lot of pro flamenco players keep a spot of grease on the guitar body to dip the fingers in. It does kill your bass strings faster, so I prefer wine, but it does do the trick.
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
Thats really a big problem! In danceclasses the dancers allways wanna open the windows (in the winter too!!!!!!!) coz they danced and they are feeling warm. I sit next to these windows for 3 hours on my but and only move my hands and a foot. Than they let the blizzard inside the danceroom! I hate that! Than my fingers feel like gum.
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
Lol we once had to do a gig on a very slipery stage so they put dance pouder allover the stage to stop it from beeing slipery, about 2 minutes after the gig started all the pouder started to raise up( cause of the footwork) it went allover our fingers, it was terrible, it was as if we diped your fingers in honey.
I hate it when theres a gig or a class and i have to start playing straight away without worming up, by the time i am all ready the gig normaly ends
Posts: 432
Joined: Jan. 7 2005
From: Iasi, Romania
RE: What makes you bang your head ag... (in reply to TGerman)
I hate cold weather too..no playing ....in the summer seems like u can get some picado that u wont believe that u can do.Also same problem with cold hands ..
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, so I do all by myself and my progres is slow and that's what makes me very angry. 
, but a glass of tinto does it for me. 
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