Reducing Tension in Left hand

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trivium91

Posts: 215
Joined: Jan. 24 2022

Reducing Tension in Left hand

Found a video that i found really helpful that i thought i would share with members. I think a lot of people struggle with left hand tension which is bad news for accuracy and speed.

I tend to fall off doing scales and spiderwalks focusing mostly on the music as they can be boring, though with this new mindful practice they are fun again. I really like the analogy of pressing your finger into jelly and then just releasing, it seems more satisfying now when doing scales. It also forces me to slow down and really focus on each note of the scale and how it feels. Anyways, I found it helpful and thought it might help others.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 28 2022 18:42:41

devilhand

Posts: 1602
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: Reducing Tension in Left hand (in reply to trivium91)

As for scales and chromatic runs, I can give you better advice. After pressing down with your index finger, you ignore your index and activate your middle finger for example. By doing so, your index finger will move away from the fretboard automatically and become relaxed on its own. You keep other inactive 2 fingers (ring and little) relaxed because they're not used.
The same goes for other finger combinations. Ignore your middle finger and direct your attention to your ring finger etc.

Btw, pumping nylon has some good exercises starting at 6:35. You can keep watching the rest in part 6.

_____________________________

Say No to Fuera de Compás!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 28 2022 21:51:15

Stu

Posts: 2536
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Reducing Tension in Left hand (in reply to trivium91)

hahah did he just say "we be talking 'bout"

Classical guitarist tryng to be cool?

anyway nice video,thanks for sharing

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 29 2022 11:14:58

trivium91

Posts: 215
Joined: Jan. 24 2022

RE: Reducing Tension in Left hand (in reply to devilhand)

quote:

ORIGINAL: devilhand

As for scales and chromatic runs, I can give you better advice. After pressing down with your index finger, you ignore your index and activate your middle finger for example. By doing so, your index finger will move away from the fretboard automatically and become relaxed on its own. You keep other inactive 2 fingers (ring and little) relaxed because they're not used.
The same goes for other finger combinations. Ignore your middle finger and direct your attention to your ring finger etc.

Btw, pumping nylon has some good exercises starting at 6:35. You can keep watching the rest in part 6.

Thanks I will give it a shot, I’m trying to get over a plateau so have been recently putting some attention to scales and chromatic runs like this, it’s actually working really well for me since I have a heavy hand normally, it’s tough to stay light on the left hand while doing crazy things with the right.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 29 2022 16:07:49

devilhand

Posts: 1602
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: Reducing Tension in Left hand (in reply to Stu)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stu

hahah did he just say "we be talking 'bout"

Classical guitarist tryng to be cool?

anyway nice video,thanks for sharing

So obvious he really wanted to say classical guitar shred. Since shredding is not correct wording for classical guitar, he somehow called his youtube channel classical guitar shed.

_____________________________

Say No to Fuera de Compás!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 29 2022 20:00:35

silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Reducing Tension in Left hand (in reply to devilhand)

Look up woodshedding.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2022 22:26:38

Stu

Posts: 2536
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Reducing Tension in Left hand (in reply to devilhand)

As usual your meaning is ambiguous with lack of emoji use.

"Woodshedding", or shedding, is a term commonly used by musicians to mean rehearsing a difficult passage repeatedly until it can be performed flawlessly. The term is used metaphorically where "the woodshed" means any private place to practice without being heard by anyone else.

So devil hand, either you're a super dry wit or you're dead wrong!
😄

I never know which it is with you.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2022 9:33:37