devilhand -> Left hand speed (Oct. 14 2024 15:36:29)
My left hand technique is good. But not fast enough. My right hand picado is faster. Can you guys recommend best practices and exercises for left hand speed? There are tons of videos on youtube mostly from E guitar shredders which cause more confusion than clarity.
Ricardo -> RE: Left hand speed (Oct. 14 2024 16:07:53)
Choose a Taranta you like and work on the open string ligados, but don't just do them "free style" work on them with a metronome like rhythmic phrases. To sharpen the timing of those, use that sponge or some blocker under the strings down at the bridge so the guitar doesn't resonate. Then you here the rhythmic "pop" of your left hand and how uneven it is. Work on getting it even. This evenness will translate to "speed" as you develop it. Eventually the left hand should surpass the right interns of fast and even rhythms for single note runs.
devilhand -> RE: Left hand speed (Oct. 16 2024 12:58:48)
Thanks maestro. Legato and speed. I see already it will be a game changer. Is your approach similar to what Grisha demonstrates here? The only difference is that we damp the strings and do rhythmic phrases instead?
Ricardo -> RE: Left hand speed (Oct. 16 2024 13:16:12)
quote:
ORIGINAL: devilhand
Thanks maestro. Legato and speed. I see already it will be a game changer. Is your approach similar to what Grisha demonstrates here? The only difference is that we damp the strings and do rhythmic phrases instead?
Not just rhythmic in nature, but musical, meaning functional in a piece you actually want to perform. I never really understand the point of chromatic exercises vs say diatonic scales, which will be used orders of magnitude more often. Sabicas has some cool partial chromatic falsetas we discussed in the past, but in general they don’t provide any advantage to basic diatonic melodies in terms of developing technique. Opinions may differ (“hi, my name is bob and chromatic boring shyte changed my life!!” [:D]).
The real issue with speed is rhythmic control and synchronization of the two hands. Like a drummer has to train. The mute helps focus the ear on that evenness.
