| Effective guitar teachers understand that their work is | | | | fingers like a rubber stamp. |
| not so much teaching people how to play the guitar, | | | | (b) reverse this shape; so now your first finger is |
| but rather how to remove obstacles that prevent their | | | | playing the first fret, second string whilst your second |
| students from playing the way they want to play. | | | | finger is playing the second fret, first string. |
| One such obstacle is the perfect co-ordination of both | | | | Note: regarding your right hand, pluck the strings with |
| left and right hands; these skills are the very foundation | | | | your fingers not a pick. |
| of all good guitar playing... musical ideas that are | | | | (c) now widen the gap by return to your original shape |
| plagued by technical impediments will always be the | | | | only this time creating the shape using the first and |
| musical stumbling block for the advancing guitarist. | | | | third strings. |
| The secret all top professional guitarists know is ... "the | | | | First finger playing first string, first fret while the second |
| speed of going slow". When first confronted with this | | | | finger is placed behind the second fret, third string. |
| concept it may seem to be a contradiction; but think | | | | (d) time to flip the shape around again, don't forget to |
| about it for a while and it will make perfect sense. | | | | make sure your left hand fingers move in a single |
| Once you can perform a skill correctly at a slow | | | | action, not two separate moves. |
| tempo it is easy to increase the tempo and maintain | | | | First finger behind the first fret, third string and the |
| accurate execution of the music.Always remember | | | | second finger behind the second fret, first string. |
| speed is a by-product of accuracy! | | | | (e) you know the routine by now ... flip the shape over |
| The best guitar instructors function at many different | | | | again, widening the string gap.. |
| levels, one such level is that of a behavioral therapist in | | | | Finger one behind first fret, string one and finger two |
| as much that they help the student train or re-train (as | | | | behind second fret on the fourth string. |
| the case may be) their nervous system to refine their | | | | (f) Reverse the shape and it becomes: |
| motor skills to perform with precision. | | | | 1st finger behind first fret, fourth string whilst the |
| If you are lucky enough to be studying with a good | | | | second finger is place behind the second fret, first |
| guitar teacher follow his / her instructions carefully ... | | | | string. |
| you will be glad you did; for those who are not so | | | | Continue this flipping process until you have made it all |
| fortunate I've listed some very important left hand | | | | the way across to the sixth string, play s-l-o-w-l-y and |
| co-ordination exercise below: | | | | accurately. |
| Left hand co-ordination exercise - first and second | | | | By now you will have noticed that this exercise does |
| fingers | | | | not sound very musical ... it's not supposed to, it is an |
| (a) place your first finger behind the first fret, first string | | | | isometric co- ordination exercise; just do the work and |
| and your second finger behind the second string, | | | | it will work for you! |
| second fret. | | | | I invite you to use these tips and tools when you play |
| Important: Make a conscious effort to place both | | | | the guitar. |
| fingers down simultaneously as if you were using your | | | | |