I teach students how to play chords, how to play rhythm, how to solo, and lots more, but the greatest thing I can teach a student is technique.

What is technique?

When you know how to position your hands in the right way, and how to keep your fingers open when you play, or how to mute unwanted strings, or having your fingers learn to move individually and with strength, or how to not strum or pick unwanted strings, then, you are on your way to having good technique.

Why is it important?

The better your technique is the faster you learn and master any piece of music. Technique requires precision and that is achieved through muscle memory which comes through repetinion.

How can you learn good technique?

There are various exercises that are readily available on line that will work each of your individual fingers,  and that will also work your right hand technique. Exercises like, having your fingers positioned on the first four frets of the low E string. Each finger gets a fret and has to remain there once they are played. You will play 1 2 3 4 while picking down up down up with your right hand. Once you’ve played those 4 notes and manage to keep your hand stretched in a open position while playing then you move to the A string until you’ve gone all the way up to the first string and then return back to the low E string.
Now instead of playing 1234 you can play 1324 or 2341 or 4321 Etc.
Another exercise is playing scales, arpeggios or chords up and down the neck.

A side note: Always include a metronome in your practicing because that way you can monitor your speed. Start by setting a easily attaining tempo where you can learn to perfect something and once it’s perfected you can start building up to faster tempos.

When you are practicing chords you can play the chord and then remove your fingers and touch your leg and then play the chord again. The reason I suggest touching your leg is because that way you return back to the fretboard from a clean slate and learn to play the chord like that. Although this is a great way to learn new chords The Next Step will have to be to play the chords in a progression or at least two or three chords back and forwards because in the end you need to learn to move from one chord to the other fluently.

If you have more questions or you are interested in some one-on-one lessons please go ahead and contact me. I give guitar lessons in Morrisville and Raleigh North Carolina.

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