chromatic exersize

[frethog72]

First I want to say this site rules. To get to the point I am going over all the lessons cause you never know what you can learn by going back to the basics. In the chromatic exe. that you gave in lesson 1 you said to leave your fingers on the strings even after the ascending note was played. Why is this important? I took lessons for a short time and that guy said just the opposite, so that you can be ready to play a note on another string. When using your method of practice I find myself releasing my index as the pinky is played. PS I totally love your site:)

[MrSamson]

What are you looking for???

What do you want to accomplish...??

The reason I ask is that...you mentioned that the exercise Stone mentions in the lessons you benefited immensely from....are you after more exercises like that?

I refer to a FANTASTIC book for Achromatic exercises in my lesson pages...check it out!!!

Oh...a note on the lesson pages...people..I sent stone the beta version of my guitar book pages...I thought they came together pretty cool...Stone is going through them now and dialing them in...look for em' soon!!!!!

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/devil.gif

[StoneDragon]

There's nothing wrong with REALEASING the index as the pinky is played.... that is exactly what I do.

But... big but.... you have to learn the difference between RELEASING the finger and LIFTING the finger before you will get it right. When you lift the fingers, you apply the opposing muscles. When you release the fingers, you simply relax the muscles that were used to hold the string down in the first place.

Most beginners have a tendency to "lift" the index as the middle moves down to play its note and then "lift" the middle as the ring is moving down to play its note etc... This causes their playing to sound choppy and creates needless tension in the fretting hand. The best way to combat this is to start by keeping all the fingers down on an ascending run and then learning to "release" the fingers just in time to move to the next string.

The whole point to learning this way is for developing smoothness when moving from one note to the next and eventually, economy and relaxation in the fretting hand.

I may have to make that more clear in the lesson.

[This message has been edited by StoneDragon (edited June 11, 2000).]

[frethog72]

Mr Samson,
In my exploration of the world of guitar I usually look for exes. that challenge my hands but at the same time can bee expanded to increase challenge and benifit, but don't we all? Like I said I am still exploring the site and only got through lesson 1 and 2 for I just found out about you guy's I am always looking for some one to through some questions at being a student of music.

Stone,
This is so cool having a reply so quick. Computers kick butt! I see you on the smoothness benifit of that chromo exe. Sometime I have to have someone to point that stuff out to me.:)!