Technique Lesson – Left Hand Finger Placements

When I present this exercise to students, the first thing I usually encounter are comments such as, “It’s too easy,” or “I know how to do this.” Well let me tell you right now: reconsider! This exercise is used by students and professionals alike. Do you think your finger placement is as good as your favorite guitarist? If not, then get to work!

Consider these factors and tips:

• Do your fingers place perfectly?
  • Right next to the frets?
  • Relaxed?
  • Is there tension in your neck, face, back, or legs?
  • Is your tone and vibrato in perfect check?
  • Are your other fingers not being used near their potential frets?
  • Do you use “economy of motion,” in other words, are your fingers compact and using small movements?
• Use the exercise as a meditative beginning to your practise session. Since your muscles will remember the perfect placement from this exercise, it should affect your entire practise session.

I assign this exercise to every student I have, beginners to advanced students well into playing upper level of repertoire.  After one week I start to notice their fingers (whether they’re conscious of it or not) creeping in closer to the frets during repertoire and their hands striving to be in the proper position. It seems so simple but the results are complex and long-lasting.

Additional tips for practising this exercise:

• Practise the exercise at the very beginning of your practise session so it will influence your entire session.
• Go slow and make every note sound for at least two seconds -NO FASTER!
• Spice it up by practising your vibrato on the eighth note or sixteenth note
• Check you neck muscles and shoulders by moving them around
• Bring your left-hand palm up closer to the fret board, curve the fingers and make direct movements into the string
• Keep your left-hand wrist straight, move your forearm forward if you need more reach with the fingers

Keep practising and enjoy!

More technique to come!