You Are Ruining Your Wrist! - How to practice properly

Summary

In this video, the instructor shares effective guitar exercises specifically designed for self-taught and intermediate players with limited practice time. The exercises focus on improving key aspects of guitar technique, including finger independence, pinky control, string skipping, and legato playing. Each exercise is structured to help players minimize string noise, develop precise picking and fretting hand coordination, and increase overall speed and accuracy. With practical tips and guidance, the video offers a clear roadmap for guitarists to refine their technique and achieve faster progress, even with shorter practice sessions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Short practice sessions are effective if you focus on the right exercises, even if you don't have hours to practice every day.
• 😀 Finger independence and control are crucial; exercises like the Dorian scale help develop these skills while keeping your pinky close to the neck.
• 😀 Avoid anchoring with your index finger during exercises, as this can hinder the development of your weaker fingers.
• 😀 The key to improving your pinky control is to practice exercises that force your pinky to hover close to the fretboard and minimize movement.
• 😀 String skipping exercises challenge your picking hand and help you avoid unwanted noise when transitioning between strings.
• 😀 Playing with clean string transitions is essential; practice string skipping without grazing adjacent strings to maintain clarity.
• 😀 Legato exercises like the harmonic minor scale improve your fretting hand control and help with finger strength and stretching.
• 😀 Proper thumb placement behind the neck is vital for stretching during legato exercises, especially when dealing with wide fret spans.
• 😀 Focus on maintaining accurate timing and precision when practicing with a metronome, especially in string skipping and riff-based exercises.
• 😀 Riff-based exercises help you work on synchronization between your picking and fretting hand, improving both technique and timing.
• 😀 Practice with backing tracks, playalong videos, and detailed tabs for structured learning that enhances both technique and musicality.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the first exercise in the video?

The main focus of the first exercise is to improve finger independence, particularly the pinky finger. It also emphasizes keeping the fingers close to the neck to reduce string noise and improve control, especially when playing faster.

Why is it important to keep the pinky finger close to the neck during the exercise?

Keeping the pinky finger close to the neck prevents unwanted string noise caused by the pinky moving too far from the fretboard. This helps with control and speed, ensuring the finger doesn't hit strings it's not supposed to.

What bad habit does the first exercise help address for many intermediate guitarists?

The first exercise helps address the bad habit of anchoring with the index finger. Many intermediate players subconsciously use their index finger to stabilize other fingers, which limits finger independence.

How does the second exercise improve string skipping and fretting hand control?

The second exercise works on string skipping by forcing the player to jump between the G and E strings while avoiding the B string. This helps improve both picking hand control and the fretting hand's precision, particularly with the pinky finger.

What is the common challenge that guitarists face when practicing string skipping?

A common challenge is accidentally touching unwanted strings, such as the B string, during the string skipping transitions. It can also be difficult to maintain clean picking without generating extra noise.

Why is it essential to avoid anchoring the index finger in the second exercise?

Avoiding anchoring with the index finger is crucial because it forces the player to develop better finger independence and allows the pinky finger to be used more effectively in an isolated way, which is necessary for fast and clean playing.

What is the primary benefit of the legato exercise in A Harmonic Minor?

The legato exercise in A Harmonic Minor helps with finger technique, particularly in hammer-ons and pull-offs. It also improves finger stretching and creates a more fluid, connected sound between notes.

How does thumb position affect the ability to play the legato exercise effectively?

The thumb position is key to maintaining proper finger stretch and control. By positioning the thumb behind the middle finger, it allows for a greater range of motion and makes it easier to play stretches that might otherwise be too difficult.

Why is the picking pattern in the legato exercise particularly effective?

The picking pattern (downstroke followed by two upstrokes) is effective because it provides control over the timing and note spacing, making it easier to maintain a consistent rhythm while executing legato techniques.

What aspect of guitar playing does the final riff-based exercise target?

The final riff-based exercise targets hand synchronization, particularly the coordination between the picking hand and the fretting hand. It also challenges string transitions and timing, especially in the lower register of the guitar.

What is the key challenge when playing the final riff-based exercise, and how can it be overcome?

The key challenge is the uncomfortable string transitions between the E and A strings. To overcome this, players need to focus on clean picking and fretting hand synchronization, ensuring that no unwanted string noise is generated.

How does the instructor suggest guitarists practice these exercises effectively?

The instructor suggests practicing slowly with attention to detail, focusing on proper hand technique and avoiding string noise. Using a metronome and gradually increasing speed is also important for improving timing and accuracy.

What resources are available to students through the instructor's Patreon?

Students on the instructor's Patreon have access to premium guitar technique courses, 30-day practice plans, play-along videos, backing tracks, PDF tabs, and other tools designed to streamline practice and improve technique.