I hope you never have to go through the experience I describe in this video. Midway through my studies at the Cologne University of Music, I overexerted myself when I took on a gig as an accompanist, which involved too many barre chords and injured the muscles of my fretting hand. After this painful experience, I had to develop strategies to save energy while playing. I'll reveal the solution (pulling instead of pushing) in this video. You'll also learn how a specific pick position and technique can produce the best possible sound from your guitar. And there are tips on how to correctly hold your guitar, which means: Don't miss this important lesson!
Level
Basic
Lessons
5 Lessons | min
Lesson 1Introduction
Duration: min
Let me introduce you to the topics covered in the course "Playing with ease".
Lesson 2Pulling instead of pushing
Duration: min
Most guitarists play with too much force. How much force is really needed to press the strings against the frets? Often, setting up the guitar optimally helps. Nevertheless, I had to take a long break during my studies due to overexertion. The technique shown here was a lifesaver for me. I'll show you exactly how you can save energy when fretting by using both arms. Used correctly, this will allow you to play for hours without fatigue.
Lesson 3Keep it loose!
Duration: min
There are many myths surrounding guitar sound. One myth is: "Thicker strings sound fatter." I play .011 gauge strings on my archtop; anything thicker hinders my playing and reduces the guitar's sustain. An important part of my sound is the fact that I hold the pick extremely (!) loose. Many colleagues avoid this because they fear the pick might slip out of their hand. Here you can hear the difference, and I'll address the issue.
Lesson 4Plectrum Technique in Detail
Duration: min
One of the secrets for a good sound is that the pick must be allowed to move while playing. This naturally creates problems, the solutions to which you'll find in this video. Learn all about the correct pick grip, the correct angle when playing the strings, and an important trick for correcting the position of a slightly twisted pick during your playing.
Lesson 5The Neck-Up Guitar Support
Duration: min
Most of the time I play seated, also on stage. Since I started using the Neck-Up Guitar Support, I no longer have back pain. The support is very discreet, it fits in my guitar case without needing to be disassembled, and it makes my life easier. In the video, I show you the different options for holding the guitar while sitting and explain how the guitar support optimizes my guitar's position. If you're interested, you can order it here. By the way: I always shorten the removable plexiglass plate inside the support by an inch or so; depending on the size of the guitar, it then fits me better.
