For years I have sought these tips, no teacher talks to me how to relax my muscles, tendons, etc., I always play contracted, that has caused damage to my right forearm. Thanks professor.
OMG...THIS IS GOLD! I applied his Barre Chord Technique & Relaxation Techniques TO my steel string acoustic & electric guitar WORKED like a champ! PLEASE, don't ever take this video down. SUBSCRIBED!
you are one of very few serious teachers on this youtube-thing, one sign for this is, that you don´t have 200.000 views, excellence is always a minority thing, thank you
Meditation with the guitar. when I started at the university of Vienna my professor was keep telling to relax and I was just confused, asking myself I am and when I little by little tried to get the tension out of my muscles and body I relized I hear the music better because I was wasting so much energy on the tension.
Excellent. Every one of these really helps but the swing of the Rh across the guitar relaxes my right hand beautifully, the bar exercises make a massive difference for me and the removal of the left hand thumb from neck makes playing with it back feel so comfortable. thanks so much!
Very helpful clear instruction. I have trouble with the 'pinkie' of my right hand sticking out and have always thought it was something peculiar to me so hearing that it's a common problem and your advice on how to correct it is hugely helpful. Thank you.
Thanks very much I benefited so much from your techniques it improved me drastically ... So, why don't you make more videos? you're very good and you convey the information so easily.
Listen to this man! I've been using way too much force to play barre chords for decades. My left thumb is breaking down from using,excessive ( and unnecessary) pinching force . I found this video just in time. (I hope) Thanks so much Jack. In one week of following your suggestions, I'm playing better and without self inflicted pain.
A highly interesting essay! I had in mind to produce such a video dealing on some aspects of relaxation, but yours is much more complete that my idea was. A great job you did that will surely help many guitarists to get a better technique.
This has to be the most helpful video for me regarding relaxation! I've had problems for far too long and now I'm starting to get the hang of it. Thank you so much!
Very helpful. I watched your other video on scale, and immediately realized that i used too much force on left hand makes the fingers stiff and also feel painful lately. Adopting your technique, i loosen the left hand to 70 percent and starts to feel better.
Hi Jack!.I am a music teacher/performer and many years ago when I stated learning classical guitar I use to have the same problem with my right hand pinky finger also.I solved it by applying a masking tape to the tip of the pinky and the bottom part of the "a" finger (avoiding blocking the "a" finger nail naturally), taping them together.I left it on for the duration of about a week (I practiced guitar with it on) and took it off only when I took showers.I went to sleep with it on and It was a bit uncomfortable to practice guitar but since it was a short term (1-2 weeks) thing I did not minded. After that week my pinky always stood next to my "a" finger like it was glued to it!.Problem solved and it might be a very odd solution but it did worked for me.
Thanks Jack, your suggestions on technique are very useful !. I discovered how helpful your technique on free stroke moving the thumb to the lower string above the currently played string. It was very hard at the beginning but I have improved a lot the smooth movement of the hand across the strings while playing the scale. Should I apply the same technique with rest stroke or is it better to keep the thumb either 'floating' or resting on the 6th string for the duration of the whole scale and only vary the flexion on the wrist?
Thank you for these lessons, I never realized how bad my right and left hand were so wrong. That explains a lot in me getting too tired too quick, and helps me execute the stretches so much easier. I don't know how best to thank you. When I was in my teens, my teacher never mentioned these things at all. My style is PAMI and I can't change that, I learned a lot of Flamenco in my teens and that was the style I was taught. Your lessons help me now with a number of Bach pieces that often gave me position change difficulties, it's not good now but it is much better. Thank you.
you got a lousy and bad experience guitar teacher like my teachers, sometimes you can tell how good is your teacher by seeing and listening him/ her playing.
Hi Jack - I've watched your videos on the GSI channel and now this one. Thank you for posting them! After thinking and trying to use the weight of my left arm and bicep to assist in barres I'm convinced this will assist me with practise. Can you comment on the role of the right forearm? As I apply pressure from the left bicep, the right side of the guitar wants to come out, of course this is stopped by the right arm. I suppose I'm looking for confirmation that you feel that too. Thank you,
hi, Jack, your lesson of relaxation for hands, fingers and bicep/ triceps muscle for playing the guitar. An excellent teacher is hard to find ..I always inspired with the lessons you gave in youtube video. In my early studies of classical guitar playing I don't find any good teacher focused on the body posture, fingers, hands and proper ways to hold the guitar and adjustment of the guitar. I wonder if you ever think that we can make things easier if we can reduce the tuning of the strings from 440Hz to 432 Hz or lower for the beginners to easily play the guitar without much tension of the strings and hurt the left or right hands fingers or hands.
Hi Lawrence, thank you for your nice comments, they are very much appreciated! I definitely agree that playing with lower pitch and a low action guitar is great for beginners and anyone who is trying to back away from too much tension. Good idea!
Hi Jack,thank you for your feedback, actually another idea I would like you to comment on the use of the chico finger for the right hand. (example , play i, ch; m, ch, ; a,ch. and even p, ch. I came across article and book (which I forgot the title of the book) about using 5 fingers of the right hand to improve flexibility and dexterity of the fingers/ our brain function too and hand to avoid tension of the arm and hand. The idea of tuning down the strings pitch came from Dr Philip Hii (based in Texas) and recommend player to play tremolo.
Lawrence, Yes, I believe working with the chico finger is very worthwhile. Charles Postelwate published a very good book on the subject - probably the one you are referring to.
Thank you for this excellent instructional video. I have been teaching myself to play classical guitar for about 7 years. For the last year or so I have been getting pain in my left thumb and left shoulder. I realized I was doing something wrong but didn't know what. I think your video had wise advise and I will start putting it into practice.
thanks for the video ,, I got my fingertip of my ring finger slightly cut when I was kid ,, now I am having difficulties placing it on the strings on the proper way .. I have to slightly bend down the finger so it never touch the tip of the finger cuz its hurt a lot because its close to the nerve ,, the problem is that there is some cords that I really need that third finger to place it on the string using the tip of the finger ,, is there any thing I can do fix this? or is there a clinic for musicians any where in this world to fix these kind of problems? thanks a lot ..
Sorry to hear about your finger problem. I have a similar injury to my left middle finger where 14 years ago I cut the tip of the finger on a table saw (that finger is slightly shorter now). There is nerve damage in that finger and I couldn't play at all for about 5 months after the injury. Due to the nerve damage, I don't feel the string as well as the other fingers do, so even though I play with a light touch, that finger gets sore if I'm practicing or performing a lot. The absolutely most important thing that I can suggest is to have very low action on your guitar. You don't say whether you play a steel or nylon string guitar, but either way, adjust the action so it is very easy to play. Try to discover how light you can press, learn to use your left arm weight and biceps to help your fingers. If you have equal pressure between your thumb and fingers, that should be addressed...2/3 pressure on your fingers to 1/2 pressure on your thumb is a good guide. Also consider low tension strings. In the video, I give some exercises for the left hand, the one that may be the most helpful is to practice exercises, and even pieces, with no left hand pressure - just touch each note lightly. You should still hear the pitch of each note. That will help minimize the pain and also help maximize the ease with which you play the instrument. I don't know of any clinic for musicians that could help, but certainly check with a hand specialist.
Thanks a lot for the reply ..now I feel some how of having more hope cuz you play awesome and you have almost the same condition of mine :) .. I play Flamenco and some of classical music ,, I always use high tension strings ,, I am not sure if I can use Low tension strings on a low action Flamenco Guitar but I'll give it a try .. thanks for the other advises you mentioned .. Ill start practice it ,, Thanks again Maestro .
Thanks a lot for the video. It is very helpful. I have a problem with my "i" finger. The problem is that whenever I hit the string with "m" finger the "i" finger moves up by itself, which makes it very difficult for me to play !!!! I wonder if you could help me with it!!! I'd appreciate your help!!!
Ammar, I believe that you are maintaining tension in the extensor muscles. Try the first relaxation exercise in the video where you stretch your fingers out and then release. While your hand is released, alternate I and M in the air - in imitation of playing, just slightly away from the string. It should feel super loose and easy. Then, again with your arm relaxed, rest your thumb on a bass string and then lightly tap the first string while alternating I and M. If your arm is relaxed, you shouldn't have that issue with your index finger. If this works well, then slowly play through the string, at first as soft as possible, then gradually adding more volume. Playing should feel easy and loose, if it isn't, try to figure out what muscles are locked up and release them. Good luck!
Hey Jack, I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but when I play very low of the neck (frets 1-4) I can't hold my hand on the neck without tensing up. I rather tend to tense the shoulder up, or use a lot of thumb tension/finger tension on the neck, or get tense in the bicep, and all of that gives me strain. Can you say something?
when they say there should be no tension in the shoulder, do they mean the medial-deltoid or trapezius muscles? When playing in the 1st fret position, the left arm has to be extended away from the body, which requires one to tense the medial deltoid. So I find it abit confusing when they say there should be no tension in the 'shoulder' when playing... thanks
Good question, and perhaps the word "tension" needs clarification. Obviously, you need to use many muscles to play the guitar - maybe that should be called "good tension". When trying to eliminate bad tension, what is really meant is that the goal is to use the necessary muscles without engaging unnecessary ones, especially when the muscles are in a state of co-contraction. Co-contaction is the enemy, that means you have muscles working against opposing muscles. When a guitarist has tension issues with their left arm and hand, I find that they are usually resisting gravity and holding their arm up more than needed. By exploring the way that gravity can help you hold down notes, you may find it easier to engage the specific muscles for each action. I hope this helps with your question. Best wishes!
My name is also Jack Sanders, and I also play guitar. I watch this video and I think; 'I wonder if this man is an American, time-traveling, future version of me... Who decided to learn music theory."
The best guitar teacher I have found on CZcams so far. Excellent material, here and at GSI. Thank you so much.
Thank you !! why did I just find this video 9 years after !!
For years I have sought these tips, no teacher talks to me how to relax my muscles, tendons, etc., I always play contracted, that has caused damage to my right forearm. Thanks professor.
OMG...THIS IS GOLD! I applied his Barre Chord Technique & Relaxation Techniques TO my steel string acoustic & electric guitar WORKED like a champ! PLEASE, don't ever take this video down. SUBSCRIBED!
Beautifully explained lesson and incredibly helpful. People don't realise the huge negative impact on playing that tension can have. Thank you Jack!
Absolutely the best video of this sort. Thank you.
Thank you Rob!
you are one of very few serious teachers on this youtube-thing, one sign for this is, that you don´t have 200.000 views, excellence is always a minority thing, thank you
Meditation with the guitar. when I started at the university of Vienna my professor was keep telling to relax and I was just confused, asking myself I am and when I little by little tried to get the tension out of my muscles and body I relized I hear the music better because I was wasting so much energy on the tension.
Thanks for the brilliant lesson.
As an enthusiastic student now for 39yrs my mind must focus on a wandering pinky. This information delights me.
Awesome! Incredibly helpful!! Thanks
Excellent. Every one of these really helps but the swing of the Rh across the guitar relaxes my right hand beautifully, the bar exercises make a massive difference for me and the removal of the left hand thumb from neck makes playing with it back feel so comfortable.
thanks so much!
I love the way you explain everything!, thank you for sharing videos like this one, you're a great!!
Very helpful clear instruction. I have trouble with the 'pinkie' of my right hand sticking out and have always thought it was something peculiar to me so hearing that it's a common problem and your advice on how to correct it is hugely helpful. Thank you.
Excellent lesson thank you!
You Sir are a gifted teacher. Amazing information. No words to thank you.
Thanks very much I benefited so much from your techniques it improved me drastically ... So, why don't you make more videos? you're very good and you convey the information so easily.
Amazing vídeo!! Thanks for sharing!🙌🙌🙌🙌
Thank you for this video. I am an older learner struggling with relaxing my left hand and your technique advice is really helpful
Listen to this man! I've been using way too much force to play barre chords for decades.
My left thumb is breaking down from using,excessive ( and unnecessary) pinching force . I found this video just in time. (I hope)
Thanks so much Jack. In one week of following your suggestions, I'm playing better and without self inflicted pain.
Thank you! That is very very helpful.
A highly interesting essay! I had in mind to produce such a video dealing on some aspects of relaxation, but yours is much more complete that my idea was. A great job you did that will surely help many guitarists to get a better technique.
This has to be the most helpful video for me regarding relaxation! I've had problems for far too long and now I'm starting to get the hang of it. Thank you so much!
Mikko, happy to help!
Thank you, Jack, for sharing your knowledge with us. Very beneficial for a beginner like me. Keep it up, please.
Great video and very helpful with lots of common sense.
I hope you release an instructional video tutorial where you cover this and more. I would love to buy it.
gracias maestro por sus enseñanzas.
Very helpful. I watched your other video on scale, and immediately realized that i used too much force on left hand makes the fingers stiff and also feel painful lately. Adopting your technique, i loosen the left hand to 70 percent and starts to feel better.
This is really helpful! Thanks
Very helpful. Thank you.
Great ideas!
Thank you so much!
Very good advise - perfectly timed for me. Thank you sir
Hi Jack!.I am a music teacher/performer and many years ago when I stated learning classical guitar I use to have the same problem with my right hand pinky finger also.I solved it by applying a masking tape to the tip of the pinky and the bottom part of the "a" finger (avoiding blocking the "a" finger nail naturally), taping them together.I left it on for the duration of about a week (I practiced guitar with it on) and took it off only when I took showers.I went to sleep with it on and It was a bit uncomfortable to practice guitar but since it was a short term (1-2 weeks) thing I did not minded.
After that week my pinky always stood next to my "a" finger like it was glued to it!.Problem solved and it might be a very odd solution but it did worked for me.
I used a rubber band. Same trick.
Thanks Jack!!
Great, glad to help!
Sir how to deal with left hand thumb pain??
I have the sticky fingers sydrome ,you helped me a lot with that video!
Thanks Jack, your suggestions on technique are very useful !. I discovered how helpful your technique on free stroke moving the thumb to the lower string above the currently played string. It was very hard at the beginning but I have improved a lot the smooth movement of the hand across the strings while playing the scale.
Should I apply the same technique with rest stroke or is it better to keep the thumb either 'floating' or resting on the 6th string for the duration of the whole scale and only vary the flexion on the wrist?
cool painting!
Thank you for these lessons, I never realized how bad my right and left hand were so wrong. That explains a lot in me getting too tired too quick, and helps me execute the stretches so much easier. I don't know how best to thank you. When I was in my teens, my teacher never mentioned these things at all. My style is PAMI and I can't change that, I learned a lot of Flamenco in my teens and that was the style I was taught. Your lessons help me now with a number of Bach pieces that often gave me position change difficulties, it's not good now but it is much better. Thank you.
Peter, thank you for the nice comments, best wishes, write if you have any questions. Jack
you got a lousy and bad experience guitar teacher like my teachers, sometimes you can tell how good is your teacher by seeing and listening him/ her playing.
GRACIAS MAESTRO!!!
thank you, i will practice
very helpful for me , thanks
Hi Jack - I've watched your videos on the GSI channel and now this one. Thank you for posting them! After thinking and trying to use the weight of my left arm and bicep to assist in barres I'm convinced this will assist me with practise. Can you comment on the role of the right forearm? As I apply pressure from the left bicep, the right side of the guitar wants to come out, of course this is stopped by the right arm. I suppose I'm looking for confirmation that you feel that too. Thank you,
Powerful Jack Sanders
Brilliant!!!
gr8 lesson m8
Thankyou 😃
Wish I could full bar and have all the strings ring
hi, Jack, your lesson of relaxation for hands, fingers and bicep/ triceps muscle for playing the guitar. An excellent teacher is hard to find ..I always inspired with the lessons you gave in youtube video. In my early studies of classical guitar playing I don't find any good teacher focused on the body posture, fingers, hands and proper ways to hold the guitar and adjustment of the guitar. I wonder if you ever think that we can make things easier if we can reduce the tuning of the strings from 440Hz to 432 Hz or lower for the beginners to easily play the guitar without much tension of the strings and hurt the left or right hands fingers or hands.
Hi Lawrence, thank you for your nice comments, they are very much appreciated! I definitely agree that playing with lower pitch and a low action guitar
is great for beginners and anyone who is trying to back away from too much tension. Good idea!
Hi Jack,thank you for your feedback, actually another idea I would like you to comment on the use of the chico finger for the right hand. (example , play i, ch; m, ch, ; a,ch. and even p, ch. I came across article and book (which I forgot the title of the book) about using 5 fingers of the right hand to improve flexibility and dexterity of the fingers/ our brain function too and hand to avoid tension of the arm and hand. The idea of tuning down the strings pitch came from Dr Philip Hii (based in Texas) and recommend player to play tremolo.
Lawrence, Yes, I believe working with the chico finger is very worthwhile. Charles Postelwate published a very good book on the subject - probably the one you are referring to.
Thank you for this excellent instructional video. I have been teaching myself to play classical guitar for about 7 years. For the last year or so I have been getting pain in my left thumb and left shoulder. I realized I was doing something wrong but didn't know what. I think your video had wise advise and I will start putting it into practice.
thanks for the video ,, I got my fingertip of my ring finger slightly cut when I was kid ,, now I am having difficulties placing it on the strings on the proper way .. I have to slightly bend down the finger so it never touch the tip of the finger cuz its hurt a lot because its close to the nerve ,, the problem is that there is some cords that I really need that third finger to place it on the string using the tip of the finger ,, is there any thing I can do fix this? or is there a clinic for musicians any where in this world to fix these kind of problems? thanks a lot ..
Sorry to hear about your finger problem. I have a similar injury to my left middle finger where 14 years ago I cut the tip of the finger on a table saw (that finger is slightly shorter now). There is nerve damage in that finger and I couldn't play at all for about 5 months after the injury. Due to the nerve damage, I don't feel the string as well as the other fingers do, so even though I play with a light touch, that finger gets sore if I'm practicing or performing a lot. The absolutely most important thing that I can suggest is to have very low action on your guitar. You don't say whether you play a steel or nylon string guitar, but either way, adjust the action so it is very easy to play. Try to discover how light you can press, learn to use your left arm weight and biceps to help your fingers. If you have equal pressure between your thumb and fingers, that should be addressed...2/3 pressure on your fingers to 1/2 pressure on your thumb is a good guide.
Also consider low tension strings. In the video, I give some exercises for the left hand, the one that may be the most helpful is to practice exercises, and even pieces, with no left hand pressure - just touch each note lightly. You should still hear the pitch of each note. That will help minimize the pain and also help maximize the ease with which you play the instrument. I don't know of any clinic for musicians that could help, but certainly check with a hand specialist.
Thanks a lot for the reply ..now I feel some how of having more hope cuz you play awesome and you have almost the same condition of mine :) .. I play Flamenco and some of classical music ,, I always use high tension strings ,, I am not sure if I can use Low tension strings on a low action Flamenco Guitar but I'll give it a try .. thanks for the other advises you mentioned .. Ill start practice it ,, Thanks again Maestro .
Thanks a lot for the video. It is very helpful. I have a problem with my "i" finger. The problem is that whenever I hit the string with "m" finger the "i" finger moves up by itself, which makes it very difficult for me to play !!!! I wonder if you could help me with it!!! I'd appreciate your help!!!
Ammar, I believe that you are maintaining tension in the extensor muscles. Try the first relaxation exercise in the video where you stretch your fingers out and then release. While your hand is released, alternate I and M in the air - in imitation of playing, just slightly away from the string. It should feel super loose and easy. Then, again with your arm relaxed, rest your thumb on a bass string and then lightly tap the first string while alternating I and M. If your arm is relaxed, you shouldn't have that issue with your index finger. If this works well, then slowly play through the string, at first as soft as possible, then gradually adding more volume. Playing should feel easy and loose, if it isn't, try to figure out what muscles are locked up and release them. Good luck!
Hey Jack, I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but when I play very low of the neck (frets 1-4) I can't hold my hand on the neck without tensing up. I rather tend to tense the shoulder up, or use a lot of thumb tension/finger tension on the neck, or get tense in the bicep, and all of that gives me strain. Can you say something?
+Oleg Tkachev - Oleg, Can you write to me in an email? Maybe we can get to the problem with a quick Skype call. sandersgtr@aol.com
Do you recommend playing with the right hand thumb planted as you demonstrated near the end of the video?
Everyone has different things that work for them. Simply put, experiment and anything that feels right is something you should explore.
@@jacksanders3210 thank you
I am not a classical player, I play acoustic and electric, different styles. Will all this help me?
Michael, thanks for watching and yes, learning how to relax is critical for all musicians.
when they say there should be no tension in the shoulder, do they mean the medial-deltoid or trapezius muscles? When playing in the 1st fret position, the left arm has to be extended away from the body, which requires one to tense the medial deltoid. So I find it abit confusing when they say there should be no tension in the 'shoulder' when playing... thanks
Good question, and perhaps the word "tension" needs clarification. Obviously, you need to use many muscles to play the guitar - maybe that should be called "good tension". When trying to eliminate bad tension, what is really meant is that the goal is to use the necessary muscles without engaging unnecessary ones, especially when the muscles are in a state of co-contraction. Co-contaction is the enemy, that means you have muscles working against opposing muscles. When a guitarist has tension issues with their left arm and hand, I find that they are usually resisting gravity and holding their arm up more than needed. By exploring the way that gravity can help you hold down notes, you may find it easier to engage the specific muscles for each action. I hope this helps with your question. Best wishes!
thank you very much!
I would love to get some Skype lessons from you. Is this possible?
Sure, contact me via email: sandersgtr@aol.com
My name is also Jack Sanders, and I also play guitar. I watch this video and I think; 'I wonder if this man is an American, time-traveling, future version of me... Who decided to learn music theory."