Back to instructional videos - edits because I get side tracked too often. I teach private lessons. If you are interested, visit my website: benkerrigan.co.uk
Thanks for this great video Ben! As a student of light touch playing it's really exciting to see you get into these small motions and different ideas regarding how to use the hands, that no one talks about.
superb info as always Ben. I use a variation of the spider, still going up fret by fret but alternating each finger between two adjacent strings ie, B string 5th fret -E string 6th fret -B string 7th fret -Es string 8th fret , then reversing it on the way down.
I am guilty of too much tension. I have practiced legato for awhile now and my stamina is ok but if I have a stretch for me let's say frets 1-3-5 I do notice that my index finger definitely fatigues very quickly. I will try out your advice. New sub thanks!
The spider exercise is designed to make sure your fingers are staying close to the fretboard. It's not done like you show either. You're not supposed to move your fingers until it's their turn at all and all strings should ring clearly.
Terrible, terrible advice. If the notes are ‘ringing clearly’ but you have a lot of tension in your hand, your technique sucks. If your fingers are ‘close to the fretboard’ but you are doing it with a ton of force, your technique sucks. There are a ton of players out there who can play monstrously fast with quite a lot of excess finger motion - the one thing they have in common is being relaxed, not efficient.
I honestly dont see any benefit to the spider exercise. Its like training your brain and fingers to react on the last minute. I'd like my fingers to be fairly in position to hit the next target.
@@deadhands1981 You are spot on - the actually useful version of the spider exercise which I teach is to have the fingers hover over the next note as close as possible without touching the string. Far more difficult and actually works!
Hi, I have been recovering from an arm and hand injury. I developed a calcium deposit or bur on my fretting hand and two nerves run over this calcium deposit. This happened to poor technique, tension and not knowing enough to fix the tension. I appreciate your tips and as an older beginner I have to work on my flying pinky, and deal with my tense and untrained fingers. I can practice for about 1/2 hour. Any Big Picture suggestions on working within my limitations. Thanks Ben. Best. Vance
Great exercise techniques and will be trying out in the morning
Thanks for this great video Ben!
As a student of light touch playing it's really exciting to see you get into these small motions and different ideas regarding how to use the hands, that no one talks about.
Fantastic tip and exercise!! Thanks
superb info as always Ben. I use a variation of the spider, still going up fret by fret but alternating each finger between two adjacent strings ie, B string 5th fret -E string 6th fret -B string 7th fret -Es string 8th fret , then reversing it on the way down.
This is a good one - I saw Marshall Harrison mentioning that permutation on adjacent strings and i think it works well. Thanks for watching!
I am guilty of too much tension. I have practiced legato for awhile now and my stamina is ok but if I have a stretch for me let's say frets 1-3-5 I do notice that my index finger definitely fatigues very quickly. I will try out your advice. New sub thanks!
The spider exercise is designed to make sure your fingers are staying close to the fretboard. It's not done like you show either. You're not supposed to move your fingers until it's their turn at all and all strings should ring clearly.
Terrible, terrible advice. If the notes are ‘ringing clearly’ but you have a lot of tension in your hand, your technique sucks. If your fingers are ‘close to the fretboard’ but you are doing it with a ton of force, your technique sucks. There are a ton of players out there who can play monstrously fast with quite a lot of excess finger motion - the one thing they have in common is being relaxed, not efficient.
Where's your lesson vid since ur so knowledgeable,
I honestly dont see any benefit to the spider exercise. Its like training your brain and fingers to react on the last minute. I'd like my fingers to be fairly in position to hit the next target.
@@deadhands1981 You are spot on - the actually useful version of the spider exercise which I teach is to have the fingers hover over the next note as close as possible without touching the string. Far more difficult and actually works!
thank you ben. immediate sub!!
Hi, I have been recovering from an arm and hand injury. I developed a calcium deposit or bur on my fretting hand and two nerves run over this calcium deposit. This happened to poor technique, tension and not knowing enough to fix the tension. I appreciate your tips and as an older beginner I have to work on my flying pinky, and deal with my tense and untrained fingers. I can practice for about 1/2 hour. Any Big Picture suggestions on working within my limitations. Thanks Ben. Best. Vance
Low gauge strings and a low action would be my primary recommendations- the less force you need to play the less chance of aggravating those nerves!
@@Kerriben Thanks. I picked up on that and I will switch to 8 gauge and always have my action lowered, but not buzzing :) Thanks much Sir.
thank you