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Topic: Not Looking at the Bar |
Ben Feher
From:
Austin TX
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Posted 10 Jan 2012 5:15 pm |
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Just noticed this:
I've been trying to really "hit" notes and not just sorta do little cheating slides, excessive vibrato or whatever to get the bar right where I want it and have the note be in tune. I find that I play a lot smoother, fluidly and more in tune when I don't really "look" at the bar while I'm playing. The trick is rather than looking where the bar is to look were it will be.
For example, so while I am playing a on fret 5 and then going to fret 10, I'll look at where I want the bar to be and stare at the fret line (or near it, depending on what fret -- gotta account for paralax error). Then I bring the bar to where I am staring and not shifting my view to 'watch' the bar come up to the fret but keep looking at the fret line untill the bar comes over the point where I was staring at. It seems to really help me hit notes in tune without resorting to mini-slides, excessive vibrato , "honing in" on the note or over/under shooting. Which is good. Glissando has its place, but it seems an important skill to move the bar and play a note right in tune with no slide/vibrato.
Once its there, I look around for the next "target" point on the fret board. Now when I'm playing I try to allways bring the bar to where my eyes are and whenever I move the bar: its eyes first then the bar.
Its not really revolutionaly; probably people have noticed it before, but I thought I'd share. I'm also trying to look at the fret line at the tip of the bar when I'm moving down the neck in small intervals where my finders are covering up the fret lines. Any other advice people have for really 'hitting' a note right in tune?
Edit: Typos
Last edited by Ben Feher on 10 Jan 2012 5:27 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 10 Jan 2012 5:21 pm
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| Well stated! |
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 11 Jan 2012 10:41 am
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I think you're talking about eye-hand coordination. It's like hitting a golfball, or hammering a nail, or using a hatchet. How many times have you heard the phrase "Keep your eye on the ball"? If you stare directly at the nail until the hammer has completed impact, you will hit the nail on the head regardless of how big of a swing you take. Just think of those original rail workers laying rail. One guy would hold the spike, and the other struck it with a huge axe hammer. Makes me cringe. Playing the steel is far more soothing. Good work Ben.
_________________
Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Jack Strayhorn
From:
Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted 11 Jan 2012 2:09 pm
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| This was a technique taught by Buddy Charleton many years ago in a seminar that really improved my accuracy. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 11 Jan 2012 3:10 pm
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| Yup, the ear takes care of where you're at, and the mind and eyes take care of where you're going. |
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