If you have ever had challenges getting your left hand to stay in position or get your fourth finger to remain close to the fingerboard, this exercise will likely be helpful. It is simple in concept but very effective at developing good habits in your left hand technique.
As a teacher this exercise has proven very useful to demonstrate a student’s left hand position. My hope is that by sharing this lesson it will be of use to those who are learning without a teacher also.
If you have your own variations on this exercise please share them in the comments.
Hi Simon, et al. ,
The finger alignment. video was useful. Thank you.
My greatest waste on range of motion efficiency is when my little finger releases. As each finger releases in turn toward my index finger, my little finger tends to lift higher and higher off of the fingerboard. I try to consciously make it behave but to no avail.
Do you have any exercises to tame a wild little finger?
Thank You,
Ron
Thanks Simon I had this exact problem with piece of music of music I am learning.Now I know how to provide a fix👍
I recall a similar exercise, whereby the fingers make exactly the same progress across the strings from the 6th to the 1st and back again, but instead of releasing each finger after the note has been played, the finger remains firmly on the string until it is next needed. It then moves to the next string and remains there again until needed. And so on.
This is particularly effective from 6th to 1st string.
@Ron, this variation of this exercise might help you with your wild little finger, as it anchors it to the fretboard until it’s required, so it doesn’t have a chance to flap about! It gets it used to being in the right vicinity.
Thank you, Simon!
Your video reminded me of your old Level 4 Technical Routines, the very first exercise, which was all 24 variations of placing your fingers down starting with 1 2 3 4, 1 2 4 3, 1 3 2 4, and ending with 4 3 2 1. Now that you have outlined some of the things to look out for with regards to hand position, I’m going to go back over them slowly, maybe even with a mirror in front of me.
Hi, Simon. Very useful this exercise. Like as you said it’s a bit hard at the beginning but it corrects bad habits.
Hi Simon
Brilliant little exercise, easy to grasp but incredibly important.
Kind regards
Peter
This is terrific. The left-hand position is one of my issues. THANK SIMON!!
Hi Simon Great tip. I’m working out of Julio Sagrada’s lesson books and the exercises are beautiful and a joy to play. You might want to take a look. Louis
Yes that’s a great exercise
Cheers Simon.
Hi my name is Ian, I liked your style to learn older people how to play the guitar.
I’m beginner never had a guitar before, do you have any download exercise to practice with as well as your video. So that I can keep practicing after you r video has finished
Thanks Ian Miles
This is a great exercise but I have little hands and I am really struggling. It’s impossible (I think) for a small hand to reach the 4 one with pinky and the i stay straight. No can do. It seems physically impossible. Did anyone have this issue and then if so were you able to improve on it and arrive at something looking like a good LH position??
Need hope!