Members noisebloom Posted June 28, 2008 Members Share Posted June 28, 2008 "practice" hmmmm... I've know I've heard the term, but it seems quite foreign to me... but seriously... I got stuck on root-fifth power chords for a lot of years, and it limited my playing TERRIBLY. To be 100% honest, which I always am, you CAN get by with that on ALOT of songs, but all these years later I am now playing catch-up on smooth transitions between open chords... and quite frankly, half the time I'm not sure what it is I am playing anyways. I can stop and figure it out if I have to, but as far as instinctively knowing where every 'A' is on the fretboard, no, I can't do that. - I know 2 scales - and one is derived from the other (pentatonic & blues)... - I have no idea what 'modes' are, but I recognize the names, like Aeolian or Phrygian, but I have no idea what that really means. - I use downstrokes nearly ALL the time, which is cool for heavy riffing, but limits you in other areas. - I almost never use my pinky Those are a lot of my bad habits, right there. I only know two scales ... I used to know the major scale but only cared to practice the minor pentatonic and blues. I'm really weak on upstrokes. I try to practice them but can't get them to sound natural. And I try hard to use my pinky more and get it stronger ... I envy Paul Gilbert for his alien pinky fretting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xupernaut Posted June 28, 2008 Members Share Posted June 28, 2008 I anchor the pinky of my picking hand pretty much always.I'm trying to break that habit but when I don't it feels like my hand is floating and I lose pick control after a few notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisebloom Posted June 28, 2008 Members Share Posted June 28, 2008 I also pick way too close to the neck. It's a long-standing habit that I've been unable to break. I want to pick between the bridge and middle pickups, but I always drift to the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KennethNishimot Posted June 28, 2008 Members Share Posted June 28, 2008 I alternate pick obsessively, I really need to learn to do the long bluesy note thing a la the floyd. My solos consist more or less entirely of eigth and sixteenth notes, it fits with my style at least, but got no soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I anchor the pinky of my picking hand pretty much always.I'm trying to break that habit but when I don't it feels like my hand is floating and I lose pick control after a few notes. these are my two big "bad" habits; anchoring and no aptitude with my ring or pink finger when finger picking. the anchoring honestly doesn't bother me and doesn't appear to really hold me back... but that could just be denial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I can't keep my pinky close enough to the fingerboard. If I'm not using it, even in the middle of a run, it's like an inch away which slows me down considerably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sylvesterlowery Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I don't "practice" in the normal sense. I pick up the guitar when the urge hits and just play. I don't totally suck, but I should be a lot better than I am after 17 years.I've never really studied scales or modes. I have GOSK bookmarked and try more these days, but it's still not sticking, probably from years of just noodling, really.I do however, use my pinky on my left hand a lot, just don't use my ring finger as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axslinger Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I anchor the pinky of my picking hand pretty much always.I'm trying to break that habit but when I don't it feels like my hand is floating and I lose pick control after a few notes. Anchoring, not good. Floating your pinky on the guitar as sort of a "depth gauge", nothing wrong with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nikininja Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 vice grip my fingerprints are embedded in every guitar ive ever owned. this is easing up now ive got out of construction and my fingers are easing up, i also scratch myself alot in public, and my language is terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members book_of_lies777 Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I anchor the pinky of my picking hand pretty much always.I'm trying to break that habit but when I don't it feels like my hand is floating and I lose pick control after a few notes. I didn't know that was a bad habit... I thought everyone with any experience does it that way. It's the n00bs I see with their hand floating in mid-air and can't control anything with their picking hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members falsethreats Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I don't use my pinky enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nickeroo Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I can kinda shred, but I don't know any chords, and that is way bad. I had to look up D minor in the open position the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members go cat go Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I can never play through a whole song when practicing. I'll play bits and then drift off and start noodling. Actually, i started concentrating on playing songs again this year. For years I came up with my own progressions and practiced over them. My vibrato could be smoother as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J-E-M Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I can never play through a whole song when practicing. I'll play bits and then drift off and start noodling. Actually, i started concentrating on playing songs again this year. For years I came up with my own progressions and practiced over them. My vibrato could be smoother as well. It's good to know that I'm not the only one who does that too. I'm easily distracted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sleepeatplay Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I keep hitting the volume knob on my strat bodied guitars. Drives me crazy. Finger picking has been a struggle ever since I severely broke my wrist. I really have to focus when finger picking, so I don't sound shtty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bourikaldo Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I don't "practice" in the normal sense. I pick up the guitar when the urge hits and just play. I don't totally suck, but I should be a lot better than I am after 17 years. I've never really studied scales or modes. Describes myself exactly. Plus it takes me about an hour to start rolling, if you know what I mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zerostreet Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I only play sitting and in the most contorted position imaginable. I won't be able to play the simplest chord standing....if I ever get around to attempting it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members solly Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 i still have trouble controlling my mouth and jaw when playing. sometimes i'll look like i'm in awe with my playing because my mouth is just hanging open. I do opposite. I I hold my mouth closed and apparently i move my lips around. My GF makes fun of me about it whenever I play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wkoz Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I don't use a pick in the normal way. I cut it in half, round it off and use the corner. I'm sure this has absolutely no effect on improving technique it's just a comfort thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members book_of_lies777 Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I do opposite. I I hold my mouth closed and apparently i move my lips around. My GF makes fun of me about it whenever I play. yeah, my wife laughs when I make the 'wah-wah pedal face', but I can't help it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SrDeMaFp Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 Describes myself exactly. Plus it takes me about an hour to start rolling, if you know what I mean. Same here. I wish I'd have more discipline when practicing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chunkytele Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I press way too hard. after a few minutes somtimes I have major hand craps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JoeEllison Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Pretty much everything I do is a bad habit... yeah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MichaelSaulnier Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 All my best playing... Is one big bad habit. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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