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left-hand difficulties with descending patterns


Santuzzo

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Posted

Hi,

 

Whenever I play descending patterns, my left hand has so much more difficulties than it does with ascending patterns.

 

For instance, when playing a chromatic exercise like 1234, the descending verison 4321 causes me a lot of trouble.

Same goes for three note per string patterns.

 

Anybody else have this? Is this a common thing?

 

Any suggestions/advice?

 

What I am doing right now about it is to practice especially that, ie descending patterns, so I pracice 4321 chrmoatics and descending 3note scale patterns.

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Posted

yea...I have sooo many areas with 'lopsided' technique (better ascending/descending etc.)

 

many aspects to this...practice routines for 4 note chromatics and 3nps: on a single string, 2 string, and so on.

 

3 nps also has patterns like : 2 string w/ 3-1, 1-3 or 3-3 (referring to number of notes per string). The 3-1 1-3 patterns have more string crossings per notes.

 

Also you can vary the right hand...like do all legato if you want to focus on left hand.

 

Then there are the permutation legato or picking type exercises 4321 4312 4231 etc.

 

Also trill exercises.

 

You probably know all that tho...

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Posted

Yes this is absolutely a common thing. It's just how it works. Try working on your legato and/or slow things down in order to alleviate some of the unbalance.

 

Also when you practice scales start on the descending, part of the reason this happens is because we get in a habit of practicing scales ascending first *all the time*. Any pattern worth practicing is worth practicing backwards, forwards and sideways -- try not to get locked into the habit of playing more ascending than descending during practice. If anything reverse that and it will no longer be a problem very soon.

 

That said descending patterns will always be a tiny bit harder than ascending patterns to sound cleanly. But it doesn't have to be a barrier, this one is easily cured by simply attacking it head on. :)

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Posted

 

That's interesting because I find descending easier.


Especially higher up the neck.

 

 

For me it's te exact opposite, descending and higher up the neck for me = more difficult

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Posted

That's interesting because I find descending easier.


Especially higher up the neck.

 

If we sat down together and tested that theory over arps, etc. I guarantee you that will not be the case. Just seems that way. If you need proof go try and play some Paul Gilbert solos with all the ascending patterns reversed -- you'll never make it through. :thu:

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