BB King. Listen to BB King
Had a watch of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fk2prKnYnI More chance of me going to the moon than playing anything like that!
So, this is what I think is an example of how a small hand has trouble doing common guitar techniques. Or maybe it is just a beginner thing, I’m sure there could be arguments either way.
Argument for probably simply beginner woes- doing any of Justin’s recommended techniques is much harder than doing the “bad technique” he demonstrated, maybe because they’re new movements. However, I find it a lot easier, and can get a more pronounced sound variation and more natural feeling movement using the bad technique.
Argument for it being difficult because I perceive my hand as being small- For example on Sunshine For Your Love, doing the good technique on the thick E and the A string means I have to completely reposition my hand by dropping my palm away from the bottom of the neck to put it in position to pivot during the attempted vibrato. It takes more time to do this repositioning, getting my tempo out of sorts. Am I the only one who has to apply a deliberate hand angle change?
It is much easier and faster to just move the finger up and down in “bad” form. However, I don’t want to learn bad, ugly techniques hence the reason I find it stressful when things that other players act like are easier for them, ergo “the right way” or “stylish”, seem to maybe not make sense for playing with a smooth flow for me.
BB King’s vibrato is unique and definitely not the one to try to learn as your first step.
Seems like if you can reach for the improper ‘finger bend method’, then instead employing the Clapton technique would be more than appropriate on Sunshine. It seems to work ok on that song for me.
I really do not do well with rotation method on 5th and 6th strings. When playing something heavy, I do tend to use the ‘finger bend’ method - Metallica stuff is a good reference. I also notice I do not get the speed out of the vibrato using that method. If I use the rotational method, I just cannot hold the string down and get much depth. This is likely practice, but it just doesn’t feel quite right.
Yeah maybe I go ear blind, but I can’t really hear any pitch change when I use the rotation method, no matter what string or what finger I use. Unless I try to really move the string, which then kind of hurts my finger. I’m sure it needs practice in my case.
My pitch changes are not very deep. I can hear Justin’s are far deeper than mine. I also tend to lose the sustain if I try for deeper.