I feel like I’ve been working on this one for ages, it must be about 6 weeks now, it feels stupid saying it because on the face of it it’s a very simple song, oh well, it’s finally at a point where I’m happy enough to post it anyway. Still a few mistakes hidden in there but it’s the best take yet.
Thanks for everyone who helped me out the other week it’s crazy how much progress I made from just dialling it back and working back through the BPM.
Feedback welcome.
Also, I noticed my thumb on my strumming hand is fully bent out, I checked my old footage and it seems to be a habit I’ve had from day one. Do you think this will impact my playing? It’s quite difficult to conciously play with it in a different position.
Hi Rick well played and concerning your thumb we are all built different I have little fingers and so are my thumbs I can’t make my thumbs do that so I think its just how we are built it isn’t effecting your playing mate cheers HEC
Well played, Rick!
Don’t worry about your thumb. If it feels natural to you, then there shouldn’t be any problems. As Hec said, we’re all different. My thumb can’t bend like that, but I’ve seen some brilliant players holding the pick exactly like you do.
I’d rather point out your fretting hand during the riff. To me, it looks like an uncomfortable position, too much of a stretch, too sharp bends in your wrist and fingers.
Also when you strum you use your whole forearm which is incredibly inefficient and very likely holding you back. Strumming with your wrist gives you greater speed and also keeps your whole arm much more relaxed. Justin has a great lesson on it.
You’re right I’m having constant hassle with my left hand position since migrating to standing up. I read having the guitar high up in the classical type position would be better for my wrist but I’m not sure it works for me. I’ll do some messing around with different positions tomorrow.
Thanks for the strumming tip too. I did begin on forearm strums as I think that’s what Justin recommended at the start but I never really progressed onto anything else.
Well done Rick, nicely played! The metronome is nicely leading you to land on that opening line. You should try with only 2 and 4 beats, great exercise. At the end, you should be able to hold tempo without metronome. Good song to practice steady rhythm is intro to Enter Sandman - for the first 8 bars drum plays only two beats per bar and you need to keep tempo.
I think you got very good tips from Artem, it looks to me as well that you are very tense. On the very positive note, your pinkie looks longer than my index, that is very, very useful.
Guitar position when standing is definitely something you should find out through trying different options. I personally followed Justin’s advice to set the strap while sitting so when you stand up the guitar is roughly at the same position.
Borrow longer fingers would be practical for me too!
But they’re working half way fine, so I don’t complain, could be worse!
But what I wanted to say: Nice playing, Rick!
And don’t feel bad if you have the feeling that this took you long time - on the contrary - it’s brave you’re doing all this practicing and you’ll go far if you continue like this!
I think I have even some things I struggle with since the beginning and I am not there yet!
Thanks I’ll give it a go. I’ve been using the metronome in Moises but on the free version it cuts off after 1 minute and I kept losing time so I upgraded.
Yeah, I’m holding too much tension I’ve been trying to work on it but it’s gradually improving.
Haha my fingers are long, I’ve been told many times I have “piano fingers” but I suppose they’ll be useful for the guitar too!
Sounds great. Love the tone too. Seems pretty close to (or at least fits well with) the recording.
I actually find this one of the most satisfying aspects of learning - when you reflect on something you spent ages working on and now it’s “simple”. Well done.
Hello Rick, Nicely played. Sounds to me like you were locked into the metronome. Don’t worry about the thumb, it looks like it’s mirroring the shape of the guitar body horns, which I for one think is appropriate!
You should try with only 2 and 4 beats, great exercise. At the end, you should be able to hold tempo without metronome. Good song to practice steady rhythm is intro to Enter Sandman - for the first 8 bars drum plays only two beats per bar and you need to keep tempo.
Well done.