Muting with the left hand (non-picking hand) is something I’ve been working on. When first learning guitar, all the emphasis is making sure your fingers form a nice arc to the strings so you don’t have any dead notes in your chords. Now I’m working on deadening notes! I’m also always amazed when I see some of these pros who have short, fat, stubby fingers who fly across the strings with no dead or missed notes. All I can think of is “how”?! Unless my hand is in PERFECT chording position, I have at least one dead note in almost any chord. I pass it off as “my style”😏.
The intro pic made me laugh. After messing with flamenco for 20 years I broke out my strat. The posture for it is so foreign I wasn't sure if I'd get used to It lol. And yeah, your pinky is crazy. My classical teacher had me keeping my finger stationary on the string until it was time to move it.
@MrPolevaulter Really like your videos. Your style is very welcoming and encouraging. As an adult beginner, I appreciate how you present yourself and the information you are sharing. Always excited when a new video drops. ❤
One thing I need to correct is the angle of my picking hand. If the heel of my hand is resting on the bridge and I’m picking on the low strings, as I progress across to the high strings, my hand pivots at the heel causing an arc. Unless I lift the “pivot point”, the side of my pick is almost brushing along the high strings rather than picking them.
All great advice and I admit I learned something too (you can teach an old dog new tricks)! I started using DAVA picks a handful of years ago and they're perfect for me- never slips my grip, easy to adjust profile, angle and attack. Video takes me back down memory lane- get old enough and the things we learn then forget we learned but they stay part of the basket of skills.
Good point about vibrato. Mine was inconsistent for years and I never liked how I couldn't control it. So I actively worked to fix it. It was probably the most focused thing I ever spent practicing since learning the basics. It's also important to make it sound natural and not forced. It doesn't matter if you go for the "nervous" style of say Paul Kossoff or Angus Young or the super slow deep style of John Sykes. The more you practice it, the more you find what is your comfortable style until it becomes second nature and part of your own signature sound.
That is the easy way of doing the spider exercise. Look at your left hand: It does not crawl like a spider. The hard and correct way would be to let the fingers rest at their fret at all time, and only lift them at the very moment they move to a new fret. Fingers should not wait above frets doing the spider! That way your hand "crawls", only moving one finger at a time. I learned that from the book "Rock Guitar Secrets" by Peter Fischer in 1991 :)
muting is so overlooked with new people. If I were to start from scratch, I would put so much time into proper muting and learning how to bend (even just a little) initially. Thanks for the vid, brother!
Elmo, is that a jb jr in the bridge? Im assuming the dimarzio HS pickups for neck and middle? How do you like that combination? Is there a big volume difference or do they play pretty well together
Not sure if you already have one or if your guitar already came that way but can you explain the pickup height difference and details. Like your neck and middle pick up look almost flush. I’d like that but concerned to fuck my guitar up lol. 😂
Snap! Just got given the old Peter Gunn thing on Justin Guitar. Guess it's the "Hello World" of guitar playing! I find your power chord kind of weird, using the pinky to play the 5th + no octave. Why do you do it that way?
Great video Elmo, thank you....but...but you forgot to show us the Toe technique. The one you never use the little pinky toe, only the big toe. :D By the way, Yngwie Johan Malmsteen wants his guitar back !
Your video is ok but not all people has the size of your hands and fingers there are people who have long fingers but small hands there are some who have large hands but small fingers it depends on ones anatomy so not all are applicabke to all
Muting with the left hand (non-picking hand) is something I’ve been working on. When first learning guitar, all the emphasis is making sure your fingers form a nice arc to the strings so you don’t have any dead notes in your chords. Now I’m working on deadening notes! I’m also always amazed when I see some of these pros who have short, fat, stubby fingers who fly across the strings with no dead or missed notes. All I can think of is “how”?! Unless my hand is in PERFECT chording position, I have at least one dead note in almost any chord. I pass it off as “my style”😏.
The intro pic made me laugh. After messing with flamenco for 20 years I broke out my strat. The posture for it is so foreign I wasn't sure if I'd get used to It lol. And yeah, your pinky is crazy. My classical teacher had me keeping my finger stationary on the string until it was time to move it.
@MrPolevaulter Really like your videos. Your style is very welcoming and encouraging. As an adult beginner, I appreciate how you present yourself and the information you are sharing. Always excited when a new video drops. ❤
One thing I need to correct is the angle of my picking hand. If the heel of my hand is resting on the bridge and I’m picking on the low strings, as I progress across to the high strings, my hand pivots at the heel causing an arc. Unless I lift the “pivot point”, the side of my pick is almost brushing along the high strings rather than picking them.
My pick always seems to move outwards towards the headstock when playing.
Thank, brah! good stuff!
just picked up playing. can't thank you enough for these types of videos as well as your reviews.
Glad to be of help 😊
To be such an incredible guitarist, Marty Friedman has a freaky ass way of holding a pick.
I have been a solid rhythm player for 50 years, now trying to improve my soloing. This is very helpful!
Happy to help!
All great advice and I admit I learned something too (you can teach an old dog new tricks)! I started using DAVA picks a handful of years ago and they're perfect for me- never slips my grip, easy to adjust profile, angle and attack. Video takes me back down memory lane- get old enough and the things we learn then forget we learned but they stay part of the basket of skills.
Great video and tips for players of all abilities
Some great tips here. Thanks!
Cheers!
This is an excellent video for new or old players alike, myself, I’m new.
Good point about vibrato. Mine was inconsistent for years and I never liked how I couldn't control it. So I actively worked to fix it. It was probably the most focused thing I ever spent practicing since learning the basics. It's also important to make it sound natural and not forced. It doesn't matter if you go for the "nervous" style of say Paul Kossoff or Angus Young or the super slow deep style of John Sykes. The more you practice it, the more you find what is your comfortable style until it becomes second nature and part of your own signature sound.
Absolutely :)
Quality video dude ❤
Glad you liked it
I play bass and your tips are really good.
What helped me recently was changing the pick from regular size to jazz master. Man, what a difference when it comes to accuracy.
I went Jazz III a couple of years ago and I will never go back.
That is the easy way of doing the spider exercise. Look at your left hand: It does not crawl like a spider. The hard and correct way would be to let the fingers rest at their fret at all time, and only lift them at the very moment they move to a new fret. Fingers should not wait above frets doing the spider! That way your hand "crawls", only moving one finger at a time. I learned that from the book "Rock Guitar Secrets" by Peter Fischer in 1991 :)
Great great lesson
Thank you!
Thanks for the video Elmo 🎉🙏✌️❤️🎵🎼🎶
My pleasure!
muting is so overlooked with new people. If I were to start from scratch, I would put so much time into proper muting and learning how to bend (even just a little) initially. Thanks for the vid, brother!
Cheers!
You are a great teacher and player . Greetings from Egypt 🤘
Thank you :)
I appreciate it. 😊
did you replace the pickup under the bridge? Great vid as always!
Thanks! No.
Elmo, for now I am interested into that Boogie amp and not so much technique 😅
Peter Gun 😎 (am a synth guy with a guitar).
Elmo, is that a jb jr in the bridge? Im assuming the dimarzio HS pickups for neck and middle? How do you like that combination? Is there a big volume difference or do they play pretty well together
I want to learn how to vibrato while bending note
Not sure if you already have one or if your guitar already came that way but can you explain the pickup height difference and details. Like your neck and middle pick up look almost flush. I’d like that but concerned to fuck my guitar up lol. 😂
You won't mess anything up. You can always return them to the height they're at.
Any thoughts about Ritchie´s (Blackmore) thumb technique...useful or harmful to practice for a beginner?
Don't know.
Snap! Just got given the old Peter Gunn thing on Justin Guitar. Guess it's the "Hello World" of guitar playing! I find your power chord kind of weird, using the pinky to play the 5th + no octave. Why do you do it that way?
Just the way I've learned to do it, and I find it easiest that way. Besides the octave doesn't add much of anything imo.
What is the guitar name brother?
Great video Elmo, thank you....but...but you forgot to show us the Toe technique. The one you never use the little pinky toe, only the big toe. :D
By the way, Yngwie Johan Malmsteen wants his guitar back !
Thanks :)
😀
Vallan mainio video👍
Kiitos :)
Your video is ok but not all people has the size of your hands and fingers there are people who have long fingers but small hands there are some who have large hands but small fingers it depends on ones anatomy so not all are applicabke to all
I like you and your videos. I disagree with your view of 7 nation army. White Stripes are great.
Fair enough :)
Much easier to buy a children guitar.
Ha, Im a better teacher than Elmo. 😂😊
Why didn't I think of that? :D
ther is a super easy way to fix most "stinky techniques". It's called reverb 😂
Hmm??
Never thought of that, i call mine for Fuzz.
I use delay to achieve the same result :D