Musical technique hints and tips

Subject: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 06:02 AM

Last week my accordion teacher told me something I would never have thought of on my own. When playing a single note repeated a number of times, as in 'Blaydon Races' in this case, using separate fingers instead of just stabbing the same key with the same finger, results in a better separation of the notes.

How many more things like that are known to all you good players out there? C'mon, give us poor learners a break and share your advanced techniques here. Be it keyboard, strings or nose flutes, give us some good tints and hips :-)

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 06:16 AM

Having played guitar for years, I thought I'd take up fiddle.
One useful lesson was to keep a finger on a string if possible so that you can repeat that note having played another. It is not something that came naturally as, unlike on guitar, the string doesn't keep ringing.
My other hint is don't expect quick results when trying to play the violin.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 06:54 AM

When playing the harmonica, relax your lower jaw almost into a semi-yawn. Tilt the harp at a slight upward angle (back end upward in other words). Make sure it's quite deep in your mouth. Huff and draw, don't blow and suck. Your nose is your air button. Your harmonicas will last much longer, you'll be louder, you'll get a great tone and you'll project your sound much more effectively. Force is anathema!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 06:59 AM

My useful tip - for any instrument - is: practice, practice and practice again. and then when you've practiced, practice some more.

One tip I got from my old mate Alan Day, when pootling around with an Anglo concertina was: concentrate on getting an equal distribution of sound/volume on the push AND the pull. He could always tell if someone was a beginner by the fluctuating volume on the pushing and pulling.

As far as fiddle fingering is concerned, my own teacher also advised me to keep fingers down where possible - not only for lessening unnecessary finger movement but also for retaining position. Guitars have frets and fiddles don't, so finger positions are crucial for intonation. Interestingly, in a Chris Newman guitar workshop, Chris advised taking fingers off rather than leaving them on. We then all had an interesting conversation about contrasting fiddle and guitar techniques!

My tip for tenor guitar players: you can get away with the first 3 fingers on a mandolin for much of the time, but use all four fingers is a must for the longer scale tenor (both tuned in 5ths). So, exercise that little finger because it's going to work harder. [See my YT video Playing the Tenor Guitar (CGDA).

Finally, a controversial tip for fingerpicking guitarists: DON'T rest your little finger on the face of the guitar - it restricts movement. And, YES, I know that people like Merle Travis, Woody Mann and Duck Baker rest their little fingers... :-)

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 06:59 AM

And don't listen to Dylan's harmonica playing!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 07:06 AM

Here's another tip for any instrument. Concentrate on making every note sound as it should - and play at a speed which is appropriate to do so. In other words, start slowly and only build up to the requisite tempo when every note still sounds perfectly. If you fluff a note at higher speed - reign in the speed.

Use a metronome of equivalent to regulate your speed. Set the temp slow at first and then increase as necessary. After 50+ years of playing, I can still feel myself speeding now and then - carried away by the energy of the moment(!) - and I often record using a Garageband bass track to keep myself reg'lar.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 07:11 AM

All good stuff so far but I am not sure if we should include what you use to facilitate movements, Will :-)

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 07:28 AM

It's good to be regular! Louis Armstrong recommended a laxative called Swiss Kriss to keep regular - I prefer a metrognome myself...

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 07:37 AM

That was one of my cousins - He built the underground railway in Paris...

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 07:52 AM

"Finally, a controversial tip for fingerpicking guitarists: DON'T rest your little finger on the face of the guitar - it restricts movement. And, YES, I know that people like Merle Travis, Woody Mann and Duck Baker rest their little fingers"

Seconded, Will. Restrictive in terms of tone-changes, and restrictive in terms of smooth finger-movement and rhythm production. It's completely unnecessary, and it just takes a little practice to play without anchoring the pinky to the top.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Sean Belt
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 10:21 AM

I'll second Will's suggestion of practicing with a metronome. I often play in jam sessions with folks that I can tell practice/play alone without a metronome. They tend to speed up on the parts they know well and slow down on the more difficult parts or parts they don't know as well.

I'll also recommend an aphorism from my friend and a great old-time banjo player, Dave Landreth, "Practice slow to play fast." When learning a new tune or a new lick, practice it more slowly than you think you need to; once you've got it nailed you can bring it up to speed. Practicing something new at speed leads to sloppy playing.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 10:54 AM

Keep your instrument in your living area, on display and handy to pick up.

Play the harp with your thumbs high in the air.

Sean, I like your tip about speed. I'm trying to play for dancers now, and speed is my big problem.

Dave, congratulations on learning accordion. I love accordion.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 11:12 AM

I'm trying, leeneia! I have had one for years and messed about with it but it is only in the last 30 months or so that I have taken it seriously. Which brings me to one more tip - Don't learn bad habits. They are a bugger to break!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 11:34 AM

I've never used a metronome and I don't speed up. Whilst I struggled for years with what I'd call internal timings, or internal rhythm if you like, I can maintain a steady tempo right through a tune. I don't go along with what I'd call the received wisdom of the value of metronomes. To me, a metronome helps you to play in time with a metronome. My way of training myself to keep both tempo and good internal rhythm was to latch on to a good melody player and stay with them. Unless you're playing solo most of the time, active listening and interactions with good musicians is the best education.



And don't tap your feet! Your metronome is in your head.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 11:37 AM

Don't learn bad habits - true! And don't practise your mistakes either. Stop and sort them out, slow them down, whatever, but always play the right notes in the right order!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 11:39 AM

ARE the best education. I need grammar education.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 11:56 AM

I know what you mean about metronomes, Steve. In actual fact, I often create a nice bass track for a new and complex tune in Garageband - and then play along with that. Much more humane!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 12:31 PM

I've always been a rhythm guitarist since first struggling to learn guitar playing along to Shadows LPs
with my mate who bagsied being Hank Marvin.

Then along came Wilko Johnson and my role as a guitarist in bands was sealed forever....

That and years working in Dark Rooms counting elephants gave me a very reliable precise internal clock.

Though I think the springs and cogs need a little attention and oiling these days....

My tip for young electric guitarists...

Those knobs on your guitar actually do something useful.
THEY DON'T need to be dialed permanently to 10...

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: meself
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 12:40 PM

Relax. Seriously. Seriously relax. Especially if you play the fiddle.

But as for bad habits - as someone on Fiddle-L once said, Stick with them long enough and they become your style ... !

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: gillymor
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 01:04 PM

I play stringed instruments so I'm not sure if this applies to accordion players but practice loud. You can always get quieter but it's not so easy to increase volume comfortably when playing with other people. It will also increase your dynamic range and will give you an idea of what your instrument is capable of.

As for anchoring the pinky my philosophy is to be flexible. Most of the time now I don't anchor but occasionally, when I do old time fingerpicking or country blues, I drop the pinky on to the top to help get a heavy back beat.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 01:10 PM

BTW.. too many brand new strat/tele style guitars suffer from terrible earthing problems,
so as soon as your little finger touches or rests on the plastic Scratchplate / Pickguard
you'll soon enough know why to try to avoid doing it again...

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 05:35 PM

Slide the fifths into fourth...


Sincerely,
Gargoyle

the legs are always intended for the crew.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 03:50 AM

Sorry, Gargoyle, I don't understand your post :-(

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Johnny J
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 04:54 AM

Something which I've only grasped fairly recently is that it's sometimes NOT best to stick rigidly to the rules regarding technique.

Yes, it's important to learn them but also useful to break them from time to time. Quite often the standard forms of fingering(applies to all instruments) just don't work very well on certain tunes or they feel very awkward. So, if something slightly different works better for you on a particular piece then why not? As long as you are aware of what you are doing and not just slipping into bad habits of course....

This revelation came to me when learning the harp and, to a lesser extent, the piano accordion, where you have to "plan ahead" as regards fingering. Depending on how the tune is arranged there are many different possibilities(not all players necessarily choose the same fingering although there are some basic rules). I then started to think a bit more about what I was doing on the mandolin and fiddle..although with most tunes the fingering still comes naturally, it does help with the trickier ones to try something a little different.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 07:03 AM

"Something which I've only grasped fairly recently is that it's sometimes NOT best to stick rigidly to the rules regarding technique."

I'd go along with that - re the comments about not anchoring the picking hand to a guitar top, it's obviously necessary, for instance, when playing a blues or rag where a damped and percussive bass-line is called for, to use the heel of the hand to dampen the bass strings at the bridge.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 07:47 AM

I never anchor my pinkie. Here's why:

Go to this famous image of God creating Adam:

art


Now imitate God's hand reaching out. Next bend your pinkie downward. If you are like me, you will feel your palm become hard and rigid, and your other fingers will get stiff. Just what you don't want in playing music.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Johnny J
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 07:50 AM

WHen playing the harp, I never use it at all. ;-))

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 07:53 AM

I'd go along with that - re the comments about not anchoring the picking hand to a guitar top, it's obviously necessary, for instance, when playing a blues or rag where a damped and percussive bass-line is called for, to use the heel of the hand to dampen the bass strings at the bridge.

Erm, without being picky (ho ho), I rather think they're two separate things. Using the heel of the hand to damp the strings is a perfectly valid technique for getting a particular sound, whereas sticking the little finger rigidly on the guitar face is, to my way of thinking, an unnecessary restriction.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 10:45 AM

Completely agree, Will.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: gillymor
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 11:45 AM

Here's Tommy Emmanuel doing what he has to do to get his desired outcome. Everybody has to follow their own path but, and this is a serious question, why leave tools out of the toolbox?

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 01:13 PM

My teacher Harry and his star pupil Thom.

Maybe in 40 or so years. When I have topped the ton...

:D

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Marje
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 04:23 PM

I was once at a workshop with John Kirkpatrick, who told us to practise a new tune slowly and staccato. That certainly works for melodeon, and may well work for other instruments. It prevents you from fudging and smudging over the tricky bits.

Marje

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 06:12 PM

I've barely touched a guitar this year due to time & energy consuming concerns about my old mum..

So I just picked up a Strat style guitar which was one of my go to instruments,
just to remind myself of my playing 'technique'...

My wrist automatically rests behind and just on the bridge, so palm muting is my default position
for dampening strings and coaxing pinched harmonics.

Only lifting off the strings when I want sustain to swell out into ringing notes & chords...

Particularly effective with vintage circuit fuzz boxes & treble boosters.... 😎

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 06:14 PM

meant to type "bridge saddles"

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Mar 16 - 04:22 PM

Phrasing and dynamics: these are what distinguish a musical tune from a mechanical string of notes. It is quite a rarity to see any phrase marks included in written-down scores of trad music, while it is the norm in classical music: but this doesn't mean you shouldn't try to phrase your tune. If you are an ear player, you will hopefully be able to feel where a musical phrase naturally ends, and the next one begins: a bit like taking a breath while singing. And never be afraid of brief silent gaps between notes: used appropriately, these will undoubtedly enhance your playing and also help you to keep the right timing: shortening long notes often leads to speeding up.
By dynamics, I mean louds and softs and all shades in between: for accordionists this means learning to use, or restrict use of, your bellows. Sometimes you can give an extra push or pull in the middle of a long note, which will add a new dimension to the tune.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Mar 16 - 07:22 PM

When playing the flute, point your feet 30-45 degrees to the right. This will bring the flute round so that it's lined up right side to side, parallel with the front of the stage. Ditto if you're playing seated: swing the chair round to the right, don't point it straight at the audience. The result will be a better posture for breathing and the flute will project straight out ahead.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 03:11 AM

A tip from guitarist Chris Newman at a workshop - wear a strap when playing guitar, even when sitting down. It will rest at a good angle for playing and relieve possible tension on neck and back. It's not a piece of advice I've always followed religiously, but I certainly do when playing the tenor guitar, which has a smaller body.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: leeneia
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 07:37 AM

"shortening long notes often leads to speeding up."

I intend to remember that.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 07:39 AM

Slightly off the main subject but, as club rep, I was sitting in at the beginning of the workshop Will mentions. When Chris gave that advice, our mutual friend Ian snuck back to his case to get his strap. On the way back he turned to me and, in a stage whisper, said "He's very good!".

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: gillymor
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 08:12 AM

One of the best tips I've gotten is simply "dance the rhythm".

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: gillymor
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 09:09 AM

This may seem obvious but when moving a chord up or down the neck to a different chord shape find a finger that remains on the same string as the chord you're moving from, if possible.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 12:14 PM

If you're playing autoharp tabletop, save your joints by using a tilted surface. A pool noodle under your case can work. When you strum or pick, curve your paw into a claw and dig under the string(s) as you start, if you want volume and/or clarity. Then it's wrist and shoulder motion. Remember that pressure from each paw must balance-- the harder you press your strings, the harder you'll need to dampen out the unplayed strings via your chord bar pressure. Finally, swishing artistically sounds crap, better switch to brush-played snare drum cuz that's all we'll hear. (You hear it louder cuz you've aimed the sound hole up to your own ears.)

Pick weight seriously matters on 'harp-- so try many, to learn what sound qualities are available.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Mark Clark
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 03:36 PM

In my experience, when Will Fly says some piece of technique is a good idea, it's a good idea. This can be true even if it runs counter to my own practice.

But…

That planted pinky thing means when your pinky is forcefully braced on the top restricting the movement of your hand. It doesn't mean your pinky mustn't touch the top at all. Many notable guitarists allow their pinky to touch and glide, ever so lightly, on the top as a depth gauge for flatpicking. As Will notes, it must never be allowed to restrict the hand.

Merle Travis famously planted three fingers squarely on the pick guard of his guitar, much the way a left handed pool player might form his "bridge." But Merle played mostly with his thumb and index finger and most of his work was on electric guitars that a) weren't sensitive to acoustic damping and b) the pick guard wasn't attached to the top of his (electric) guitars. If you watch the film clips of Merle with his Bigsby-Martin, he's less rigid with his right hand placement.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: gillymor
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 07:04 PM

Here's something Stefan Grossman posted on his forum last August regarding right hand position.:

"It's all down to the sound you produce. It can be very helpful to rest your pinky and/or ring finger on the face of the guitar when playing fingerstyle blues. But it is not necessary if you can produce a strong sound without doing this. There are several examples I can cite:
1) Check out videos of great white/black traditional players, i.e. Rev. Gary Davis, Miss. John Hurt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Skip James, Son House, Mance Lipscomb, Merle Travis, Doc Watson etc. They all rested their pinky/ring finger on the face of the guitar. They're NOT pressing down but rather resting in this position which helps greatly to get your palm to sit on the bass strings to dampen the sound. Also most of them only used their thumb/index fingers to pick.

2) I played for years with John Renbourn. A great guitarist with his own sound BUT when he would play Cannonball Rag by Merle Travis (or other American fingerstyle instrumentals) he would change his right hand classical position to that described in #1.

3) There are NO rules. The criteria is the sound you make. During Workshops we usually start with having everyone play and we (me and the other students) listen and comment on the sound that is being produced. If we like it we don't recommend any changes - no matter what right hand position is being used. If we think the sound could be improved the first suggestion is usually to play with more commitment (which simply means to play stronger). Once we can hear the wood and strings of the guitar we then try to work on the nuances of the sound. When playing traditional fingerstyle the bass dampening can be very important and adds so much to your sound. At that point we check out the right hand position and see if this can be changed - presuming as listeners the sound isn't "turning us on".The acoustic guitar can have lots of sound and by resting your pinky/ring finger on the top can help dry out the sound so that you as the musician add richness, i.e. vibrato, dampening etc.

It is the sound you produce that is the most important element in music. Check out players you enjoy and watch their right hand positions and try to imitate. It's easy to play lots of notes but difficult to play music.
In my limited experience of 50 years of playing as well as recording/producing guitarists I would say that in 98% the resting of the pinky/ring finger is found in most players. It ain't no myth."

I don't advocate it, in fact I don't often do it but if I play a tune where I'm more comfortable dropping the pinky on to the face I do. My approach is similar to John Renbourn's as described in item #2 (Heavens, I hope no one is thinking I'm comparing my humble self to the late, great guitarist).

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 01 Apr 16 - 08:40 PM

If Will Fly suggests … hmm ~ I just watched Will's Bach piece [again] and noted the strap, even when seated ~ I Will Try that advice.
I wouldn't agree with the NEVER tap your foot|feet|toes. Sorry Steve. It's a good rule, perhaps, but some styles and genres, it don't hurt nothin'. And given the number of learning styles is roughly equal to the number of humans on Earth, for some of whom kinaesthetic stuff _does_ help with rhythm issues, I wouldn't be dogmatic about it.
Off to up the 'views' on that sweet tenor work, Will. So cool that Richard is getting his own!
keep on pickin'
with your strap
no, I mean use your pick
& use your strap
dennis

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: JenBurdoo
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 12:53 PM

I do struggle with speed, tending to speed up. I'll look into metronomes. I will also try using a strap, but does anyone have suggestions for holding a ukulele? I have the same issue of an arm getting tired. At the moment I lean on an armrest or against a table while playing to deal with it. Another method I've found is to sit with one leg crossed and angled upward.

Practicing every single day has made a huge difference in my playing -- I heartily recommend it, even if you only do it for a few minutes.

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 01:26 PM

Just a reminder that my original post regarding resting the finger actually was:

Finally, a controversial tip for fingerpicking guitarists: DON'T rest your little finger on the face of the guitar - it restricts movement. And, YES, I know that people like Merle Travis, Woody Mann and Duck Baker rest their little fingers... :-)

I was aware that my own personal advice might be controversial - and I remember being gobsmacked when, after years of just hearing Merle Travis, I saw his picking technique on YouTube! But I don't do it myself because I find it really does restrict my fingerpicking. However, being the possessor of a crappy plectrum technique, I do tend to rest part of my hand on the guitar face when using a pick - alas!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 01:29 PM

OK, DrWord, but your human metronome is in your head, not in your leg muscles. Just try to not tap your feet for a while. You'll be amazed at how good you are without doing it. After all, by tapping all you're doing is sending brain signals down to your feet, a waste of energy (works the beer off I suppose). Next time you go to see a symphony orchestra, count how many people on stage are foot-tapping. I rest my case!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 01:33 PM

I recall, many years ago, sitting right in front of Spider John Koerner while his size 12 foot stamped out the rhythm of the blues he was performing!

Subject: RE: Musical technique hints and tips
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 01:36 PM

As a keen beginner, age 15; as soon as I got my own acoustic guitar for Xmas I tried to finger pick like Donovan
[ he was on the telly a fair bit in the early to mid 70s and I became a fan]..

Couldn't manage it, so have been a plectrum player ever since.

Never been too fussy about pick gauge or materials.
Most of the time I just used whatever I found discarded on stages and rehearsal room floors.
I never needed to buy a pick for over 30 years....

Last year I treated myself to a tin of Fender plectrums.

The mediums seem alright.