Bad habits to get into?

[donahue]

What are they? I've been playing for a little over two years, and have never had a lesson, or the opportunity to play with somebody better than me or willing to show me some pointers. I always wonder if I've developed some bad habits or style that makes it harder to play or will hinder my ability in the future, or if I'm missing some technique that would help me advance much faster. This may be a dumb question, but I'm just asking you guys for your opinions on some bad habits to stay away from.

 

[ksmith63]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

-excessively learning other people's songs (this will greatly influence your style and anything you do will show this)
-not practicing with a metronome


cant think of anything else right now

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

One that took me a while to notice was economy picking. By that all I mean is using as little movement as you can with your picking hand. To solve this, practice some inside and outside picking, it worked wonders for me and my speed, I'm still slow but not as bad as before.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Yeah, rhythm is the main issue. You don't only want a metronome, you want one that accentuates the "1".

Also, try to learn real fingerpicking (classic guitar style), use your left pinky and keep your "pick strikes up" on par with downstrikes. All these are very nasty to learn later when you are broken in without them.

 

[donahue]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Thanks guys, yeah, when I'm jamming my own stuff I do not use a metronome, I just play, but I do have a good sense of rhythm. When I learn someone else's stuff, I try it on my own until I think I have the positions down, then I try to play along with the actual song. I do use my pinky alot, prolly more than my ring. I do notice that when I am in shredding mode, I think I have a bad habit of trying to pick every single note I play, but thanks for the tips, and keep 'em coming.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

I'd suggest work on straight alternate picking. In the end, it's faster and more accurate than economy picking. The reason is mainly that reversing your arm's direction reduces the sheer speed you can get with the braindead updownupdownupdown motion.

 

[edsmith]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

I totally agree with the previous posts. Use strict alternate picking and always use a metronome. A metronome isn't necessarily essential all the time as long as you are keeping the beats.

Some other bad habits might include practicing too much. You don't want to spend all your time practicing. You have to put it into practice or you will miss the whole point of practicing. Taking lessons with a competent teacher is extremely important. It's important to develop the right muscle memory and catch bad habits as they come or you will spend all your time trying to overcome them.

You have to be an avid listener of music. One last important thing is to learn songs as close to note for note as you can. Too many players try to play their own interpretations all the time and they completely miss the point of mastering other styles. Once you have the song the way it was meant to be played, that's when you embelish it with your own style.

 

[Imp]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

getting stuck in a rut!

dont ruin a nice riff by playing it over and over, come back to it after trying other stuff..

even try bass for an hour or so, if you've got one lying around

 

[donahue]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Thanks guys, I also think that I pick the strings too hard and press too hard with my fretting hand. I have thought about getting a bass. They're a blast to play.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

I think my worst mistake was buying that first electric guitar. Several thousand dollars later....:chairfall

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Get a recording device of any kind and any quality, just so you can hear yourself play. I am in the same boat (self taught and about 20 years of playing), you will notice just how much noise extraneous finger movements cause. It will also let you hear your own phasing kind of from a distance. The more I record, the more I realize just how bad my phrasing is....LOL.

 

[Osensei]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

The fear of economy picking is something that I think is irrational on the part of Rockers mostly! I don't know why ppl feel that **** near everything played on a guitar has to be alternately picked!:laugh2: To me the idea is just a little bit excessive and is indicative of ppl that want to play everything as "ricky...ticky...ricky...ticky".

There are a lot of players that like to exhibit a chop fest whenever they play! For them I guess alternate picking suites their playing style! But many players that one would considered "soulful" break the rules of alternate picking!

I do know that being overly technical can be a of great help, but it can also be a burden! You must free up your thinking! Because it is limited "one track" thinking that causes ppl to fall into traps more so than any technical exercise or lack thereof!

Do violinists play everything with alternate strokes of the bow? Of course not! It is the melodic phrase itself and the interpretation of emotion that determines the way the bow is utilized in playing the violin! Why should the guitar be any different!

 

[edsmith]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

The fear of economy picking is something that I think is irrational on the part of Rockers mostly! I don't know why ppl feel that **** near everything played on a guitar has to be alternately picked!:laugh2: To me the idea is just a little bit excessive and is indicative of ppl that want to play everything as "ricky...ticky...ricky...ticky".

There are a lot of players that like to exhibit a chop fest whenever they play! For them I guess alternate picking suites their playing style! But many players that one would considered "soulful" break the rules of alternate picking!

I do know that being overly technical can be a of great help, but it can also be a burden! You must free up your thinking! Because it is limited "one track" thinking that causes ppl to fall into traps more so than any technical exercise or lack thereof!

Do violinists play everything with alternate strokes of the bow? Of course not! It is the melodic phrase itself and the interpretation of emotion that determines the way the bow is utilized in playing the violin! Why should the guitar be any different!

I don't think it's necessarily that, but that it's important to get the feel of something with strict picking before economizing it. Economy picking is something you develop a feel for after you have mastered a picking technique. At least that's the way I see it. I don't know anyone who has suffered from strict technique, but I know plenty of people who have suffered from learning too many shortcuts.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Wait...there are shortcuts?

 

[donahue]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Hey guys I love the input, but by the different ways you're describing you're confusing me in the difference between economy picking and alternate picking. I guess I use upstrokes when I think it will be more efficient but I don't get what you're saying about "chopping' and the diff b/t alternate and economy? please elaborate.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Don't take an "only do this" attitude to things, especially with this alternate vs economy picking debate. The two have their uses - learn both and then use them both as you see fit.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

I have an odd habit, I alternate pick descending runes, and economy pick ascending runs. This has hurt me and I am re-teaching myself to alternate pick %100. Use what works best though.

 

[donahue]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Again; econmomy picking? I've read in a couple of my guitar books that alternate picking is the most "economical" way to acheive speed and efficiency, so why would there be another style of picking called economy?

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Economy picking is sweep picking combined with alternate picking. Like playing three notes per string ascending, you would pick down, up, down, down, up, down, down, up, down, down, etc. Think of it as alternate picking with sweep picking to go the the next string.

 

[donahue]

Re: Bad habits to get into?

Si amigo, that makes sense