Follow on Question re baseball bat grip

[heyjoe]

Yup, pinky was just there so I could get the camera shot.

Thanks for the feedback, glad I'm on the right path, the fixing of the flaws has begun- just gotta keep practising, now where did I put that metronome??:P

Thanks

Joe

[haoli25]

Hang in there Joe, you're doing great! Neil's lessons for a lot of us are like the Don Henley song;

"The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, Im learning again..."

:laugh:



Bill

[AcousticAl]

haoli25 wrote:

Hang in there Joe, you're doing great! Neil's lessons for a lot of us are like the Don Henley song;

"The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, Im learning again..."

:laugh:



Bill

That's a great Henley tune, Bill-- off of a really good album.

[AndyT]

Or Eric Carmen...
When I was young, I never needed metronome. Those days are gone...

Chorus:
Strum-ing bad-ly....

[BigBear]

Joe- one thing no one has mentioned yet is that the position Neil teaches is the classic or preferred position but depending on the chords or fingerings played may need to change to accomodate these. Some chords will be incredibly hard to finger from this position!

I don't believe you will become a very good guitarist if you rigidly stick to any position. The classic position that Neil teaches should always be the starting point and the neutral position before the next change occurs. This keeps the hands in a relaxed, "ready to move" position. Watch Neil's hands as he plays. He steadfastly avoids the baseball grip but often changes grip position depending on the song! :cheer:

[Chasplaya]

BigBear wrote:

Joe- one thing no one has mentioned yet is that the position Neil teaches is the classic or preferred position but depending on the chords or fingerings played may need to change to accomodate these. Some chords will be incredibly hard to finger from this position!

I don't believe you will become a very good guitarist if you rigidly stick to any position. The classic position that Neil teaches should always be the starting point and the neutral position before the next change occurs. This keeps the hands in a relaxed, "ready to move" position. Watch Neil's hands as he plays. He steadfastly avoids the baseball grip but often changes grip position depending on the song! :cheer:

I beleive I mentioned this in a slightly different way

If your hand is in what I call the apple position (imagine holding an apple in fingertip and thumb tips as if showing it off) pivot the wrist up and down the thumb automatically goes up and down too opposite to the fingers.

Doing this and still avoiding the thumb over the top, alwasy exceptions to the rule though just look at Clapton play sometimes he uses the thumb over the top he rarely uses 4th finger. SO I guess what Neil teaches is as you say the better place to start from then develop your style from their and if possible try to avoid some things, but if it works for you then who's to say its wrong. Sometimes players with disabilities (Django Rheinhardt sp?) have to adapt.

[goldleaf]

Chas, would that example work with say a.... mango????? Sounds like a very good explanation. Seriously, good visual. I sent off for a "Neck Up" device thay frybaby recommended. Got it the day I left for vacation. It's a leather device that holds the guitat so the neck is pointed up. It grips the guitar with a suction cup and you can also use the strap end pin. Can't wait to get back from vacation to I can try it out. I did read quickly befor I left that the suction cup material can have a negative effect if left on nitrocellouse to long so they recommend taking it off after each time you are done playing. Let you know how it works when I get home and try it. Gary

[Chasplaya]

goldleaf wrote:

Chas, would that example work with say a.... mango????? Sounds like a very good explanation. Seriously, good visual. Gary

It sure would but don't try it with a watermelon lol! I need to look up the 'Neck Up' device I recall seeing that on a previous post.

Chas

[Chasplaya]

Just checked the Neck Up device, quite a cool and simple idea. I don't know what the suctions cups are made from but just be careful it doesn't react with the guitar finish, some plastics and vinyls have an adverse reaction to some finishes like nitrocellulose and older shellac.

[AndyT]

Neck Up. We used to call that an adjustable A frame.