I am almost 64 and am picking up guitar again. Have been frustrated in past attempts. Have been doing some spider walks and basic chord changes for a week or so and going through some you tube channels past couple of weeks. Some helpful, some not. Last night came across yours. I picked up my new "beginners" guitar and tried adjusting my left hand as shown. I was able to do a barre chord after never being able to pull off without straggling the neck. I am very heavy handed and so happy you showed how not to push down on strings with a lighter touch and actually noticed how much faster I could go through the SW. I have also been one to play with the neck down to watch what I was doing. Much easier with the neck up. But hitting wrong strings, but am sure that will change with a bit of practice. I can't tell you how happy I am finding your channel early in my journey this time around before I became too entrenched in my left hand positioning. Thank you.. Don't listen to a couple of haters and keep on being you. And if others don't agree, that's cool, keep doing it your way, but for many this will help.
I am 65 yrs old. A self taught lefty playing right handed guitars. Playing since 1973 ..... I have started taking lessons on guitar sites in the last 5 years or so. Tring to learn how to play Blues. Your lesson in this video is THE BEST 22 minute lesson I have EVER SEEN. This is GUITAR GOLD ...... THANK YOU
Me too! For decades I played with too much power on my thumb and now I have big problems with my thumb saddle joint. I am changing my whole technique as recommended for Blues-Rock players in the video. I was surprised how much chords you can play without using your Index Finger as a capo and your thumb for support.
Subscribed. I can't believe in all my years of playing ('78 to present. I'm 71 years old), no one showed me how improperly I was holding my left hand, especially given the fact I so often complained of being too slow/struggling with legato/hammer-ons/pull-offs). I was placing my thumb in the OPPOSITE direction you recommend, stretched toward the headstock. My fingers were fighting the weight/muscles in my hand .As soon as I finished your video, I grabbed a guitar and the speed with which I'm able to do the afore-mentioned techniques is night and day. I'm embarrassed that after all these years I couldn't have figured this out on my own, at least by observation, but thank you so much. Practice will begin this evening with a completely new approach.
Sorry that you trained yourself improperly for so many years. This guy is not producing anything useful. I tried it and thought it was a joke. Fingers MUST be arched for a clean and accurate sound, whether electric or acoustic. Watch Jeff Beck. Flat finger position equals sloppy sound. Maybe faster, but sounds like turds.
@@TUBEORATER I only referenced thumb placement. Having it stretched toward the headstock wasn't helpful for me, but pulling it in, was. I was taught to use the tips of my fingers, though, and doing otherwise didn't work for me, either.
@@TUBEORATER interesting, so you're advocating not to do what Max is recommending? My guitar teacher was trained at Berkley and I remember him always referring to players that held that "slanted angle" with the thumb higher than than middle of the neck as "party players" and as students of his we were admonished for doing it. Now this was also not classical guitar lessons, we were learning blues scales with this rule in mind. After watching this video I questioned whether not he was wrong after all these years and the thumb up (barring the top strings for e shaped bar chords a la Hendrix and Vaughan is indeed the better way to play. I'm left a little confused as I find it also does feel and sound a bit sloppier playing this way,.
@steelingmonroe Old school guitar teachers say to never use your left thumb to mute the low e. I've seen countless really famous players muting with the thumb. There is no cardinal rule as long as you can play without sounding like a 3 year old. The neck should be in your thumb pocket and your thumb moves behind the neck for proper leverage depending on the chord position. Your thumb has much less squeeze power as you bring it towards the little finger. Test it on yourself.
0:02 probably the best lesson I ever had on left hand position. You have saved my enthusiasm. I’m 82 years old and loving it, playing guitar I mean not being 82.
I'm 54, and I've learned on my own. I have 40 something years of doing it... and I just realize that I make all of the mistakes you mentioned here!!! I'm amazed, that finally someone could explain things that seems logic now, but never occurred to me to fix. Thanks a lot! you're a great teacher. Best regards from Bolivia
I've been struggling with my left hand positioning so much so that I have spent my whole life wishing I could learn how to play. This information is life changing. Thank you.
Moving my thumb so that it is placed in the middle of the chord being fingered made an instant improvement in my capacity to properly sound all of the strings. I have always had a problem sounding the first string on A shape barre chords. Following your tip, the problem is gone. Thanks so much! Also, many teachers advise rotating the index finger slightly for barre chords. None of them described how to do that in a natural way, as you did. I am a lifelong teacher (not guitar). Your teaching is extremely effective. Well done!
I’d had such the same problem you describe ( ‘A’ barre!) that if i needed that high note i’d avoid the barre and use the index on the high E string. ( personally think the barre chords are bad… throwing that index across really makes riffing and fill ins more problematic)
I watch most videos like this on 1.5x speed. This is the BEST video I have watched for guitar technique/instructions tips ever! I watched the entire thing at normal speed and did not multitask while doing so. A++++. Sub’d!
Absolutely a game changer for me. At 79-years-of-age (been playing since 18) that is the best lesson ever. I do not read music, never studied the language, although I do enjoy the guitar (s)
Thank you, Max, almost 70 years old have being playing steel guitar for ten years, learnt classical in my younger days. Great tips which i hope helps with my blues. John from Seattle. London, Rio,
Wow! Three minutes into the video and you’ve already healed my note deadening! Never heard anyone ever mention the creases of my fingers would be the reason for dead notes. My thumb was also WAY off! Fixed now! I’ve played since I was 14. I’m almost 61 now. Thank you!! Subscribed!!
The bar chord advice was excellent. Have been playing a long time and avoid those chords due to hand fatigue. Thank you! Why is the knuckle on my index finger always sore/fatigued?
This lesson should be learned before any chord, scale, or technique. Looking forward to applying these hacks to save aches and pains, as well as improve playing ability
FINALLY I learned why I couldn't ever do bar cords. The pain I went though trying to learn how was awful. Now I understand what I was doing wrong. Thank you so much. I subscribed to your channel.
Wow this is a gem; been playing for 55 years on and off, recently (5 years) started to play again; this is at great instruction video could have make my life easier and better by far.
Rank beginner @ 57 years old. Only a week or so in & some of these tips have helped me already with my very basic practice routine. I am far removed from Barre Chords right now, but you have been a great help and have helped me already. Definitely following your channel.
Same here! I started playing at the age of 10, now 64. I've been playing continuously for 54 years and SOME of this I worked out years ago, but some not! This was a fantastically clear, factual, practical, and helpful! Thank you for sharing your expertise so thoughtfully! 🙏
I’m 61 yr old….been playing for many yrs. I CAN NOT tell you how valuable this lesson is! My sound and comfort level has dramatically been improved. Thanks Max!!
I've been playing for 60+ years and none of my teachers showed me how thumb position and rolling the barre finger take a lot of pressure off the barre chords. Now I can't practice enough to make a difference. I'll definitely be checking this out.
Thank you for this video. I'm on my first real day of learning to play. I've been struggling to get my hand around and worrying about dead notes. I feel like my fingers are too fat! But I know others that have large fingers and now I know that I can work with them.
Thank you so much, i have been playing for decades and have had a number of bad habits which have constrained my playing.. these tips have definitely led me on the path to resolving them. So clearly explained! Truly appreciated :-)
I'm 74, played my first gig in 1974, and I'm still gigging every Friday night. I can't believe how much I learned from this video . Now, can I have that gorgeous Guild you're playing ?? I don't know what model it is but I gotta have one. Anyway, thanks. Surprisingly helpful!
I have the same exact model. Guild F 65 CE. These were made in USA before the company was sold and moved production overseas. Mine was purchased in 2001 for My 50th birthday. A thin body acoustic with an oval sound hole, and a thin fast neck, that plays great.
Thank You for Your advice on barre chords! 👍 This is at last the good and usable video advice, that finaly explains how to master barre chords🤟. Also thanks for pointing that for rock/blues guitar there is no necessary bend the whrist and keep the thumb in center of neck (as for classic guitar). The teachers usually force to hold the hand in classic way, however ( as You mentioned in video) most popr/rock artists Lik Kendrix, Voughan, CLatpom, Bonamassa ... they all keep thumb over the neck, and even use it for semi-barre chords.
I am self teaching myself with the help of UA-cam. In the process have watched 1000's of videos, and struggled with Barr cords a lot. I can now get it right most of the time. This is the first time I have seen anyone mention position of the thumb, and just tried it. Wow, it works great, every time. Thank you. Just subscribed too.
@tonyn1926 If you can play lead and rithym on Boston "smokin" & Journey "don't stop believing" You have nothing to be concerned about. Steely Dan reeling in the years is a bit tougher, but go for it.
This vid made me realise how much i was doing to sabotage my own progress, and a little i was naturally gravitating towards correct technique! Thank you!!
Great video!!! Been playing for 4 years. Wish I saw your video sooner. All the basics of how to hold the guitar and avoid too much hand tension which has limited my time playing to ~30 min. I've not seen anyone teach these basics echoing what some of the other posts have said. Reminds me of a John Wooden lesson teaching the fundamentals. Appreciate you!
A friend of mine (whos playing I have envied for decades) sent me this link half an hour ago. Ive learned more since then about why some things have been so hard than I have in the last ten years. Thank you!
Fantastic advice! at the end you touch on part of it, sort of, but there are other, very widespread and common mistakes that usually start and take root in our bodies for many beginners, tensing up in any part of the body that we're not even using to play! Potentially impacting the rest of our lives, causing imprecision and for some even injuries/early playing retirement tensing in often the shoulders, neck, ankle, stomach, even the face, as we try to play a new piece we've been giving the tabs for, for some of us with 0 guidance about how to do it, we sometimes try to play it full tempo right away, unwittingly tensing up all kinds of places - causing us great soreness and pain after just a few minutes when one of the best things we could have been told would be to pay attention to our entire body to try and keep it relaxed, avoid tension, and play at snail pace at first while learning, slow tempo to let muscle memory work its magic, and gradually increase the tempo. full tempo when starting out is a road to disaster and frustration down the line, the tension causing all kinds of inaccuracies in our would-be precision still remember the painful 5 minutes i managed every time in my early days starting out on that spanish guitar at 15-16 years old - having been given nothin but some tabs as advice
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! It's total game changer! Every time I've tried to go further with mastering my guitar it kicked me back with wrist pain and uncomfortableness. Now I definitely know why. I'm taking my instrument out of case tonight to try new! ☼
Max! Great advice, as I am turning 68 on November 26th, my ligaments, bones joints...you get it, are very susceptible to all these things. I have been playing now for 6 years and mostly self taught. I had a great young instructor in 2018 when I began, then COVID struck. Yes! I have developed some terrible habits and just kept playing and hoping that they would go away. Nope, that's why they are called habits. Max, you have made me stop and consciously think about and act on this process before it becomes debilitating. Subscribed and Liked! I appreciate your efforts sir! Peace ☮
As a player since '72, i have learned some good new stuff from this video! I gotta try the bar chord thing on my acoustic 12-string playing especially! You also made me realize that not all of my habits are bad, tho i've thought they were! Many blessings to you, Max Rich!
Great lesson. So easy but wouldn’t realize these practises if they weren’t pointed out. I’m in a down time so I hope this will give me the incentive to pick up the guitar again.
The explanations about the thumb balancing role and the position of the whirst are something that I expect to help me a lot! I'll try it as soonaspossible! Thanks a lot for this lesson!
Excellent lesson. Massively important basics on the physiology of the left hand, ensuring injury free playing, clarity of tone and speed when needed. Thank you
Thank you for explaining these fundamental mistakes. I'm looking now critical to all guitar players and to my own playing style. And surprise...a lot of bad habbits. Thank you very much for it. Best regards from germany
I just started playing (well not playing, but attempting to play) the guitar less than a week ago. I've been trying to absorb a lot of knowledge inparted by experienced guitar players on UA-cam and I have to say I have been sporadically making some of these mistakes you demonstrate in this video and strangely enough I did notice on my own that some of these positions or forms did not feel right, comfortable or ideal and here I find your video explaining the very reasons why I instinctively felt that way. I'm glad I found this video early on so I can avoid making these mistakes or allowing myself to form these into bad habits, not to say I won't make other mistakes or form other bad habits without realizing it... unless I find more helpful information like this in other videos, but avoiding a few mistakes is a nice way to start out and continue from this point forward. Thank you for taking the time to help others like myself with this information! Lastly, you asked your viewers what they find challenging and I'd say that would be guitar picking. I seriously thought fretting would be the harder challenge, but I now feel picking is a notch above in difficulty, particularly since I cannot actually find many videos that explain how to slowly develop a mastery of guitar picking at my very low end beginner level, furthermore... videos which have tasks or exercises that approach picking in a way I can understand or relate to and that are more practical to electric guitar picking vs acoustic (most videos seem to be solely focused on acoustic guitar finger strumming or picking, which is still helpful in many ways but not truly helpful in other ways when trying to learn electric.
Thank you for that lesson, I wish I had watched your video 12 years ago. No teacher has explained that like you, especially the bar cord and thumb position. Thank you.
Best guitar lesson I have ever had. I am only in my 5th year. My barre chords sound so much better now and don't cause me pain. Playing riffs with my pinky is now smooth and uses less effort. This 20 minute video and about 10 minutes using this advice is a game changer for me.
Thank You. I have never heard this anywhere else. This video has helped me immensely. I was making every mistake you mentioned. I'm going to re- watch the video several times.😊
You make so much logical sense in this video on understanding your hands limitations and why. I wished I had started out knowing this 30 years ago. Most people are born with a gift to play, and I wasn't. I was born with a gift of a strong will that I could learn what I set my mind too. But I realized that my will is not enough. Thanks!
I too am a self taught guitarist who's been playing over 20years and I can't believe I had never thought of moving my thumb closer to the centre of my hand grip and twist to do bare chords, also your other tips are excellent, I'm currently trying to fix my flying pinky problem too so with this in mind it should make me a better player in the long run.
The tightness thing is something that's always kind of been there, I thought, but wasn't sure. I'm going to dig a guitar or two out of my storage and work on this. A ground up approach may remove some barriers. Thanx.
I have been playing for 65 years. Took lots of lessons years ago. I play professionally. But nobody ever said anything about this Thumb thing. This makes my bar chords so much easier. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this great video! I have a LOT of wrist pain. I am going to try all these suggestions (absolutely won't give up) and take good look at my technique. I am making mistakes you talk about. Maybe I can avoid physio now. Thank you! I'll keep you posted.
Hello Max, an old "bad" French guitarist of 69 years greets you. I devoured your course and realized that I have most of the bad behaviors that you mention, and therefore the impression of not being able to progress for years. I thank you very much for the clarity of your explanations and the way to correct these problems. Your course is just masterful and great! Thank you, thank you again... Kind regards👋
Outstanding information! I thought my picking was slowing down because of me getting into my 50's and too many years of carpentry and stone work, but your teaching has given me new guitar life this week. THANK YOU.
I really appreciate your video. Unfortunately I have arthritis in both hands. Been playing for 20 years now. Putting my thumb in the centre, just hurts too much. But the big take away from this, is the " lite touch". I was pressing the strings down harder than I should. No one has ever mentioned thus before. Now, my left hand is more relaxed and getting good results. Thanks heaps !!!
I cant believe how it is already transforming how I play after just 1 night of fixing these issues Never noticed I should have my thumb waaaay down on barre chords, its so easy now when i have to play fast Never noticed my weak pinky was due to my thumb position Never tried to apply as little pressure as possible to prevent my fingers from tensing up in order to play fast Amazing video
Max thank you so much for you fixes for your lefthand video. I am a 71-year-old who started at 16 and loves to play. I have been stuck for many years. Your suggestions on how to fix my left hand was like a lightning bolt. It simply explained why I haven't been able to move forward. Thank you so much.
I’m stoked! Such super cool technique! Looks like I’ve got a lot of bad habits to get rid of! These things never seem to get discussed! Thank you so much
Wow, there's so much to this. Appreciate your calm demeanor and attention to detail. I've found I have the least tension if I place my thumb behind the high B and E strings at the back of the neck. This also seems to allow for the straightest wrist. That said, after what you said about thumb position being mid-hand and even above the neck's low E string, and at the end of the video, about the position of the guitar neck itself, I'll be doing some experimenting. Thanks.
I just wanted to thank you for your incredible advice and lessons. Your teaching style and the way you break things down make everything so clear and approachable, even if I weren't following along with my guitar. At 70 years old, I’ve played off and on but you’ve truly breathed new life into my practice. Your lessons are not just inspiring but so practical, and I find myself playing with a joy and enthusiasm I haven’t felt in years.
Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly explain the techniques that can help with these issues. This is truly one of the best guitar technique videos I have seen and making your suggested changes is already having positive impacts on my playing.
Brilliant! So much appreciate this great instruction! Best advice on guitar playing I ever received…. at least since I was informed to get instrument out of case and on a secure stand to increase access and maximize every spare minute to practice…even 5 min at a time!!! Subscribed immediately!!!!!!
Started in 1965, still playing. Why didn’t my first teacher show me this? I guess we’ve come along way since then. This mistakes are so obvious and yet I’ve been oblivious to them. Huge thank you! Subscribed!
This vid is a true bucket o' gold nuggets - maybe some yall knew these tips - to hear these tips spoken aloud really IS gold. *bows in gratitude* ALL wonderful cool stuff! Thank you!
Max I would like to thank you for these tips. My music teacher didn’t mention any of this. You did. I struggled a lot and agree with each point in this video. Thank you very much. I’ll be your number one fan from now on. Michael
I am a keyboard player and do struggle getting good clean barre chords. The wrist twist technique of moving your thumb towards the guitar body immediately cleaned up my sound. when I first started playing piano my first instructor did not really focus on technique at all. My second instructor did a little technique work but focused more on reading and playing the right notes. My third instructor totally focused on technique and identified all of the bad habits I had picked up in my training. I wish they had all focused on technique because good technique made me faster, more accurate and enabled me to really make huge improvements. The barre chore technique is so simple yet within seconds gave me clean sounding chords. And I have been playing a guitar song with a Bm in it and have played the chord progression hundreds of times and was still not satified with that chord and using the leverage was all it took. I just subscribed!
Best 20 mins I have spent in a long time..50 years of bad mistakes explained..thanks....little fat fingers..72 years of hard work...arthritis..but still keep plugging away...the joy of playing a well constructed F and C chord as simple as that may be..is MUSIC to my ears...😂
Fantastic video, Max. You made everything very clear & easy to understand, and these 5 tips are huge, I look forward to working on incorporating them (note that my teacher has been advocating classical hand positioning, but I'm only interested in blues rock). Thanks mate.
Dude: This is by far the best instruction on how to hold your left hand. I loved it!!! I hope I can break some old habits and be able to stretch farther than I currently do .
Thanks. I’ve had guitars for years and have never had time to sit down and learn proper technique, but I recently inherited a Guild 12 string Jumbo. So I’m going back and learning on my old 6 string until I get accustomed to playing the correct way. I’m glad after years that I stumbled across this. Some people move waay too fast for beginners to follow in real time and then they gloss over or completely skip technique such as you’ve explained here. This is the stuff most of us beginners are looking for. I’d love to see a basic video on setting up your guitar, and left hand exercises.
Thanks you for this! Excellent presentation.I've been playing 50+ years- did it professionally in younger years. In recent years have been having trouble with some chords(especially barre chords) and chalked it up to aging hands but suspected it was also bad habits from earlier years when youth was on my side and more forgiving. I stumbled on your video and very glad I did. It's tough to break old habits but good for my old brain, so thanks again!
I agree with so many others here. This is truly the best segment and advice I've ever had about how to hold and use your left hand when playing. I'm a solid intermediate player, mostly self-taught with the help of other players and friends... going on 40 years now. I've never had anyone give me these VERY LOGICAL and HELPFUL tips. Over the years I've still found myself trying to tweak how I was chording and playing, but these points never came to mind. Often, as you've said, we do the opposite of what we need to do! Crazy, right! Anyway, thanks SO MUCH for this and I'll subscribe and keep learning from you to extend my skills and joy in playing. What a gift you've given me and so many others! Blessings.
I am almost 64 and am picking up guitar again. Have been frustrated in past attempts. Have been doing some spider walks and basic chord changes for a week or so and going through some you tube channels past couple of weeks. Some helpful, some not. Last night came across yours. I picked up my new "beginners" guitar and tried adjusting my left hand as shown. I was able to do a barre chord after never being able to pull off without straggling the neck. I am very heavy handed and so happy you showed how not to push down on strings with a lighter touch and actually noticed how much faster I could go through the SW. I have also been one to play with the neck down to watch what I was doing. Much easier with the neck up. But hitting wrong strings, but am sure that will change with a bit of practice. I can't tell you how happy I am finding your channel early in my journey this time around before I became too entrenched in my left hand positioning. Thank you.. Don't listen to a couple of haters and keep on being you. And if others don't agree, that's cool, keep doing it your way, but for many this will help.
I am 65 yrs old. A self taught lefty playing right handed guitars. Playing since 1973 ..... I have started taking lessons on guitar sites in the last 5 years or so. Tring to learn how to play Blues. Your lesson in this video is THE BEST 22 minute lesson I have EVER SEEN. This is GUITAR GOLD ...... THANK YOU
Hard to take you seriously with your Pamela Anderson Barbed wire tattoo ..:
@@BrianJohnson-cj8xf what done it for you ?
Was it the part he actually played guitar ?
I missed it
@@BrianJohnson-cj8xf WTH he never even played the guitar ???
Almost the same exact same story here😂
Agreed! One of the most useful I have watched.
I've been playing for over 50 years and this is the first time anyone has ever explained these things. Great video. Thanks.
I have also been playing 50 years , been in bands and never heard this before
Same here! 😀
Me too! For decades I played with too much power on my thumb and now I have big problems with my thumb saddle joint. I am changing my whole technique as recommended for Blues-Rock players in the video. I was surprised how much chords you can play without using your Index Finger as a capo and your thumb for support.
Subscribed. I can't believe in all my years of playing ('78 to present. I'm 71 years old), no one showed me how improperly I was holding my left hand, especially given the fact I so often complained of being too slow/struggling with legato/hammer-ons/pull-offs). I was placing my thumb in the OPPOSITE direction you recommend, stretched toward the headstock. My fingers were fighting the weight/muscles in my hand .As soon as I finished your video, I grabbed a guitar and the speed with which I'm able to do the afore-mentioned techniques is night and day. I'm embarrassed that after all these years I couldn't have figured this out on my own, at least by observation, but thank you so much. Practice will begin this evening with a completely new approach.
Sorry that you trained yourself improperly for so many years.
This guy is not producing anything useful.
I tried it and thought it was a joke.
Fingers MUST be arched for a clean and accurate sound, whether electric or acoustic.
Watch Jeff Beck.
Flat finger position equals sloppy sound. Maybe faster, but sounds like turds.
@@TUBEORATER I only referenced thumb placement. Having it stretched toward the headstock wasn't helpful for me, but pulling it in, was. I was taught to use the tips of my fingers, though, and doing otherwise didn't work for me, either.
@@TUBEORATER interesting, so you're advocating not to do what Max is recommending? My guitar teacher was trained at Berkley and I remember him always referring to players that held that "slanted angle" with the thumb higher than than middle of the neck as "party players" and as students of his we were admonished for doing it. Now this was also not classical guitar lessons, we were learning blues scales with this rule in mind. After watching this video I questioned whether not he was wrong after all these years and the thumb up (barring the top strings for e shaped bar chords a la Hendrix and Vaughan is indeed the better way to play. I'm left a little confused as I find it also does feel and sound a bit sloppier playing this way,.
@steelingmonroe
Old school guitar teachers say to never use your left thumb to mute the low e.
I've seen countless really famous players muting with the thumb.
There is no cardinal rule as long as you can play without sounding like a 3 year old.
The neck should be in your thumb pocket and your thumb moves behind the neck for proper leverage depending on the chord position.
Your thumb has much less squeeze power as you bring it towards the little finger. Test it on yourself.
@steelingmonroe
ua-cam.com/video/vmyh_BTMHUA/v-deo.htmlsi=hjmgH8FYIAtUtGjO
Observe THE master.
0:02 probably the best lesson I ever had on left hand position. You have saved my enthusiasm. I’m 82 years old and loving it, playing guitar I mean not being 82.
I agree. Thought I would get nothing out of this video. Don't even truly know why I clicked on it.
Especially over 20 minutes.
I was wrong !!
I am a 66 year old beginner and want to thank you for 22 minutes of highly practical advice that I will put to immediate use.
I have taught for 25 years and teach all these concepts. But you have explained them so clearly and eloquently. Thank you!
Wow, thank you!
I'm 54, and I've learned on my own. I have 40 something years of doing it... and I just realize that I make all of the mistakes you mentioned here!!! I'm amazed, that finally someone could explain things that seems logic now, but never occurred to me to fix. Thanks a lot! you're a great teacher. Best regards from Bolivia
Tu inglese es fenomenal , hola de Europe ... siga con la guitarra ...
@@Miguel...160 Hola Miguel!!! Mil gracias, 40-something years of practicing it too hehehe
I've been struggling with my left hand positioning so much so that I have spent my whole life wishing I could learn how to play. This information is life changing. Thank you.
Moving my thumb so that it is placed in the middle of the chord being fingered made an instant improvement in my capacity to properly sound all of the strings. I have always had a problem sounding the first string on A shape barre chords. Following your tip, the problem is gone. Thanks so much!
Also, many teachers advise rotating the index finger slightly for barre chords. None of them described how to do that in a natural way, as you did.
I am a lifelong teacher (not guitar). Your teaching is extremely effective. Well done!
I’d had such the same problem you describe ( ‘A’ barre!) that if i needed that high note i’d avoid the barre and use the index on the high E string. ( personally think the barre chords are bad… throwing that index across really makes riffing and fill ins more problematic)
I watch most videos like this on 1.5x speed. This is the BEST video I have watched for guitar technique/instructions tips ever! I watched the entire thing at normal speed and did not multitask while doing so. A++++. Sub’d!
Probably one of the best ergodynamic treatises on hand position! Thanks!
That barre chord hack alone is gold.
I've been playing (and largely avoiding bahr chords) since 1990. I can't believe I never learned this simple technique. I'm really grateful!
Absolutely a game changer for me. At 79-years-of-age (been playing since 18) that is the best lesson ever. I do not read music, never studied the language, although I do enjoy the guitar (s)
Thank you, Max, almost 70 years old have being playing steel guitar for ten years, learnt classical in my younger days. Great tips which i hope helps with my blues. John from Seattle. London, Rio,
Rock on!
So glad to have come across your video on my very 1st day of learning guitar. At 63 I don't have time to waste on bad habits. Thanks doll!
Wow! Three minutes into the video and you’ve already healed my note deadening! Never heard anyone ever mention the creases of my fingers would be the reason for dead notes. My thumb was also WAY off! Fixed now! I’ve played since I was 14. I’m almost 61 now. Thank you!! Subscribed!!
Playing guitar is just like magic, because no one is willing to tell you the secrets.😂😅
I have been making every single one of those mistakes for over thirty years. Thanks for setting me straight
The bar chord advice was excellent. Have been playing a long time and avoid those chords due to hand fatigue. Thank you! Why is the knuckle on my index finger always sore/fatigued?
This lesson should be learned before any chord, scale, or technique.
Looking forward to applying these hacks to save aches and pains, as well as improve playing ability
FINALLY I learned why I couldn't ever do bar cords. The pain I went though trying to learn how was awful. Now I understand what I was doing wrong. Thank you so much. I subscribed to your channel.
I wished I knew this 38 years ago!! Thank you Max, can't wait to go home to start fixing my left hand!!
Wow this is a gem; been playing for 55 years on and off, recently (5 years) started to play again; this is at great instruction video could have make my life easier and better by far.
Rank beginner @ 57 years old. Only a week or so in & some of these tips have helped me already with my very basic practice routine. I am far removed from Barre Chords right now, but you have been a great help and have helped me already. Definitely following your channel.
It takes time but you'll get there, keep practicing!
Wow! There’s hope for me yet!😂😊👍🏾 thanks dude.
I'm glad you think so!
Just beautifully articulated and demonstrated. Anyone watching this and taking it to heart will improve their guitar playing.
Same here! I started playing at the age of 10, now 64. I've been playing continuously for 54 years and SOME of this I worked out years ago, but some not! This was a fantastically clear, factual, practical, and helpful! Thank you for sharing your expertise so thoughtfully! 🙏
I’m 61 yr old….been playing for many yrs. I CAN NOT tell you how valuable this lesson is! My sound and comfort level has dramatically been improved. Thanks Max!!
I've been playing for 60+ years and none of my teachers showed me how thumb position and rolling the barre finger take a lot of pressure off the barre chords. Now I can't practice enough to make a difference. I'll definitely be checking this out.
I am 70 and just now finding this out?? Thank you, I learned a little. Thanks for the post. I'll subscribe with a smile.!!
Thank you for this video. I'm on my first real day of learning to play. I've been struggling to get my hand around and worrying about dead notes. I feel like my fingers are too fat! But I know others that have large fingers and now I know that I can work with them.
Thank you so much, i have been playing for decades and have had a number of bad habits which have constrained my playing.. these tips have definitely led me on the path to resolving them. So clearly explained! Truly appreciated :-)
Thank you for taking the time to make this video and explanations. And no fluff or repeating yourself, nice speed of talking, easy to watch and learn.
You're welcome, I appreciate the feedback!
Danke!
Bitte sehr!
I'm 74, played my first gig in 1974, and I'm still gigging every Friday night. I can't believe how much I learned from this video .
Now, can I have that gorgeous Guild you're playing ?? I don't know what model it is but I gotta have one. Anyway, thanks. Surprisingly helpful!
I have the same exact model. Guild F 65 CE. These were made in USA before the company was sold and moved production overseas. Mine was purchased in 2001 for My 50th birthday. A thin body acoustic with an oval sound hole, and a thin fast neck, that plays great.
It's the 'holding an apple' principe
Thank You for Your advice on barre chords! 👍 This is at last the good and usable video advice, that finaly explains how to master barre chords🤟. Also thanks for pointing that for rock/blues guitar there is no necessary bend the whrist and keep the thumb in center of neck (as for classic guitar). The teachers usually force to hold the hand in classic way, however ( as You mentioned in video) most popr/rock artists Lik Kendrix, Voughan, CLatpom, Bonamassa ... they all keep thumb over the neck, and even use it for semi-barre chords.
Max - the best online lesson I have ever seen - I've been playing since I was 10, I'm now 61 - simply brilliant, thank you. Subscribed.
I am self teaching myself with the help of UA-cam. In the process have watched 1000's of videos, and struggled with Barr cords a lot. I can now get it right most of the time. This is the first time I have seen anyone mention position of the thumb, and just tried it. Wow, it works great, every time. Thank you. Just subscribed too.
@tonyn1926
If you can play lead and rithym on
Boston "smokin" &
Journey "don't stop believing"
You have nothing to be concerned about.
Steely Dan reeling in the years is a bit tougher, but go for it.
This vid made me realise how much i was doing to sabotage my own progress, and a little i was naturally gravitating towards correct technique!
Thank you!!
Great video!!! Been playing for 4 years. Wish I saw your video sooner. All the basics of how to hold the guitar and avoid too much hand tension which has limited my time playing to ~30 min. I've not seen anyone teach these basics echoing what some of the other posts have said. Reminds me of a John Wooden lesson teaching the fundamentals. Appreciate you!
A friend of mine (whos playing I have envied for decades) sent me this link half an hour ago. Ive learned more since then about why some things have been so hard than I have in the last ten years. Thank you!
🎉🎉🎉pressure🎉🎉🎉🎉. What a relief! This is one of the top guitar lessons on all of you tube
Wow, thanks!
Fantastic advice!
at the end you touch on part of it, sort of, but there are other, very widespread and common mistakes that usually start and take root in our bodies for many beginners, tensing up in any part of the body that we're not even using to play! Potentially impacting the rest of our lives, causing imprecision and for some even injuries/early playing retirement
tensing in often the shoulders, neck, ankle, stomach, even the face, as we try to play a new piece we've been giving the tabs for, for some of us with 0 guidance about how to do it, we sometimes try to play it full tempo right away, unwittingly tensing up all kinds of places - causing us great soreness and pain after just a few minutes
when one of the best things we could have been told would be to pay attention to our entire body to try and keep it relaxed, avoid tension, and play at snail pace at first while learning, slow tempo to let muscle memory work its magic, and gradually increase the tempo.
full tempo when starting out is a road to disaster and frustration down the line, the tension causing all kinds of inaccuracies in our would-be precision
still remember the painful 5 minutes i managed every time in my early days starting out on that spanish guitar at 15-16 years old - having been given nothin but some tabs as advice
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! It's total game changer! Every time I've tried to go further with mastering my guitar it kicked me back with wrist pain and uncomfortableness. Now I definitely know why. I'm taking my instrument out of case tonight to try new! ☼
I’ve been trying to learn guitar for 60 yrs. Your video has helped me a lot. Your easy nature is perfect for teaching. God Bless
Max! Great advice, as I am turning 68 on November 26th, my ligaments, bones joints...you get it, are very susceptible to all these things. I have been playing now for 6 years and mostly self taught. I had a great young instructor in 2018 when I began, then COVID struck. Yes! I have developed some terrible habits and just kept playing and hoping that they would go away. Nope, that's why they are called habits. Max, you have made me stop and consciously think about and act on this process before it becomes debilitating. Subscribed and Liked! I appreciate your efforts sir! Peace ☮
As a player since '72, i have learned some good new stuff from this video! I gotta try the bar chord thing on my acoustic 12-string playing especially! You also made me realize that not all of my habits are bad, tho i've thought they were! Many blessings to you, Max Rich!
Great lesson. So easy but wouldn’t realize these practises if they weren’t pointed out. I’m in a down time so I hope this will give me the incentive to pick up the guitar again.
This is great! So obvious and simple, yet hard to recognize. Thank you! All the best :)
Glad it was helpful!
The explanations about the thumb balancing role and the position of the whirst are something that I expect to help me a lot! I'll try it as soonaspossible! Thanks a lot for this lesson!
Excellent lesson. Massively important basics on the physiology of the left hand, ensuring injury free playing, clarity of tone and speed when needed. Thank you
Thank you for explaining these fundamental mistakes. I'm looking now critical to all guitar players and to my own playing style. And surprise...a lot of bad habbits. Thank you very much for it. Best regards from germany
I just started playing (well not playing, but attempting to play) the guitar less than a week ago. I've been trying to absorb a lot of knowledge inparted by experienced guitar players on UA-cam and I have to say I have been sporadically making some of these mistakes you demonstrate in this video and strangely enough I did notice on my own that some of these positions or forms did not feel right, comfortable or ideal and here I find your video explaining the very reasons why I instinctively felt that way. I'm glad I found this video early on so I can avoid making these mistakes or allowing myself to form these into bad habits, not to say I won't make other mistakes or form other bad habits without realizing it... unless I find more helpful information like this in other videos, but avoiding a few mistakes is a nice way to start out and continue from this point forward. Thank you for taking the time to help others like myself with this information!
Lastly, you asked your viewers what they find challenging and I'd say that would be guitar picking. I seriously thought fretting would be the harder challenge, but I now feel picking is a notch above in difficulty, particularly since I cannot actually find many videos that explain how to slowly develop a mastery of guitar picking at my very low end beginner level, furthermore... videos which have tasks or exercises that approach picking in a way I can understand or relate to and that are more practical to electric guitar picking vs acoustic (most videos seem to be solely focused on acoustic guitar finger strumming or picking, which is still helpful in many ways but not truly helpful in other ways when trying to learn electric.
Thank you for that lesson, I wish I had watched your video 12 years ago. No teacher has explained that like you, especially the bar cord and thumb position. Thank you.
I'm self learning how to play electric guitar and I'm so thankful this video just showed up to me! Thank you, Max. Great content!
Glad to hear it!
I'm a beginner, so good to learn the right way from the start. I will work at all your suggestions. Thank you.
Best guitar lesson I have ever had. I am only in my 5th year. My barre chords sound so much better now and don't cause me pain. Playing riffs with my pinky is now smooth and uses less effort. This 20 minute video and about 10 minutes using this advice is a game changer for me.
That's awesome to hear, I'm glad it's making such a difference!
Thank You. I have never heard this anywhere else. This video has helped me immensely. I was making every mistake you mentioned. I'm going to re- watch the video several times.😊
Glad it was helpful!
❤ Already feel a difference in my playing. My arms are quite short, so was really battling!!
Ευχαριστούμε!
EXCELENT lesson. Quite possibly the most important guidance we can ever have which I have never come across in such detail to make sense. Thank you.
Superb initial training, I am lucky to view this video. God bless you. Babu from India
Merci!
You make so much logical sense in this video on understanding your hands limitations and why. I wished I had started out knowing this 30 years ago. Most people are born with a gift to play, and I wasn't. I was born with a gift of a strong will that I could learn what I set my mind too. But I realized that my will is not enough. Thanks!
This is the best hand technique video I have seen. Every player should see this and I have been playing for manny years and learned something new.
I too am a self taught guitarist who's been playing over 20years and I can't believe I had never thought of moving my thumb closer to the centre of my hand grip and twist to do bare chords, also your other tips are excellent, I'm currently trying to fix my flying pinky problem too so with this in mind it should make me a better player in the long run.
That's awesome!
Just found your channel looking for more good guitar teachers. This is gold. Thanks.
The tightness thing is something that's always kind of been there, I thought, but wasn't sure. I'm going to dig a guitar or two out of my storage and work on this. A ground up approach may remove some barriers.
Thanx.
I have been playing for 65 years. Took lots of lessons years ago. I play professionally. But nobody ever said anything about this Thumb thing. This makes my bar chords so much easier. Thank you!
I'm 75 and had drifted into all of these mistakes over the years. Thank you so very much.
Thank you so much for this great video! I have a LOT of wrist pain. I am going to try all these suggestions (absolutely won't give up) and take good look at my technique. I am making mistakes you talk about. Maybe I can avoid physio now. Thank you! I'll keep you posted.
One of the most helpful pieces of advise I've heard I do all those things you mentioned, and the theory behind it made so much sense.
Glad to hear it's making a difference!
Hello Max, an old "bad" French guitarist of 69 years greets you. I devoured your course and realized that I have most of the bad behaviors that you mention, and therefore the impression of not being able to progress for years. I thank you very much for the clarity of your explanations and the way to correct these problems. Your course is just masterful and great! Thank you, thank you again... Kind regards👋
Outstanding information! I thought my picking was slowing down because of me getting into my 50's and too many years of carpentry and stone work, but your teaching has given me new guitar life this week. THANK YOU.
I really appreciate your video.
Unfortunately I have arthritis in both hands.
Been playing for 20 years now.
Putting my thumb in the centre, just hurts too much.
But the big take away from this, is the " lite touch".
I was pressing the strings down harder than I should.
No one has ever mentioned thus before.
Now, my left hand is more relaxed and getting good results.
Thanks heaps !!!
I cant believe how it is already transforming how I play after just 1 night of fixing these issues
Never noticed I should have my thumb waaaay down on barre chords, its so easy now when i have to play fast
Never noticed my weak pinky was due to my thumb position
Never tried to apply as little pressure as possible to prevent my fingers from tensing up in order to play fast
Amazing video
Max thank you so much for you fixes for your lefthand video. I am a 71-year-old who started at 16 and loves to play. I have been stuck for many years. Your suggestions on how to fix my left hand was like a lightning bolt. It simply explained why I haven't been able to move forward. Thank you so much.
Exellent video! years and years of playing a a lot of this help me a lot!
I’m stoked! Such super cool technique! Looks like I’ve got a lot of bad habits to get rid of! These things never seem to get discussed! Thank you so much
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, there's so much to this. Appreciate your calm demeanor and attention to detail. I've found I have the least tension if I place my thumb behind the high B and E strings at the back of the neck. This also seems to allow for the straightest wrist. That said, after what you said about thumb position being mid-hand and even above the neck's low E string, and at the end of the video, about the position of the guitar neck itself, I'll be doing some experimenting. Thanks.
Wish someone had shown me all this 20 years ago. But better late then never. Great stuff. Thanks.
Don't worry, I promise you will forget. I have, every time I learned this trick. Write it in graffiti on your guitar.😂
I just wanted to thank you for your incredible advice and lessons. Your teaching style and the way you break things down make everything so clear and approachable, even if I weren't following along with my guitar. At 70 years old, I’ve played off and on but you’ve truly breathed new life into my practice. Your lessons are not just inspiring but so practical, and I find myself playing with a joy and enthusiasm I haven’t felt in years.
I am so glad to hear that! Thank you for the comment and the Super Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly explain the techniques that can help with these issues. This is truly one of the best guitar technique videos I have seen and making your suggested changes is already having positive impacts on my playing.
Brilliant! So much appreciate this great instruction! Best advice on guitar playing I ever received…. at least since I was informed to get instrument out of case and on a secure stand to increase access and maximize every spare minute to practice…even 5 min at a time!!!
Subscribed immediately!!!!!!
Started in 1965, still playing. Why didn’t my first teacher show me this? I guess we’ve come along way since then. This mistakes are so obvious and yet I’ve been oblivious to them. Huge thank you! Subscribed!
This vid is a true bucket o' gold nuggets - maybe some yall knew these tips - to hear these tips spoken aloud really IS gold. *bows in gratitude* ALL wonderful cool stuff! Thank you!
Wow!!! 50 years playing,that is some valuable information. Thanks so much for that blessing,and it definitely works.
Max I would like to thank you for these tips. My music teacher didn’t mention any of this. You did. I struggled a lot and agree with each point in this video. Thank you very much. I’ll be your number one fan from now on. Michael
Thanks for watching, Michael!
I am a keyboard player and do struggle getting good clean barre chords. The wrist twist technique of moving your thumb towards the guitar body immediately cleaned up my sound. when I first started playing piano my first instructor did not really focus on technique at all. My second instructor did a little technique work but focused more on reading and playing the right notes. My third instructor totally focused on technique and identified all of the bad habits I had picked up in my training. I wish they had all focused on technique because good technique made me faster, more accurate and enabled me to really make huge improvements. The barre chore technique is so simple yet within seconds gave me clean sounding chords. And I have been playing a guitar song with a Bm in it and have played the chord progression hundreds of times and was still not satified with that chord and using the leverage was all it took. I just subscribed!
This is the most effective technique lesson I ever discovered. Thanks.
Best 20 mins I have spent in a long time..50 years of bad mistakes explained..thanks....little fat fingers..72 years of hard work...arthritis..but still keep plugging away...the joy of playing a well constructed F and C chord as simple as that may be..is MUSIC to my ears...😂
I think the first and last tips will help me the most. Happy to say I'm already doing the rest correctly. Thanks!
Fantastic video, Max. You made everything very clear & easy to understand, and these 5 tips are huge, I look forward to working on incorporating them (note that my teacher has been advocating classical hand positioning, but I'm only interested in blues rock). Thanks mate.
Dude: This is by far the best instruction on how to hold your left hand. I loved it!!! I hope I can break some old habits and be able to stretch farther than I currently do .
Man you're a fantastic teachr! You not only show how, but what's more important you explain why!
Wow! I've been playing for decades and never thought of this. Thanks!
Thanks. I’ve had guitars for years and have never had time to sit down and learn proper technique, but I recently inherited a Guild 12 string Jumbo. So I’m going back and learning on my old 6 string until I get accustomed to playing the correct way. I’m glad after years that I stumbled across this. Some people move waay too fast for beginners to follow in real time and then they gloss over or completely skip technique such as you’ve explained here. This is the stuff most of us beginners are looking for. I’d love to see a basic video on setting up your guitar, and left hand exercises.
Alot of these Yt lessons folks only pretend they want to teach, they want Patreon subscribers.
Thanks you for this! Excellent presentation.I've been playing 50+ years- did it professionally in younger years. In recent years have been having trouble with some chords(especially barre chords) and chalked it up to aging hands but suspected it was also bad habits from earlier years when youth was on my side and more forgiving. I stumbled on your video and very glad I did. It's tough to break old habits but good for my old brain, so thanks again!
You're very welcome!
I agree with so many others here. This is truly the best segment and advice I've ever had about how to hold and use your left hand when playing. I'm a solid intermediate player, mostly self-taught with the help of other players and friends... going on 40 years now. I've never had anyone give me these VERY LOGICAL and HELPFUL tips. Over the years I've still found myself trying to tweak how I was chording and playing, but these points never came to mind. Often, as you've said, we do the opposite of what we need to do! Crazy, right! Anyway, thanks SO MUCH for this and I'll subscribe and keep learning from you to extend my skills and joy in playing. What a gift you've given me and so many others! Blessings.