The other thing I had noticed when constantly sliding the thumb instead of pivoting is that it becomes very difficult and inconsistent to land on the power chords accurately.
This combined with controlling of tension is honestly gonna make overall playing WAY easier for lots of people. I stumbled upon experimenting with this a few years ago, and this video has further refined it all for me. Uncle Ben the GOAT
Yeah, I think as many people are going to be struggling doing quick power chord (or perfect 4th chord) changes because they grip far too hard. A good, but old example of this is playing the intro to Rainbow's lost in Hollywood, although there's not a lot of good quality video showing Blackmore playing it. Yngwie did a version with Alcatraz (infamous for the video version where his guitar cuts out) but he cheeses it by playing a single note riff instead.
I've comfortably sucked for 30 years. Rarely learn anything "ah ha" anymore. Never thought about this for those rapid chord slides...what a great technique! Thanks.
I never cared a lot about my technique but this time I gave it a try: I can 100% recommend at least testing "The Pivot" for like 15 minutes. I personally had great first results and see a lot of potential & improvement in this technique especially for my love of chromatic melodies and riffs! Thanks a lot to Ben and to the Patreon Supporter!
Yooo, thanks for reminding me that it also applies to bass! I just tried it on the low B string and managed to play the fret pattern 1-4-2-5-3-6-4-7 without changing hand position and it felt super relaxed. Seven fret reach on the thickest string at the first frets, that’s insane!
I just spent ten minutes trying this out. I thought it would take some getting used to, but it is super intuitive. You literally added 20% more better control to my playing.
In recording, that 20% improvement might turn out to be 20 miliseconds improvement in tightness. When our hands synchronised better, we get clearer brighter attack.
Man! I just had to stop this video before even finishing it to say “Thank you, Uncle Ben!” Holy shit man, I am so glad you included that riff from “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and also showed it from the back angle with the pivot. I think this might be exactly the advice I needed to play that riff more better.
i am so glad i found this video early on in my guitar journey. rewatching it now a year later and it seems so obvious to me, but i know id be kicking myself if i hadn’t found it before.
Best guitar tip I have seen in a long time. I struggled with this hard, and funny enough, was wondering the other day why the simple FWTBT riff was so difficult to play. Gamechanger for my rookie ass.
We all had to learn this to play certain riffs, but it's weird how no one talks about it. Thank you Uncle Ben. You are the best Uncle in the whoooooole world 💞
Ok, this is a weird place for this question so pardon my rudeness. But I am a beginner. I am having a hard time not muting the bottom string when I play chords. Any advice?
When I was your age (young) I could play those type riffs like no tomorrow. Arthritis in both shoulders now and I can't seem to play those chug a chug fast-switching riffs in Diary of a Madman anymore. My left fret hand has the shoulder in which bone spurs have cut a muscle, the rotator cuff, and it's hard and extremely painful to go fast in those two directions - up and down the neck. I can't even raise that arm above my head anymore. I can still solo and shred about as good as you so not all is lost. And after hearing your guitar I am currently fighting the addiction to head over to Sweetwater and plunk down on a new Jackson. Been eyeballing that new green glow model! Besides all my bitchin', loved the video and I've been a long time subscriber. Keep up the great content.
and just like that... the addiction wins. Saw the specific guitar I wanted was in 3 other people's cart so it was grab it or lose it and I got that huge sweetwater credit card doing nothing in my wallet, so... It's going to look so AWESOME in my studio! I feel like that scene in Rob Zombie's new movie where Herman Munster gets his first date and he's howling behind the door.
not only have you taught me more about playing guitar than anyone, you've now given me nightmares with that echo of Ross yelling pivot!!! Brilliant video and thank you for this one!
I've always been aware of the scratchiness of the position changes on my strings and I've never been able to help it much this fixes it tremendously. Thank you uncle Ben. I go riff now more better. You alright guy.
Not gonna lie, I thought I was doing it wrong the whole time. I always pivoted my thumb while playing rhythm. It always felt good to me, but when seeing some players live, they never did. I tried to learn without pivoting and it was more difficult. I eventually decided to switch back (Thank God lol) and I've been more consistent then ever!
I use this techinque from the very first moment i started playing guitar and i never knew about it until now that i watched this video. There's economy picking and there's economy hand movement, both are awesome ways to make everyting sound much clearer and effortless.
this is funny because the other day i was watching a short clip of trivium practising and i noticed this with Coreys playing and have been intending on investigating. but this saves me a lot of time! thank you!
I concur, I need to relearn how to hold my guitar, I've always held with the thumb on top of the curve of the neck and never went to the middle or below which always caused me to react by squeezing harder, on the strings in a vain attempt to be more precise. A nice light touch is hard to learn since I'm used to lifting where grip strength is a huge component
Takes me back when I started learning the Dennis Sandole approach to jazz, taught to me by one of his students. All my friends are telling me to play like Hendrix, with the thumb over the neck. The pivot is ingrained into my playing …..thanks Ben for sharing this valuable technique 🤘
As someone who’s pretty technically savvy, I’ve never heard of this. I always get reaaaaally bad pain when playing a ton of power chords. I’m Gonna try this. 🤘🏻
Awesome tip! I never realized I do a modified version of this but that’s only due to my embouchure (trying to be Jimi Hendrix/ thumb over the edge along the 6th string) but same idea. Appreciate the “pivot” from Ross because that voice immediately came to me when I saw the thumbnail to this
Love you Ben, it always surprises me that more people just don’t naturally figure out a lot of the economy of movement techniques you teach, naturally through playing, your warren di martini videos were a big help
I'm typing this before I watch it because I have been struggling with Iron Man's 10th fret to 9th fret back to 10th fret transition in the main riff since I first picked up a guitar back in 2010. It's to the point now that my hand intuitively tenses up on me increasing my frustration over it. I really hope this gives me the answer to conquer it. Now on with the show.
I've had personal conclusions on this same topic that are completely opposite of your video. I had a beginner instinctive tendency for this "pivot" thing, and observe it in beginners too -- it's an instinct to hold on to the neck for dear life with some kind of anchor when other fingers are lifted or moving around, from fear of getting lost. I remember it being a hindrance, leading to weird stretches, running out of range if the power chords are more than 3 frets apart, less force to press down on the strings, more tendency to bend them out of tune due to pressing at weird angles. I actively worked on the thumb, so that it moves together with the whole hand, is kept on the back of the neck but no real force applied when not pressing the strings, so that there is no tendency for it to "stick" to the neck. It's doing its job in the back, but the fingers on the fretted side are the reference for navigating the frets, the thumb follows position shifting of the whole hand. I play thrash riffs, of the type you demonstrate too, and it definitely feels more natural and less "carpal tunnelly" awkward than the pivot thing. Precision of quick position shifts comes with some practice and it's no big deal really.
Oi laddie, I bleedin’ do pivot. Cos you talk about it is one of the reasons why I stand in extreme awe of your prowess, aptitude and talent with a guitar. …and I’m 68. Saw LZ live on Dec 9 1971. 3.5 hours for One Pound Sterling.
Wow, such a simple concept but "more better" for sure. I've been way too rigid when trying to keep my thumb lined up with my middle finger it seems, but this makes way more sense. I think I've naturally done this to a certain degree, but when I catch myself doing it I am always thinking "That's not proper form so I need to correct that". Such a great tip. I have no doubt that having an anchor point will make it much easier to land my fingers consistently for fast changes. The harder part might be unlearning what I now know is a bad habit.
My first classical guitar lesson was all about "How to handle your guitar little man." And the first advice was about left hand position on the neck, and the first thing to be done was, you guess it, positioning your thumb behind the neck at mid-height. Thats what you show without telling by the way. It comes naturally maybe. Best position to position your other fingers over the strings and frets 👌
Seems like I was half way there, I'm playing some sort of economy mode, using a pivot but also making small adjustments to the pivot. I'll definitely pay more attention to this and try to keep a steadier pivot. Thanks, Uncle Ben!
Yet another great video tutorial from our beloved Uncle Ben. I’m so so sorry your account is being plagued by scam bots man! We’re well aware of that and hope it can be solved!
This is pure gold, uncle Ben saved me from a problem I didn't even knew I had. Not the first time and most certainly not the last, thank you so much.
on the same boat here. Thanks uncle Ben🤘
The other thing I had noticed when constantly sliding the thumb instead of pivoting is that it becomes very difficult and inconsistent to land on the power chords accurately.
looking back 10 months later this was the most important guitar lesson when i started
Uncle Ben once again teaching me things that seem obvious after he shows me, but that I never would've thought of on my own. Thanks Ben!
That's exactly it! I never thought of this!
This combined with controlling of tension is honestly gonna make overall playing WAY easier for lots of people. I stumbled upon experimenting with this a few years ago, and this video has further refined it all for me.
Uncle Ben the GOAT
Yeah, I think as many people are going to be struggling doing quick power chord (or perfect 4th chord) changes because they grip far too hard. A good, but old example of this is playing the intro to Rainbow's lost in Hollywood, although there's not a lot of good quality video showing Blackmore playing it. Yngwie did a version with Alcatraz (infamous for the video version where his guitar cuts out) but he cheeses it by playing a single note riff instead.
I've comfortably sucked for 30 years. Rarely learn anything "ah ha" anymore. Never thought about this for those rapid chord slides...what a great technique! Thanks.
That is a super sweet Jackson soloist.
Never thought I’d crack up at a tutorial but the reverb every time he says pivot is fucking gold, it’s for sure gonna help me remember it at least
I never cared a lot about my technique but this time I gave it a try:
I can 100% recommend at least testing "The Pivot" for like 15 minutes. I personally had great first results and see a lot of potential & improvement in this technique especially for my love of chromatic melodies and riffs! Thanks a lot to Ben and to the Patreon Supporter!
Thumb pivot is such an important technique for bass. It makes huuuuge fret stretches easy peasy.
Yooo, thanks for reminding me that it also applies to bass!
I just tried it on the low B string and managed to play the fret pattern 1-4-2-5-3-6-4-7 without changing hand position and it felt super relaxed.
Seven fret reach on the thickest string at the first frets, that’s insane!
Been playing for some 15+ years and never knew about this ! 😱
Makes so much sense, I’ve been playing these type of riffs in hard mode for no reason.
Same
Great lesson, Uncle Ben!
Also, the addition of Ross' "PIVOT" with the reverb had me dying hahaha!!!
Uncle Ben has helped me tremendously with this. Also, love the Ross "Pivot!" soundbite that recurs through the background! 🙂
oh that was from the video? i thought it was my drug induced schizophrenia
I just spent ten minutes trying this out. I thought it would take some getting used to, but it is super intuitive. You literally added 20% more better control to my playing.
In recording, that 20% improvement might turn out to be 20 miliseconds improvement in tightness.
When our hands synchronised better, we get clearer brighter attack.
I can't wait to apply this and get more better, moving my arm-hand less.
Man! I just had to stop this video before even finishing it to say “Thank you, Uncle Ben!” Holy shit man, I am so glad you included that riff from “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and also showed it from the back angle with the pivot. I think this might be exactly the advice I needed to play that riff more better.
i am so glad i found this video early on in my guitar journey. rewatching it now a year later and it seems so obvious to me, but i know id be kicking myself if i hadn’t found it before.
Huzzah! So glad to hear that!
This lesson absolutely saved my life. You're right, no one has ever talked about this, not that i've seen. Gracias, Tio Ben
Best guitar tip I have seen in a long time. I struggled with this hard, and funny enough, was wondering the other day why the simple FWTBT riff was so difficult to play. Gamechanger for my rookie ass.
We all had to learn this to play certain riffs, but it's weird how no one talks about it. Thank you Uncle Ben. You are the best Uncle in the whoooooole world 💞
Well this is amazing. So much easier than trying to slide everywhere. A lot less tension in my thumb now. Much appreciated!
I’ve been playing guitar for 36 years and I never even thought about this before. You kinda blew my mind, dude.
Ok, this is a weird place for this question so pardon my rudeness. But I am a beginner. I am having a hard time not muting the bottom string when I play chords. Any advice?
Mind absolutely blown. I wish somebody showed me this sooner, thank you so much!
Me, too! I never had trouble keeping up with these riffs, but the squeaking thing drives me nuts.
I've been working on the Metallica riff for years and this made a huge difference for me. Thanks Ben, you're a great teacher.
This is gold. Been playing for 25 years and I’m now subscribing to your patreon
Bro Thank you! “Harvester of sorrow,” has always been my heel; this helps immensely
Brilliant! I said the 'pivot' line from Friends when I saw the thumbnail for this video, and then you actually said it in your video, Brilliant 🤣
Wow. Those inlays are gorgeous!
dude Uncle Ben you blew my mind just now. I have been struggling with this for ages.
When I was your age (young) I could play those type riffs like no tomorrow. Arthritis in both shoulders now and I can't seem to play those chug a chug fast-switching riffs in Diary of a Madman anymore. My left fret hand has the shoulder in which bone spurs have cut a muscle, the rotator cuff, and it's hard and extremely painful to go fast in those two directions - up and down the neck. I can't even raise that arm above my head anymore. I can still solo and shred about as good as you so not all is lost. And after hearing your guitar I am currently fighting the addiction to head over to Sweetwater and plunk down on a new Jackson. Been eyeballing that new green glow model! Besides all my bitchin', loved the video and I've been a long time subscriber. Keep up the great content.
and just like that... the addiction wins. Saw the specific guitar I wanted was in 3 other people's cart so it was grab it or lose it and I got that huge sweetwater credit card doing nothing in my wallet, so... It's going to look so AWESOME in my studio! I feel like that scene in Rob Zombie's new movie where Herman Munster gets his first date and he's howling behind the door.
Just started playing again since I was a teenager and I'm finding this channel to be helpful. Thanks for your work much appreciation.
As usual, uncle Ben never disappoints. Fantastic lesson.
First time in my life i hear of this and it makes so much sense! What I have missing all these years. Thanks
Wow, just wow. That's exactly what I needed right now. Strugled with that For Whom The Bell Tolls part for quite a while. Thanks uncle Ben!
not only have you taught me more about playing guitar than anyone, you've now given me nightmares with that echo of Ross yelling pivot!!! Brilliant video and thank you for this one!
if you pay attention you can see how economic and ergonomic the picking and finguering hand of bill kelliher is
Going to name my first born son Finn Guering now
@@breatheinthepinkair mike litories is better
I wrote a riff just the other day and this technique helps me do this particular riff so smoothly. Thanks Uncle Ben!
I've always been aware of the scratchiness of the position changes on my strings and I've never been able to help it much this fixes it tremendously. Thank you uncle Ben. I go riff now more better. You alright guy.
Ahhh Blood and Thunder. Awesome video man! Great advice and explanation.
Immediately improved my playing on "Harvester of Sorrow". Thanks
OK, best explanation ever! Thanks. Now I've to jump to Patreon, stuff like that is gold.
Not gonna lie, I thought I was doing it wrong the whole time. I always pivoted my thumb while playing rhythm. It always felt good to me, but when seeing some players live, they never did. I tried to learn without pivoting and it was more difficult. I eventually decided to switch back (Thank God lol) and I've been more consistent then ever!
As long as what you're doing works for you, it's not wrong.
this is actually a really technique i never considered before! thanks ben, and it is on my birthday too!
Hahahaha. The reverb “Pivot!” is fantastic.
I use this techinque from the very first moment i started playing guitar and i never knew about it until now that i watched this video. There's economy picking and there's economy hand movement, both are awesome ways to make everyting sound much clearer and effortless.
Ohhhhhhhhh! Makes sense! I've been sliding my thumb along the neck forever, thanks! 🤘👽🤙
that "PIVOOOT!!" in the background with reverb..... killed me
Sunuvagun. I've been playing way too long to not know this. You've unlocked a new level for me. Thanks, UB!
this is funny because the other day i was watching a short clip of trivium practising and i noticed this with Coreys playing and have been intending on investigating. but this saves me a lot of time! thank you!
Thank you, this is truly a gift I didn't know I want.
As a rhythm guitarist, I guess it's time to unlearn everything I've learned to far 😊
I concur, I need to relearn how to hold my guitar, I've always held with the thumb on top of the curve of the neck and never went to the middle or below which always caused me to react by squeezing harder, on the strings in a vain attempt to be more precise. A nice light touch is hard to learn since I'm used to lifting where grip strength is a huge component
Brilliant video, thanks Ben
Beautiful Jackson.
May it never get the dreaded "ding" at the tip of the headstock.
I feel like a fucken lad for having been doing this the whole time. Ben, you're fantastic, and make me feel like a better player than I actually am.
This is sweet, I have a blazz show tonight - definitely going to try this out.
Hey! That thumb position question I asked a while ago got answered here, thanks uncle Ben !
Huzzah!!! Hope that helps!
This technique just blew my mind!! Exactly what i needed. Thanks.
Had trouble on this very riff the other day. You are still 100% correct as to the issue…
Man, that's a hell of an eye-opener. Thanks Mr. Uncle Man 😁
Uncle Ben for the win! What a great guitar tip.
yesssssssssss this is what we needed everyone no more forearm spasm's from crappy thumb positioning your the best uncle ben 👍
Good tip, sick guitar. Love those headstocks
Nothing beats a pristine clean snow white Jackson Soloist. That guitar makes me want to cry.
Thanks, I love the Bells riff, but struggled. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks Uncle Ben! As soon as I saw the title I knew there would be a Friends reference
Outstanding. Thank you!
That’s a killer, lesson and technique. Greatness is in the details.
Definitely never thought of this! This is going to help a ton
immediate results. Thanks dude.
Learned something new. Thanks for sharing.
Takes me back when I started learning the Dennis Sandole approach to jazz, taught to me by one of his students. All my friends are telling me to play like Hendrix, with the thumb over the neck. The pivot is ingrained into my playing …..thanks Ben for sharing this valuable technique 🤘
As someone who’s pretty technically savvy, I’ve never heard of this. I always get reaaaaally bad pain when playing a ton of power chords. I’m Gonna try this. 🤘🏻
Man those details are so important, gonna try it out
This video is godsent, thank you! I'm having problems with both riffs mentioned, so I'm definetly trying this.
Awesome tip! I never realized I do a modified version of this but that’s only due to my embouchure (trying to be Jimi Hendrix/ thumb over the edge along the 6th string) but same idea. Appreciate the “pivot” from Ross because that voice immediately came to me when I saw the thumbnail to this
You just blew my mind!
Always learning something new and useful here.
Love you Ben, it always surprises me that more people just don’t naturally figure out a lot of the economy of movement techniques you teach, naturally through playing, your warren di martini videos were a big help
Thanks again Ben! I have been moving my entire, as you say, armhand, for those riffs 🤘
Hawt. Oh, and "just like Ross on Friends" is effing brilliant.
Haha thanks Linda!!
Amazing video. So obvious and yet overlooked for so long.
I'm typing this before I watch it because I have been struggling with Iron Man's 10th fret to 9th fret back to 10th fret transition in the main riff since I first picked up a guitar back in 2010. It's to the point now that my hand intuitively tenses up on me increasing my frustration over it. I really hope this gives me the answer to conquer it. Now on with the show.
my neck is kinda sticky so i was doing this naturally!
Thanks for the great lesson Uncle ben
Haha, love the Ross sprinkled in there. Great lesson, Uncle Ben!
This is exemplary critical analysis of a task.
I've had personal conclusions on this same topic that are completely opposite of your video. I had a beginner instinctive tendency for this "pivot" thing, and observe it in beginners too -- it's an instinct to hold on to the neck for dear life with some kind of anchor when other fingers are lifted or moving around, from fear of getting lost. I remember it being a hindrance, leading to weird stretches, running out of range if the power chords are more than 3 frets apart, less force to press down on the strings, more tendency to bend them out of tune due to pressing at weird angles. I actively worked on the thumb, so that it moves together with the whole hand, is kept on the back of the neck but no real force applied when not pressing the strings, so that there is no tendency for it to "stick" to the neck. It's doing its job in the back, but the fingers on the fretted side are the reference for navigating the frets, the thumb follows position shifting of the whole hand. I play thrash riffs, of the type you demonstrate too, and it definitely feels more natural and less "carpal tunnelly" awkward than the pivot thing. Precision of quick position shifts comes with some practice and it's no big deal really.
Great stuff! Thank you uncle Ben
This was super helpful dude! Never thought about it until this video, thank you!
Uncle Ben.
I really love your This is Why You Suck at Guitar series. So, awesome!!
Thank you, sir.
Really? What I won?
Oi laddie, I bleedin’ do pivot. Cos you talk about it is one of the reasons why I stand in extreme awe of your prowess, aptitude and talent with a guitar.
…and I’m 68. Saw LZ live on Dec 9 1971. 3.5 hours for One Pound Sterling.
Uncle Ben with the fantastic tips again!
Nice Jackson, thanks Uncle Ben for this lesson
Wow, such a simple concept but "more better" for sure. I've been way too rigid when trying to keep my thumb lined up with my middle finger it seems, but this makes way more sense. I think I've naturally done this to a certain degree, but when I catch myself doing it I am always thinking "That's not proper form so I need to correct that". Such a great tip. I have no doubt that having an anchor point will make it much easier to land my fingers consistently for fast changes. The harder part might be unlearning what I now know is a bad habit.
glad I saw this video, had to use for Testament Electric Crown
My first classical guitar lesson was all about "How to handle your guitar little man." And the first advice was about left hand position on the neck, and the first thing to be done was, you guess it, positioning your thumb behind the neck at mid-height.
Thats what you show without telling by the way. It comes naturally maybe.
Best position to position your other fingers over the strings and frets 👌
I... tot I taw a Penguin!
Nice tip! I always had much trouble playing such riffs. Will try out your method!
Thanks so much uncle Ben really a game changer
Seems like I was half way there, I'm playing some sort of economy mode, using a pivot but also making small adjustments to the pivot. I'll definitely pay more attention to this and try to keep a steadier pivot. Thanks, Uncle Ben!
I'd never even thought to do that, and I've been playing for a long time.
Great video choice! Not only did I see improvement almost instantly, this also makes guitars with a sticky finish more enjoyable to play.
Yet another great video tutorial from our beloved Uncle Ben. I’m so so sorry your account is being plagued by scam bots man! We’re well aware of that and hope it can be solved!
Ugh, they’re everywhere these days, dude.
Every single "PIVOT" has managed to make me laugh, good one uncle Ben!