Im guilty of all six, and its funny cause they built so much insecurity I decided to stop playing entirely. It probably had more to do with being young and immature than anything else. But I feel like now, since that's not the case anymore, that I have finally started to actually grow as guitar player, even when my performance isn't the best. These mistakes seem to me like prerequisite roadblocks one must go through to finally start even enjoying guitar, and playing nicely at that. Thank you for these very valuable videos, please keep making them.
the end message felt so sad. And I long ago played at a mall, and I didn't practice our finishing song, thought I could wing it, and I couldnt for my taste, but a dude in the crowd complimented me on my playing, and I instead of accepting, just told him I played bad, yet he insisted. Looking back I shouldve appreciated the compliment he gave me for free.
Ha yes I've been there! I used to say things like "Thanks! I messed up here, here, and here, though" until I realized, why would they even want to hear that? I'm just saying that for myself, and it's not even doing me any good to dwell on the negative!
This has been so helpful. I have done all of the above. I was already aware that my performance mode sucks but laying it all out like this has focused my mind quite a bit. I will practice in performance mode more. Cheers.
A very good video Jaxon, and as a sometime teacher myself, and as a club organiser, I've seen them all. As someone who only mentors steel string acoustic players, especially those who play dreads seated, I agree that understanding posture is essential, and we differ only inasmuch as I suggest the right upper leg be parallel to the floor and that (if possible) the back of the guitar should not touch the players body. I say hands are for playing the guitar not holding onto it. Thanks for a really helpful video.
Great reminders. I’ve been on my journey for 3 years and have improved a lot, but still have what I think is less than perfect posture when sitting and keeping my fret board at the higher angle. On a different note (no pun intended) I found if I record myself several times playing the same song in a row I can use this recording to help me identify areas to work on whether it’s rhythm, cleaner notes or lyrics. It’s also a great way to look back 3 or 6 months later and see your improvements.
Yep, do all of these to varying degrees. Managed to catch one myself the other day (bad positioning) which I've rectified, but thank you for pointing the others out. The major disadvantage of being self taught is, it seems, the steepness (or sometimes the lack thereof) of the learning curve.
I think a guitar learning journey can teach people how to find confidence within themselves. It can be learning anything really, but getting good at something from a lot of practice, I think, provides that gift.
Thanks for the tips! I've been dabbling with the guitar off and on for years, recently just bringing it out around the holidays to be able to play Christmas songs for my kids. This year I decided to try and stick with it to see if I could actually get good at it. I found a few fingerstyle song tutorials (after having only ever played chords with a pick) and have been trying to learn. It's frustrating as I feel like I keep making the same mistakes (especially having way too much tension in my left hand!) But I'm going to keep working and trust that I'll keep improving. I appreciate your teaching style a lot. Your video on bar chords was a revelation! I didn't think I'd ever be able to play those cleanly, but I was able to do it using the techniques you described. I hope you'll keep making videos teaching fundamentals with the same types of simple exercises like you've shown in your other videos. Knowing what I'm supposed to do is good, but having a method to practice HOW to do what I'm supposed to do is so much better.
Thanks for taking the time to comment this. I'm really glad to hear you've been finding the technique tutorials and exercises useful, and this is a good reminder that I need to keep making more content like that. Anything in particular you'd like to see?
@@drjaxonguitar Here's an idea that I think might be interesting and instructive. Take a song and do a series of tutorial videos. First a 'beginner' version of the song, then do an 'intermediate' version, and finally an 'advanced' version. With each one, talk about the skills/techniques that you'll be using/developing as you learn that version of the song. Perhaps pick one to make the 'skill focus' for that version (eg. "When working on this song, here's primary technique I want you to focus on and here are the other skills you'll need." and "As we take this song to the next level, these are the new skills you'll need to work on.") If you want to keep the videos shorter, you could even do a companion video for each level that dives into a couple of the skills required and/or challenging aspects with exercises to practice them as they relate to that specific song. I think it would be fascinating to see how a song evolves from a simple arrangement to an advanced one. It would give me something to work towards and a way to see measurable improvement in my ability as I work towards being able to play the more advanced versions. With an explicit 'skill focus' each arrangement could be a skill exercise as well as a performance piece (the 'skill focus' could be something unique to the song/arrangement, but doesn't have to be; just any particular skill that I can concentrate on to help me continue to develop my fundamentals). For example: what got me started learning fingerstyle was this 'Ode to Joy' tutorial from Robert Lunn: th-cam.com/video/siZ5R2J48Yk/w-d-xo.html. I'm working on the song and making good progress, but one thing (of several!) that I'm struggling with is making the F chord sequence clean. The 'skill focus' for the beginner arrangement could be a fundamental like 'planting' the fingers on the strings, but an additional skill to dive into could be help on the F chord sequence. Then, once I do feel comfortable with this beginner arrangement it would be great to have another, more interesting version to step up to that builds on what I've already learned while introducing me to new techniques. What do you think?
@@RayMGreenley This is a great idea! I'll give this some thought and figure out a good way to do it. In the meantime I'll try to make some more simple fundamentals videos, but I really like the idea of teaching a song at various levels so people can use it to see a clear connection between beginner all the way to advanced! Thanks for the suggestion!
Now that I'm getting more confidence with my left hand being in the right place even if I'm not looking at the fretboard, I'm trying to sit up while playing more. I've definitely found that putting strength into my chest has halped a lot with the tension and pain in my hands. I'll be coming back to this video to see the bit on posture a few more times as I make adjustments.
Awesome to hear you're working on positioning! I forgot to even mention sitting up but that's essential and the perfect first thing to focus on. It's a long process but it's well worth it to do what it takes to get good positioning and technique. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips, I’ll try to work on these. I even get nervous and start making excuses when I’m just trying to play something for my always supportive wife.
Right Leg elevated? I am a right handed (beginner) player but have been using the foot stool to raise my left leg to support the guitar on it. Am i wrong? Excellent video by the way, guilty of most of these.
If you play with the guitar on the left leg that’s great! That’s more common in classical technique so I chose to focus on right leg technique since generally more people tend to do right leg. (Left leg is more ergonomic though so it’s fantastic for a beginner)
I am guilty of all of the above. some to a lesser degree than others. I would say however that point number 5 could be a discouragement for many of us. Eliminating all buzz or other mistakes is going to take a lot of practice, maybe even years. If we think that the moment we buzz a chord everyone will think we must be a beginner could lead us to not performing at all. I like to remember that the vast majority in the audience are not professional musicians and will not, hopefully, be as aware of our mistakes. Better to have tried and failed than to never tried at all. Other than that I think the list is very true indeed. Thanks
Yes you’re right! I thought of removing point 5 for the exact reason you mentioned but ultimately decided to keep it because I wanted to use it to illustrate it’s a symptom of not practicing right, which I felt was important. I didn’t do a good enough job caveating this in the video but I hoped to get across that mistakes are always ok but when you’re littered with buzzes/mutes/mistakes it can be fixed even as a beginner through better practicing. Thanks for calling that out, I value good discussion on here!
For your "mistake" number three, I would say that a better position for the guitar is between your legs with the neck much higher, like classical guitar players play. Your left hand can flow freely and you don't need to painfully twist your wrist to play chords.
Definitely! I chose to highlight right leg playing in this video because classical is a smaller niche where positioning is already well established and I see many folks struggle to set up well on the right leg. There’s nothing wrong with right leg playing if you make sure to set up well. I do both depending on the style I’m playing.
Hard to say exactly without seeing you but you could try propping the guitar up at a more steep angle so you can rest the curve of the guitar on your belly. That can help get the neck closer to you so you’re not reaching out for it. Look up Scott Tennant; he has a sitting position that could be good for you to replicate.
Can totally relate 😅 Thank’s my friend 😊 The Lord’s love + grace be with you His Hope + peace, in Life, and beyond the grave Hope you are all well and resting in Jesus saving love + grace 😊 Warmest Love + blessing’s friends 😊
John 3 verse 16 ^_^ please search the Gospel (Bible) all who read this. Your soul is far to precious to gamble in thinking there is no hell or need for salvation in The Lord Jesus Blessing’s friends ^_^
Im guilty of all six, and its funny cause they built so much insecurity I decided to stop playing entirely. It probably had more to do with being young and immature than anything else. But I feel like now, since that's not the case anymore, that I have finally started to actually grow as guitar player, even when my performance isn't the best. These mistakes seem to me like prerequisite roadblocks one must go through to finally start even enjoying guitar, and playing nicely at that.
Thank you for these very valuable videos, please keep making them.
the end message felt so sad. And I long ago played at a mall, and I didn't practice our finishing song, thought I could wing it, and I couldnt for my taste, but a dude in the crowd complimented me on my playing, and I instead of accepting, just told him I played bad, yet he insisted. Looking back I shouldve appreciated the compliment he gave me for free.
Ha yes I've been there! I used to say things like "Thanks! I messed up here, here, and here, though" until I realized, why would they even want to hear that? I'm just saying that for myself, and it's not even doing me any good to dwell on the negative!
Great video with great information. All the points you raise make very good sense. Also, very nicely presented. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
This has been so helpful. I have done all of the above. I was already aware that my performance mode sucks but laying it all out like this has focused my mind quite a bit.
I will practice in performance mode more. Cheers.
A very good video Jaxon, and as a sometime teacher myself, and as a club organiser, I've seen them all. As someone who only mentors steel string acoustic players, especially those who play dreads seated, I agree that understanding posture is essential, and we differ only inasmuch as I suggest the right upper leg be parallel to the floor and that (if possible) the back of the guitar should not touch the players body. I say hands are for playing the guitar not holding onto it. Thanks for a really helpful video.
Great reminders. I’ve been on my journey for 3 years and have improved a lot, but still have what I think is less than perfect posture when sitting and keeping my fret board at the higher angle. On a different note (no pun intended) I found if I record myself several times playing the same song in a row I can use this recording to help me identify areas to work on whether it’s rhythm, cleaner notes or lyrics. It’s also a great way to look back 3 or 6 months later and see your improvements.
Thanks for all of that. Of particular help to me is the idea of performance mode, together with playing and owning the performance.
Yep, do all of these to varying degrees. Managed to catch one myself the other day (bad positioning) which I've rectified, but thank you for pointing the others out. The major disadvantage of being self taught is, it seems, the steepness (or sometimes the lack thereof) of the learning curve.
I think a guitar learning journey can teach people how to find confidence within themselves. It can be learning anything really, but getting good at something from a lot of practice, I think, provides that gift.
These are so helpful, Jaxon. They’re all things I’ve been aware of but it helps to put them together and see them as foundational. Thanks!
Thanks April! Appreciate your comment.
Thank you for this!
Guilty as charged on so many points, but getting better, thanks to you.
Really good
Thanks for the tips! I've been dabbling with the guitar off and on for years, recently just bringing it out around the holidays to be able to play Christmas songs for my kids. This year I decided to try and stick with it to see if I could actually get good at it. I found a few fingerstyle song tutorials (after having only ever played chords with a pick) and have been trying to learn. It's frustrating as I feel like I keep making the same mistakes (especially having way too much tension in my left hand!) But I'm going to keep working and trust that I'll keep improving.
I appreciate your teaching style a lot. Your video on bar chords was a revelation! I didn't think I'd ever be able to play those cleanly, but I was able to do it using the techniques you described.
I hope you'll keep making videos teaching fundamentals with the same types of simple exercises like you've shown in your other videos. Knowing what I'm supposed to do is good, but having a method to practice HOW to do what I'm supposed to do is so much better.
Thanks for taking the time to comment this. I'm really glad to hear you've been finding the technique tutorials and exercises useful, and this is a good reminder that I need to keep making more content like that. Anything in particular you'd like to see?
@@drjaxonguitar Here's an idea that I think might be interesting and instructive.
Take a song and do a series of tutorial videos. First a 'beginner' version of the song, then do an 'intermediate' version, and finally an 'advanced' version. With each one, talk about the skills/techniques that you'll be using/developing as you learn that version of the song. Perhaps pick one to make the 'skill focus' for that version (eg. "When working on this song, here's primary technique I want you to focus on and here are the other skills you'll need." and "As we take this song to the next level, these are the new skills you'll need to work on.") If you want to keep the videos shorter, you could even do a companion video for each level that dives into a couple of the skills required and/or challenging aspects with exercises to practice them as they relate to that specific song.
I think it would be fascinating to see how a song evolves from a simple arrangement to an advanced one. It would give me something to work towards and a way to see measurable improvement in my ability as I work towards being able to play the more advanced versions. With an explicit 'skill focus' each arrangement could be a skill exercise as well as a performance piece (the 'skill focus' could be something unique to the song/arrangement, but doesn't have to be; just any particular skill that I can concentrate on to help me continue to develop my fundamentals).
For example: what got me started learning fingerstyle was this 'Ode to Joy' tutorial from Robert Lunn: th-cam.com/video/siZ5R2J48Yk/w-d-xo.html. I'm working on the song and making good progress, but one thing (of several!) that I'm struggling with is making the F chord sequence clean. The 'skill focus' for the beginner arrangement could be a fundamental like 'planting' the fingers on the strings, but an additional skill to dive into could be help on the F chord sequence. Then, once I do feel comfortable with this beginner arrangement it would be great to have another, more interesting version to step up to that builds on what I've already learned while introducing me to new techniques.
What do you think?
@@RayMGreenley This is a great idea! I'll give this some thought and figure out a good way to do it. In the meantime I'll try to make some more simple fundamentals videos, but I really like the idea of teaching a song at various levels so people can use it to see a clear connection between beginner all the way to advanced! Thanks for the suggestion!
Now that I'm getting more confidence with my left hand being in the right place even if I'm not looking at the fretboard, I'm trying to sit up while playing more. I've definitely found that putting strength into my chest has halped a lot with the tension and pain in my hands. I'll be coming back to this video to see the bit on posture a few more times as I make adjustments.
Awesome to hear you're working on positioning! I forgot to even mention sitting up but that's essential and the perfect first thing to focus on. It's a long process but it's well worth it to do what it takes to get good positioning and technique. Good luck!
Without realizing it I keep stopping whenever I make a mistake but this video showed me how damaging that can be to the rhythm.
Thanks for the tips, I’ll try to work on these. I even get nervous and start making excuses when I’m just trying to play something for my always supportive wife.
Right Leg elevated? I am a right handed (beginner) player but have been using the foot stool to raise my left leg to support the guitar on it. Am i wrong? Excellent video by the way, guilty of most of these.
If you play with the guitar on the left leg that’s great! That’s more common in classical technique so I chose to focus on right leg technique since generally more people tend to do right leg. (Left leg is more ergonomic though so it’s fantastic for a beginner)
@@drjaxonguitar good to know, thank you.
Guilty of all at one time or another. LoL Good suggestions. Thanks
I am guilty of all of the above. some to a lesser degree than others. I would say however that point number 5 could be a discouragement for many of us. Eliminating all buzz or other mistakes is going to take a lot of practice, maybe even years. If we think that the moment we buzz a chord everyone will think we must be a beginner could lead us to not performing at all. I like to remember that the vast majority in the audience are not professional musicians and will not, hopefully, be as aware of our mistakes. Better to have tried and failed than to never tried at all. Other than that I think the list is very true indeed. Thanks
Yes you’re right! I thought of removing point 5 for the exact reason you mentioned but ultimately decided to keep it because I wanted to use it to illustrate it’s a symptom of not practicing right, which I felt was important. I didn’t do a good enough job caveating this in the video but I hoped to get across that mistakes are always ok but when you’re littered with buzzes/mutes/mistakes it can be fixed even as a beginner through better practicing. Thanks for calling that out, I value good discussion on here!
For your "mistake" number three, I would say that a better position for the guitar is between your legs with the neck much higher, like classical guitar players play. Your left hand can flow freely and you don't need to painfully twist your wrist to play chords.
Definitely! I chose to highlight right leg playing in this video because classical is a smaller niche where positioning is already well established and I see many folks struggle to set up well on the right leg. There’s nothing wrong with right leg playing if you make sure to set up well. I do both depending on the style I’m playing.
No beginner will ever be able to play that example piece you mention in the first mistake.
Brilliant
I have a large belly and I feel the guitar is not in the correct position, any tips
Hard to say exactly without seeing you but you could try propping the guitar up at a more steep angle so you can rest the curve of the guitar on your belly. That can help get the neck closer to you so you’re not reaching out for it. Look up Scott Tennant; he has a sitting position that could be good for you to replicate.
#1 I'm guilty of. #2 yep. Commenting before I see all 6 but I'm sure I've done em all.
Great lesson Jaxon. ❤ it. Lovely touch too. I subdya. Rsvp
Thanks! And thanks for making my comment section less lonely 😝
Can totally relate 😅 Thank’s my friend 😊
The Lord’s love + grace be with you
His Hope + peace, in Life, and beyond the grave
Hope you are all well and resting in Jesus saving love + grace 😊
Warmest Love + blessing’s friends 😊
#6 is best.
Ever hear of a guy by the name of Andy Roddick?
Gilty
John 3 verse 16 ^_^
please search the Gospel (Bible) all who read this.
Your soul is far to precious to gamble in thinking there is no hell or need for salvation in The Lord Jesus
Blessing’s friends ^_^