Beginner Playing Techniques
Hello and welcome to my lesson on beginner guitar techniques. Today, I am going to show you seven beginner guitar techniques: Pick holding, Fretting, Hammering on, Pulling off, String Bending, Sliding, and playing with vibrato. A video showing each technique is shown below.
Holding a Pick
Holding a pick properly will ensure that you can play as fast as possible. The goal is to have a firm grip so it plucks the string firmly with both downstrokes toward the floor and upstrokes toward the ceiling. The proper way to hold the pick is between your bent index finger and thumb. The amount that it sticks out is a personal preference, and it might also affect the stiffness of the pick that you prefer.
Do not pinch the pick. Pinching makes it harder to play fast because it makes it harder to use your wrist and elbow to help you play. It can also lead to an uneven picking angle. Remember, Holding a pick properly will prevent bad habits that slow down your playing.
Fretting Notes
Fretting a note is one of the most basic skills for playing the guitar. Many guitarists, including me, have gotten into bad habits that make it harder to play fast. The most important point is to have a proper finger arch so you only touch only string that you want to fret. It also allows you to reach every string. To do this, your thumb usually needs to be placed behind the neck and not over it. Playing closer to the fret also lessens the potential for buzzing from a bad fret.
Holding a pick |
Fretting a note |
Hammer-ons
Hammer-ons are done by fretting a note then hammering on a higher fret without plucking the string again. This technique is used for smooth note transitions.
Pull-offs
Pull-offs are the exact opposite of hammer-ons. To play a pull-off, you play a note then you fret a note behind the one you just played, finally you pull your finger off the first note without re-plucking the string. Like hammer-ons, the notes will transition smoothly.
String Bending
Bending a string allows you to raise the pitch of a note gradually. To bend a note, play it normally then slide the string vertically toward the floor or ceiling while keeping it fretted.
Sliding
Sliding is a way of transitioning from one note to another without re-plucking the note. It is executed by fretting a note then sliding that finger up or down the fretboard to another note. During the slide you must keep your fretting finger pressed against the fretboard as you slide. It provides a nice note transition.
Vibrato
Vibrato is a technique that allows you to quickly modulate the pitch of the note. It is accomplished in several different ways, but the principle is the same. You produce vibrato by fast string bending. Some use a pull-down technique. Others use a push-up technique. In this technique, you want to allow the weight of the guitar to assist you. You can also alternate between down and upwards bending. BB King uses a modified version of the pull-down technique that is called butterfly vibrato. In this technique, you use your index finger as a lever to produce the vibrato then you fan your other fingers out like a butterfly. Different techniques give you different feels, but all of them are great for adding some excitement to your playing.
Properly executing these seven techniques will allow you to form a solid base for any style of playing guitar.
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