Planting your finger vs. taking it off the string

[wlefebvre]

Hey there!

I was wondering if you guys had any input regarding planting the finger on the lowest note being played when playing a fast repeating sequence vs. taking it off?

For example:

Say we are playing the sixes pattern on the high e at 13, 12, and 10th fret. My finger pattern for this particular position would be the index, middle, and ring. Do you guys recommend leaving my index planted while playing the higher frets or do I play one finger per fret? Troy for example plants his finger but I play one finger on the neck at a time. I’m concerned that it messes with my ability to time the repeating sequence properly, but I’m already in so deep with this fretting technique.

Thanks a bunch!

[WhammyStarScream]

Record a video of both n you should see what is best for you.
Post both on here.

[charface]

Doing the old 1 finger I fret drill leaving fingers planted vs lifting the ones not in use. Maybe not your question but I finally read it was about all the pressure locking you down as opposed to the ease of releasing a single digit.

Thinking of it like that I made progress rapidly there.

But there are plenty of times I stay anchored especially if I’m not switching positions. Again I’m not answering per se, just noting that once I realized why it was suppose to help I focused on that aspect. I use to think it was just a hand sync drill.

[compact_caribou]

Personally, I don’t find much difference between the two techniques. I just tried it both ways, and neither seems faster or cleaner than the other.

I naturally lift my index finger, though. I almost always only press down with 1 finger at a time, even when playing patterns like that. Tom Quayle has a video about this, where he talks about “lazy first finger syndrome.”

LAZY FIRST FINGER SYNDROME - This is probably holding back your legato technique - TOM QUAYLE

However, in Tom Gilroy’s “Higher Landrons” post here (highly recommended), he talks about pressing down on frets below the current note, then “revealing” them by lifting up the other finger. So, there may be something to it!

[Tom_Gilroy]

@wlefebvre

I was wondering if you guys had any input regarding planting the finger on the lowest note being played when playing a fast repeating sequence vs. taking it off?

Yes, I’ve written a lot on the topic.

Efficient Digital Cycles

I have been preparing a post about the left hand postures and fretting strategies I use in my playing, after reading through the following thread: That promised post is still in preparation, and I will present it when I’m satisfied with it. In preparing that post, I watched through several instructional videos and CTC interviews again. While re-watching Shawn Lane’s Power Licks for the first time in a while, I realized something about his fretting sequences that I felt was extremely interes…

The Fastest Lane - Video Lessons on Efficient Fretting Mechanics in Shawn Lane's "Power Licks"

It was suggested by our moderator @tommo that I come up with a title that more clearly reflected the content of my posts so they may be found more easily in future and which which may draw some more attention. The title I’ve come up with feels like clickbait to me, but I think it serves those ends specifically. I hope the content merits the lofty title. I present a series of videos on the concept of Efficient Digital Cycles, which is a principle I’ve discovered which underlies most of Shawn Lan…

Higher Landrons - Eric Johnson's Fretting Mechanics and Strategies

When asked what the name of his song “High Landrons” means, Eric Johnson has replied that it is a metaphor for reaching a higher state of consciousness. People here will know me for my analysis on positioning and mechanics for the fretting hand, including efficiency concerns and optimisations. What people may not know, is that I began my conscious study of these topics as a teenager when I began analyzing Eric Johnson’s playing. I’d like to share an article I have written about Eric Johnson’s …

@wlefebvre

Do you guys recommend leaving my index planted while playing the higher frets or do I play one finger per fret?

There really isn’t a simple answer to this question.

@compact_caribou

However, in Tom Gilroy’s “Higher Landrons” post here (highly recommended), he talks about pressing down on frets below the current note, then “revealing” them by lifting up the other finger.

Sure, but it’s a 40 page article about how and when to do this, I’m not recommending it universally.

[kgk]

Does anyone know the recipe that Alan Holdsworth created? He might be an interesting study for his left hand.

[Riffdiculous]

A friend of mine is somewhat of an authority on Allan if you’re curious how he structured lines.

A comprehensive study of Allan Holdsworths improvisational ideas, patterns, scales, charts & tunings

[charface]

I wonder if it’s kind of like this.
Troy will show you the escape motion exaggerated but then suggest that you barely do it. If I remember correctly.

It’s almost like just knowing about it is almost enough. So I bet people can do it both ways but their body/brain is aware.