# Synchronicity: Feedback and 2 Questions
**URL:** https://forum.troygrady.com/t/synchronicity-feedback-and-2-questions/97532
**Category:** Playing Technique
**Created:** [May 25, 2026, 10:15am UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/synchronicity-feedback-and-2-questions/97532 "2026-05-25T10:15:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@yukaza17](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/yukaza17)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2026, 10:15am UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/synchronicity-feedback-and-2-questions/97532/1 "2026-05-25T10:15:01Z")
Hi everyone,
### Feedback
I just finished watching synchronicity. At least all of what is there already. I must say I really enjoy the approach and the production of the seminar so far. Of course, the heart-piece of the seminar, where the two hands get combined, is still missing, but I read that they are working on it, so Im already looking forward to the third batch here!
### Question 1 - Proprioception
Left Hand - Chapter 12, Tommo introduces a concept called _Proprioception_, which essentially means, to my understanding, faster learning and better finger seperation through bigger motions.
There he said at around 02:20 min, that small motions are bad for getting the timing right, because the fingers only travel a small distance, which is not optimal, because there is “little time to adjust”.
I dont understand the point here. Does it mean that if the finger does larger movements, we have the chance to change the moving speed of the finger while it already moves, and by this we can better adjust when the finger actually hits the fretboard?
### Question 2 - Fingercombination 134 Issue
I have always really struggled with the finger combination 134. For instance for the minor shape, I always use 123. For very low frets that’s also not really comfortable. I wish I could improve on the 134 combination but I have been playing for 8 years now, and I have always struggled with that finger combination.
Is that even something that is worth working on? I have always struggled with 134 and according to the “easy win” strategy, I dedided to just ignore this problem.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Gilroy](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/Tom_Gilroy)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/synchronicity-feedback-and-2-questions/97532/2 "2026-05-25T15:23:26Z")
On the first question, proprioception is our sense of position.
Tommo’s exaplanation is somewhat simplified for brevity, but the basic idea is that larger movements give our nervous systems stronger signals about positioning and timing, and more robust feedback about errors.
It’s not a process of consciously adjusting movement speed, so much as it is a means of providing our motor system the information needed to make those adjustments unconsciously.
You can most likely improve your use of (1 3 4) combinations to some degree by retraining your fretting postures and mechanics. However, fingers are not independent and can not be trained to become independent. There will always be some finger combination which will always be inherently more stressful and less capable for you. No amount of “finger independence” exercises or trill drills can change that.
For many people, including Eric Johnson and Shawn Lane (and me!), that problematic combination is (3 4). For others, inlcuing Paul Gilbert it’s (2 3). These players develop fretting postures and strategies which maximise their strengths and avoid their weaknesses.
Learning to naviagte the natural interdependences of our fingers is critically important in developing fretting hand technique. You might find it helpful to use (1 2 4) for whole-half shapes lower in the neck (as Shawn Lane often did) or you might prefer to avoid that shape and the (1 3 4) fingering entirely (as Eric Johnson does).
See my previous posts/comments for more information.
Somewhat out of date and in need of some revision, here’s my original analysis on Shawn’s optimisation principles:
> [@Efficient Digital Cycles](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/efficient-digital-cycles/18608):
>
> 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…
And a series of videos explaining the concepts (again, due for revision)
> [@The Fastest Lane - Video Lessons on Efficient Fretting Mechanics in Shawn Lane's "Power Licks"](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/the-fastest-lane-video-lessons-on-efficient-fretting-mechanics-in-shawn-lanes-power-licks/42471):
>
> 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…
And an article describing how Eric Johnson’s fretting hand optimisation works
> [@Higher Landrons - Eric Johnson's Fretting Mechanics and Strategies](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/higher-landrons-eric-johnsons-fretting-mechanics-and-strategies/84328):
>
> 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 …
Also, a thread where I outline some more principles, asthey relate to Paul Gilbert’s playing:
> [@Straight up and down sequences vs. alternative fingerings](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/straight-up-and-down-sequences-vs-alternative-fingerings/64358/14):
>
> Paul’s fretting hand sequences and mechanics are interestng and you can’t really discuss one without the other. Paul’s fretting posture typically has a very pronounced slant or cant, with the tip of his index finger pointed towards his chin or even towards the bridge. This position best facilitates the use of (3 4) combinations, and with his hand at rest in this position, his fingers touch the strings but do not apply fretting pressure. However, this position has the disadvantage of limited mo…
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### Author:  [@yukaza17](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/yukaza17)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/synchronicity-feedback-and-2-questions/97532/3 "2026-05-26T22:44:49Z")
Thank you for answering my questions in such an elaborate way. I really appreciate it!
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Gilroy](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/Tom_Gilroy)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/synchronicity-feedback-and-2-questions/97532/4 "2026-05-26T22:47:04Z")
No problem. Let me know if you have any questions.