Tips to develop light touch at high speeds?

**Matthew_84** · #1 11-20-2011, 02:24 PM

Hello fellow TBers,

I have made several posts about my slow speed and I know this comes up everyday. My issue is that as I increase speed, my two fingers start to hit the strings much harder and their strokes get larger as well.

I don't have any issues with a light touch at slower speeds and if I play with only one finger I can have an incredible light touch and small movements which actually gets better at quicker speeds. But when I'm alternate plucking the fingers may bounce as far as 2" off of the strings.

Many people recommend Billy Sheehan's technique or playing with the middle knuckle, and I've tried it for months but the strokes are still large. So I've went back to playing with my large knuckle as it's most natural to me.

I know most advice will consist of playing at slow speeds and picking it up but I've done that for years and am still working on it. Any one got any other tips? I feel like it's a mental thing, or maybe, physical as it only happens with two fingers and not one.

Thanks,

Matt

**DougD** · #2 11-20-2011, 02:46 PM

Try lowering your action as far as you can go. You want to hear a little buzz when you play hard. The trick is to avoid the buzz by using a lighter touch. When you can do this, then work on speed. If you need more volume. crank up the volume and let the amp do the work until you get the hang of things. Low action forces you to use a lighter touch. A lighter touch will enable you to pay faster (once you get the hang of things). With the amp cranked up, you can control your volume with dynamics.

jschwalls · #3 11-20-2011, 03:11 PM

I recommend practicing with headphones, and low action.. you will become super annoyed at hearing the strings clank against the frets, and your only option is to play with lighter touch..

I believe Beaver Felton told me to do this back when I was taking lessons from him.. not sure to be exact. But I still do this. Works great.

Stumbo · #4 11-20-2011, 03:14 PM

Practice your plucking without moving your fret hand. Just fret one note and work on your plucking separately.

If you can do it with one finger, possibly just leave it at that. If it works, don't fix it.

**pacojas** · #5 11-20-2011, 03:24 PM

low action and practice without an amp or head-phones. not only will you be forced to lighten your touch, you will also achieve super punchy and articulate notes!

you consciously avoid fret buzz while simultaneously producing an audible sound without amplification,... JOY, JOY!!!

when you finally power-up, you'll blow your own mind. enjoy!

**Matthew_84** · #6 11-20-2011, 06:52 PM

Thanks everyone,

I do have my action set at about medium height, but I do hear a lot of fret buzz when I play at higher speeds due to my more aggressive plucking at these times. But lowering it a tad more likely won't hurt. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

low action and practice without an amp or head-phones. not only will you be forced to lighten your touch, you will also achieve super punchy and articulate notes!

you consciously avoid fret buzz while simultaneously producing an audible sound without amplification,... JOY, JOY!!!

when you finally power-up, you'll blow your own mind. enjoy!

Interesting... I've always played plugged in because I found that when I played unplugged I actually played harder to make myself heard... But maybe I need to focus on not being heard.

**Matthew_84** · #7 11-21-2011, 07:46 PM

Bit of an update....

By paying close attention, I use a combination of my middle knuckle and my large knuckle, but I mainly play with the middle knuckle.

Anyways, I found out where the problem seems to be. The index finger stays nice and tight near the string, but the middle finger "gallops" like crazy. After each stroke as the middle finger moves back to its plucking position it flies WAY above the string and far past it. I describe the difference like this: the index is like a pendulum, swinging back and forth over the string just missing the string on the upstroke but making contact with the string on the down. The middle however is like a big circle. It hits it when it comes down but the goes way above it on the upstroke and the comes down sharply to hit the string. It kind of looks like SOnic the Hedgehog's legs when he's running fast, LOL. I don't know if this is somewhat caused by the middle finger being longer and how the knuckles are more bent.

I've tried plucking each finger inidividually and seeing what the other is doing, and when I pluck with the index, the middle seems to be pretty far away and it's hard to bring it much closer. I don't know if this is related. Also, when I play the middle finger alone without the index, it does not do the issue I described above, instead it moves back and forth just like the index.

I don't know if anyone has run across this and if they have any exercises that may help.

Also, I realized that I put this in the wrong sub-forum. This should probably be in Technique. If a mod could move it that would very much appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Matt

kr0n · #8 11-22-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

low action and practice without an amp or head-phones. not only will you be forced to lighten your touch, you will also achieve super punchy and articulate notes!

you consciously avoid fret buzz while simultaneously producing an audible sound without amplification,... JOY, JOY!!!

when you finally power-up, you'll blow your own mind. enjoy!

Is this with in a band setting or using LOUD SHEET with ear plugs?