Ascending/Descending Chromatically

[J]

Hello

I have been playing guitar for about 1.5 years now and anything I have learned I have taught myself. Here's my question.

When I ascend up the neck chromatically I can keep my fingers really close to the fretboard and while doing so they barely come off more than 1/2 of an inch.

-0-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-2-3-4-5-3-4-5-6 .. etc etc



Now when I descend back does anyone else have the problem where your middle finger want's to raise up higher?

I am tryin but it is really hard right now for me to keep the thing close to the fretboard. I guess I need to just slow down and force myself to do it slow.


12-11-10-9-11-10-9-8-10-9-8-7-etc etc


Just curious if this is normal and that it will come w/ practice, or if I need to work more on my technique!

[Adji]

iv eplayed the same time and also taught my self everything i know, i dont have this problem so jsut take it slowly and like you said, force yourself to do it. And befor elbondie or luke jsump in, practice practice practice

[J]

hehe.

I practice quite a bit so I am on the right track w/ that. But when I picked up the guitar I never even thought of technique and I am trying to fix any minor habit's I have now.

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. It seems that when I run up the neck like that, the faster I go the less of a problem I have with it. I think maybe its because I am more relaxed when I try to boogie instead of thinking and forcing my finger not to move.

Cheers!

[blackorchidx]

i just trained a motion that suited me to do it and increased the speed over time, most scales are a bugger when u first build on them but it gets easier, i was terrified of Phyrigien modes for ages until i tried it and worked on it to suit my own style.

Peace and keep going

[guitarplayinfool]

I know exactly why you are having trouble. It is a four note pattern followed by a position shift. When you shift positions you have to gently release pressure from your thumb off the back of the neck. If you dont your fingers will crowd starting with your middle finger since it is the longest. so after the 9th fret note lift your thumb off the back of the neck so it doesn't get stuck and crowd your fingers.

[Adji]

phrygian-dominant, good for using in metal solos but a bitch for me when first learnt it

[guitarplayinfool]

I know exactly why you are having trouble. It is a four note pattern followed by a position shift. When you shift positions you have to gently release pressure from your thumb off the back of the neck. If you dont your fingers will crowd starting with your middle finger since it is the longest. so after the 9th fret note lift your thumb off the back of the neck so it doesn't get stuck and crowd your fingers.

[J]

guitarplayinfool said:

I know exactly why you are having trouble. It is a four note pattern followed by a position shift. When you shift positions you have to gently release pressure from your thumb off the back of the neck. If you dont your fingers will crowd starting with your middle finger since it is the longest. so after the 9th fret note lift your thumb off the back of the neck so it doesn't get stuck and crowd your fingers.

Yea man, you are totally right. That helps me a lot! Thanks!

[blackorchidx]

I loved Phyrigien modes for a while, now i'm Ionian, Locrian and Dorian scales man.

Nice and stretchy

Peace

[Adji]

Lorian? you mean locrian yeh? I really dig the lydian at the moment, easy to shred.

[blackorchidx]

Yeah locrian, thanks for the correction, i'll change it

[Luke]

I find with any scale just to take it slow an analyze what your doing while your playing it to get the best possible way of playing it.

[guitarplayinfool]

Yes I wholheartedly agree. Slower is better. Only thing better is slower and perfect. Only thing better than that is slower and perfecter 7 times in a row. I think you get my point.