Was it hard to start playing Left handed, Michael?

[PatrickofMoon]

I've tried it a few times and I can never seem to tolerate the uncomfortable feeling long enough to gain anything from it. But you move so precisely with both fretting hands! Have you ever used fingerweights? If so, I might look into purschasing a few sizes

[Luke]

Michael is naturaly left handed. He learnt right handed tho. He first started learning easy stuff left handed then slow progressed.

[Michael Angelo Batio]

I am very much against using anything other than what you need to perform on guitar, meaning finger weights or even the "stylus" pick. Composers from the 19th century tried using finger weights while practicing the piano with the notion that it would improve their strength and finger dexterity only to cripple themselves. When I first invented the Double-Guitar (A Dean Guitar, BTW) I acted like the teacher teaching the student. I watched my fretboard hand positioning, how I picked the guitar, everything I used to teach my students (Tom Morello being one of them!). As I got better I noticed that my wrist was hurting when I played left handed. I was worried because I have never had a hand injury playing right handed and now after only 6 months of playing "lefty" I thought I was getting tendonitis. I analyzed why this could be happening and realized that I needed to shift the position of my fretboard hand when playing lefty to a spot where it didn't hurt. More like a classical guitarist. Sounds simple, but it worked. I have never had a problem since.

[Fabien]

Michael said:

Composers from the 19th century tried using finger weights while practicing the piano with the notion that it would improve their strength and finger dexterity only to cripple themselves.

Aren't you talking about schumann ;D ? I've heard that schumann lost one of his ring fingers, because he tried make him more stronger... But he broke his nerv or something...

[Ernesto]

Fabien said:

Aren't you talking about schumann ;D I've heard that schumann lost one of his ring fingers, because he tried make him more stronger... But he broke his nerv or something...

What Michaels mentioned is an excelent statement but you know cause i have not much time to practice i have a lite Grip that i use in my car when going to work, that way i exercises my fingers, sometimes i do to much that my shoulder hurt a little

[Fabien]

I was saying that Schumann was always training his ring finger, to have a perfect hand, but its against nature to make your ring finger articulate like the other finger... except if your hand can do it without forceing it.

I wasn't saying that Michael didn't had an excelent statement.

[Michael Angelo Batio]

Fabian, you are right. Schumann was a child prodigy like Mozart. In fact, he was hailed as the next Mozart. When he used these weights on his fingers it really crippled his ability on piano. It is the same with devices like the "stylus" pick. I have heard from many people on tour that I have been quoted as saying that I like the "stylus" pick. I have one but never use it. I believe that you should practice with the equipment you will use to perform. I use the same guitar picks to practice as I do to perform. The same kinds of guitars, etc... I sincerely hope this helps.

[BossMorley]

This is sort of the same way with me. I have your string dampener, Michael, and I love it and it works great but when I practice arpegios ect. I don't use it because I want to be able to pick up any guitar and do anything I want on it.
Adam

[Luke]

I checked out the "stylus" pick and it didn't really look appealing. I prefer the standard pick

[NotGuest]

whats a stylus pick? Also, is there anyone else well known that you taught other than Morello?