Guitar Playing

[Down Up Dick]

I would just as soon use standard notation for guitar or mandolin or ukulele, but for 5-string banjo, I have difficulty reading directly from standard notation and I have to either do it by ear, or if I want it note for note, I'll tab it out. It must be the thumb string that throws me and the "no two eighth notes in a row with the same finger or on the same string" rule that I try to follow

Ya know, Jim, I asked someone about the “no two eighth notes etc etc etc” rule, and he said he’d never heard of it. I tried to follow it too. Now I play 2 finger, so I guess it’s easier. I really miss clawhammer though. I play it once in a while just for ol’ times sake. My banjo books are also without standard notation, so I just play tabs. I know some tunes by memory too.

 

[Ms Bean]

Roger Ruthen's website has tabs with duration markings for his guitar, ukiversal (can be played on reentrant or linear) linear uke arrangements. He doesn't bother with the exact notes and pitches. Here's an example:
https://pdfminstrel.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/a_coy_toy_john_dowland.pdf

His guitalele and his high G ukulele arrangements have the two (standard on top with tabs underneath):
https://pdfminstrel.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/kemps_jig_g.pdf

I think that you'll enjoy looking at and playing his arrangements, Dick. Some of his work focuses on melody picking, e.g. his celtic ukulele arrangements. Other work uses the chord melody based on the chord shapes. He has transcribed lots of renaissance and baroque repertoire, which I know you adore!

 

[Jim Yates]

Ya know, Jim, I asked someone about the “no two eighth notes etc etc etc” rule, and he said he’d never heard of it. I tried to follow it too. Now I play 2 finger, so I guess it’s easier. I really miss clawhammer though. I play it once in a while just for ol’ times sake. My banjo books are also without standard notation, so I just play tabs. I know some tunes by memory too.

I don't know if that's actually a rule. I just use it as much as I can for three finger playing because it seems to make things go smoother.
I play a lot more clawhammer and 2 finger these days since I have arthritis which slows me down. At 78, I'm not as fast at anything than I was a few years ago.

 

[Down Up Dick]

Yeah, I know what you’re sayin’. I‘m 85, and I only know about half of what’s goin’ on. It’s amazin’ what people are doin’ now days.

Ha! Jim, I never was fast at anything. I got a snootful now, and I’m afraid to go near my new guitar.

 

[Down Up Dick]

I’m still working on the standard notation, but I’m using tunes rather than scales now. I’m having trouble finding the notes without looking at my left hand though. I’ve about decided to go ahead and watch my self.

I’ve looked at lots of pictures of famous Classical Guitarists, and many of them are looking at their hands and strings. Rules are made to be broken!

 

[clear]

If you need to look at your left hand, you don't need to dig up pictures of past players to justify it; just do it.

However, needing to look at your left hand while playing generally prevents you from also reading the music at the same time which can be a bit of a nuisance. See if you can become familiar with the fretborad enough that you only need to look at your left hand when changing hand positions or playing more complicated passages, etc. This way, you can read and just memorize the short sections when you need to look at your left hand.

 

[Down Up Dick]

Well, Clear, I am familiar with the fret board, but my left hand fingers aren’t. I’ve been playing baritone uke for a long time, and the 5th and 6th strings are a piece of cake. Also, I play some of my other stuff without lookin’, or mebbe just a bit of lookin’. But the fret spaces are different size, I guess. Maybe I had a bad day yesterday. I’ll keep trying to day, but I’m gonna peek!

 

[Down Up Dick]

I have decided to hold back (mostly) on Classical Guitar (again) and go back to basics. My guitar’s neck is a lot wider than a uke or a banjo a mandolin (duh!), and I’m havin’ trouble fretting cleanly. My left hand position is bad too. It’s amazing how many incorrect things one learns when he’s self taught. I could have at least followed the books or videos better — ahhh, well . . .

Anyway, that’s what I’m doing now, instead to trying to play all those CG exercises, etc.

 

[clear]

I have decided to hold back (mostly) on Classical Guitar (again) and go back to basics. My guitar’s neck is a lot wider than a uke or a banjo a mandolin (duh!), and I’m havin’ trouble fretting cleanly. My left hand position is bad too. It’s amazing how many incorrect things one learns when he’s self taught. I could have at least followed the books or videos better — ahhh, well . . .

Check out https://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/index.php
They have free online lessons where you submit videos of yourself which is useful in detecting bad posture and hand positions (the exact issues you mentioned).

Anyway, that’s what I’m doing now, instead to trying to play all those CG exercises, etc.

Just doing CG exercises is going to be very boring. You should mix in songs.

 

[Down Up Dick]

Check out https://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/index.php
They have free online lessons where you submit videos of yourself which is useful in detecting bad posture and hand positions (the exact issues you mentioned).



Just doing CG exercises is going to be very boring. You should mix in songs.

Check out https://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/index.php
They have free online lessons where you submit videos of yourself which is useful in detecting bad posture and hand positions (the exact issues you mentioned).



Just doing CG exercises is going to be very boring. You should mix in songs.

I dunno about the first one, but I have been playing a few tunes here and there. I’m working on Fingerstyle too. Most of my problems center around playing chords, but first I’ve gotta correct my fretting. If it ain’t one thang it’s a nuther . . .