Left hand
- Maintaining an appropriate free left-hand shape which facilitates accurate placement of the fingers
- recognising and playing with secure intonation more consistently
- developing speed, strength and flexibility of finger action at a variety of tempi
- developing security in different positions and when changing between positions
- developing a variety of tone colours, including hammer-ons and pull-offs from a fretted note, left-hand tapping, slides, string bends and left-handed dampening
- beginning to develop a vibrato
- beginning to use natural harmonics
Teach learners exercises using the technique of planting fingers (to be carried out in all positions) so as to develop strength and dexterity across the fingerboard rather than in a linear way.
Teach some hammer-on and pull-off exercises for the left hand on fretted strings. Ask learners to experiment with these techniques in familiar tunes, aiming for a steady rhythm and a clear tone.
Demonstrate (or play a video demonstrating) the use of left-hand tapping and ask learners to experiment with various musical examples that feature this technique.
Sometimes films about musicians’ lives explain how various techniques have developed, e.g. Crossroads (Robert Johnson to Steve Vie).
Ask learners to experiment with left-hand dampening, discussing the effect and practicality of the technique and comparing it to palm mute.
Using a well-known tune, teach two different ways of achieving left-hand vibrato. Ask learners to imitate and to discuss the appropriateness of each method for various tunes they are playing.
Show learners the use of the tremolo arm to produce a vibrato effect and ask them to experiment with using this technique instead of left-hand vibrato.
Not all electric guitars are fitted with a tremolo arm and they vary in quality. learners’ attention should be drawn to the mechanics of the arm and adjustment of the spring-tension screws.
Encourage learners to make up patterns using 12th-fret harmonics, playing them with the third or fourth fingers, touching lightly and removing the finger immediately but without haste.
Make sure harmonics are played with the left-hand finger directly above, not behind, the fret: where harmonics are concerned, the finger is the fret.
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