Who's got my magic bullet

My right hand coordination is my weak point. I'm actually thinking of beginning to write with my right hand all the time. I can't get my cooridination
between both hands when I try to go fast.

Any "off guitar" techniques that might help? By "off guitar" I mean things I can use to increase my dexterity while NOT playing.

rub your tummy and pat ur head

juggle

um...

nothing to do with co-ordination, but I use a grip master to keep my fingers moving when I don't have a guitar handy - good for overall strength, and it might help generally.

If the problem is purely getting your hands working together, nothing but a guitar / metronome combo is going to do it for you I'm afraid...

When I first saw the title to this thread, I thought it was referring to the JFK assassination and the bullet that supposedly hit JFK, passed through him, stopped in mid-air and then took a right into Governor Connley, hit and shattered his rib, pass through him and then took a dive and hit his right wrist... yeah, sure. Only one shooter...my butt...

Sorry. Got off track.

One thing that I have found are those Chinese meditation spheres that you roll around in your hands. You know, they kinda look like big ball bearings. They really help with dexterity. Just a thought.

Take both hands and point using 1 finger simultaneously, ie. Pinky - Pinky, Ring - Ring, etc. You may need to use a table or something as support to get the ring finger to stand alone without help from the thumb holding down other fingers. After you've flexed the tendons (Especially the Ring fingers) alternate fingers, ie. Index - Ring, Middle - Pinky, etc... opposite each hand to overcome spontaneous reflex triggered by natural reaction.
In other words, when you focus on one hand (say the fret hand) and look at it as well, the other lacks signals to gain coordination, dexterity and equal responsibility, so it relies on reflex by the hand getting the spotlight. The next time you play, don't look at either hand and see how you do.......
Split the Brain signals and both hands will know what to do. It reminds me of an old Budgie tune I listened to long ago "Crash Course in Brain Surgery"...
Budgie Kicked.....................................

Thanks for the replies. These are some good suggestions.

I actually use the gripmaster in a way like dvenetian says - isolate pairs of fingers:

1= Index, 4=Pinky

1&2, 1&3, 1&4, 2&3, 2&4, 3&4 - it seems to works for my students. I actually recommend trilling with these pairs of fingers on a guitar, but in the absence of one you could do the same thing with a gripmaster, or even by using your other arm as a pretend guitar neck... people might look at you funny though...

Very similar to dvenetians... start this with one hand, then when you've got it use both at the same time. I think I actually learned this from someone on this forum. Place you four fingers, thumb excluded on a surface of some sort. Then raise your pointer finger and ring finger together, then set them down and raise the other two fingers together. Keep doing this and after a few minutes you'll be able to do it pretty fast. Then do it with both hands at once. Hope I explained it well enough. :rolleyes:

Actually my problem lies more in my right hand. My articulation and accuracy in alternate picking is sloppy at best. I didn't really expect a magic bullet just some ideas to maybe help. The bottom line is I have to really practice this alot more.

Thanks again guys.

Originally Posted by: dvenetianIt reminds me of an old Budgie tune I listened to long ago "Crash Course in Brain Surgery"...
Budgie Kicked.....................................

OMG I loved them I thought I was getting old. :D

Sorry - we keep talking about your right hand.... is that the one you fret with, or pick with? Is it the picking hand you're having trouble with? It might be that tremolo picking 1 string is the next step to build speed and accuracy with the pick before complicating things with fretting notes as well...

Maybe I'm just confusing myself... :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by: DAMAGED ONEOMG I loved them I thought I was getting old. :D

You're only getting old if it's too loud....................
1st was Budgie "Breadfan" for dinner then a little "Black Oak Arkansas" for dessert.........Go Jim Dandy, Go......................

Originally Posted by: renI actually use the gripmaster in a way like dvenetian says - isolate pairs of fingers:
1= Index, 4=Pinky
1&2, 1&3, 1&4, 2&3, 2&4, 3&4 - it seems to works for my students. I actually recommend trilling with these pairs of fingers on a guitar, but in the absence of one you could do the same thing with a gripmaster, or even by using your other arm as a pretend guitar neck... people might look at you funny though...

Ren, that sounds like a great combination technique. Two birds, one stone with quicker results, I would imagine.

well, it certainly seems to work. You have to be careful though - more risk of injury if you've got your fingers under load... so don't let the exhuberance of youth carry you away kids... ;)

tendonitis is an utter, utter, utter bas... well, you know

Originally Posted by: renSorry - we keep talking about your right hand.... is that the one you fret with, or pick with? Is it the picking hand you're having trouble with? It might be that tremolo picking 1 string is the next step to build speed and accuracy with the pick before complicating things with fretting notes as well...

Maybe I'm just confusing myself... :rolleyes:

Ren, to clairify, I play right handed, so we are talking about my picking hand sloppiness :D

;) Just noticed that you'd said already it's your picking hand... must be going blind.

Tremolo pick to a metronome - 4 notes per beat, 3 notes, 6 notes - you get the idea. Start slow and build up when you can do it perfectly at a tempo. Find out where abouts it starts to break down, and back off 5bpm - and then practice that speed for a while before trying again at 'break up point'.

Bring your other hand in, and start working on co-ordinating the two...

You're right I'm afraid - there is no substitute for practice.

Yea Ren. I know :( I wasn't looking for a way around the practice, but more like what you just gave me.......an excersize to work on.

Thanks