Originally Posted by: kmauzoul

Hi All,

I'm fairly new here. Have been doing the beginner courses with success. Just curious as to what the time frame should be on playing without looking down at my left hand? I want to kind of steer my expectations so I'm not finding myself frustrated that my fingers aren't doing what I want them to do without me actually looking.

Thanks,

I'll answer this from several decades of playing; I wouldn't even worry about it.

If you're becoming frustrated because you don't want to not look at the fretboard, then look at the fretboard. The reason is that it doesn't really matter whether you do or don't look. There always seems to be the sense that not looking means a mastery of something and that's not totally true.

I mean, sure; when you can look away, you've probably improved to a certain level. But it's not a measurement that matters.

Those decades of playing I talk about? I do have a pretty solid command of the instrument but still often look at what I'm playing. Particularly if I'm learning something new. I don't even think about when I do and I don't look. It doesn't really matter.

That's kinda the point; when you've got something down, you'll naturally spend less time looking. It happens organically. If you force yourself to not look, you're just frustrating yourself for no real tangible benefit.

So, look as often as you need to. No reason not to.