Now, Skipping A String

Questions & Answers

3 months ago

Hello. I have a question. So, for this exercise and also the last two exercises (previous two videos), I have been anchoring my pinky and ring finger below the strings on the scratch plate. I find it comfier for me to anchor both my fingers there while I do these exercises. Is this an issue?

Mike Olekshy 3 months ago

Hi there - thanks so much for your question! No, this is not an issue right now. Do whatever is most comforatble to be able to play the exercises. As you develop your skills, you'll find less of a reliance on anchoring your fingers. Down the road, depending on the music you are trying to play, you may find anchoring those fingers more of a hinderance than a help - but not right now! Hope this helps!!

4 months ago

Thanks, Mike! Really appreciate your input, especially to take a break and just do the exercise without too much perfectionism. I am glad I asked rather than just working through the pain. I just discovered that Anders is adressing this exact issue in chapter 6 (https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson/31402). Maybe someone other beginners like me might find it helpful in order to not develop a bad habit. Again, thanks Mike!

Mike Olekshy 4 months ago

Excellent - glad you found it helpful! And thanks so much for including the link to Anders - that will be very helpful to others!!

4 months ago

Hey Mike! I am in my second month, Beginner Level 2 now, and have been using this exercise as my regular warm up. Now I am developing wrist pain and have learned that this comes from bad wrist positioning. I can fret perfectly without touching neighboring strings while resting all my fingers on the board only when I compensate with my wrist. It is a concert-guitar like position where I bend my wrist almost 90° so that it is below the neck of my guitar. I can tell by the feeling in my wrist that this will cause me a lot of trouble later on. I am confused now. The fretting technique works well for me like this, but I want to also be able to play with a straight wrist like Anders does. Do you think I should continue the concert-like way until it gets easier? Or what other ways are there to concentrate and get better on straight wrist placement? I've also watched Lisa's and Chrispother's beginner videos on placement / spider exercise but I am not any wiser. Thanks and regards, Jonas

Mike Olekshy 4 months ago

Hey there - thanks so much for your questions! First off, I'm very sorry to hear you are having wrist pain. Whenever you're playing and something starts to hurt - immediately stop and take a break. I recommend you try to play this more like Anders does, with the straighter wrist. Clearly, the position of the wrist you are currently using for this exercise is causing some problems, and will most likely cause more problems down the road. It is not a big deal if your fingers are touching or resting against the other strings as you play through this exercise. And it's also not a big deal if you have to slightly move the position of your hand as you fret the notes moving up the frets. So, with that in mind, I suggest you start by playing through the exercises slowly with the flatter wrist position. Don't worry so much how clean you are at first. It will all come as your fingers loosen up to the fretboard. Hope this helps!!