When you watch a great guitarist (or any great musician, for that matter) you’ll notice that they play without a lot of tension in their hands. Actually, they play without tension in their entire body. They know how to relax.
Playing without tension is critical to being able to play fast and for long periods of time. It also helps you play with more accuracy. Unfortunately, this is not something that comes easily or naturally to most people. Our natural tendency is to tense up, especially when we play a passage that is fast or difficult.
One way to practice relaxing is to get a timer that beeps every 30 seconds or every minute. That beep is your reminder to relax. When it beeps, ask yourself if there is any excess tension in your hands, arms, shoulders, back and even your face. You might be surprised how much tension you have when you play.
Relax, and you’ll be much more comfortable, accurate and be able to play for a lot longer.
To see what I’m talking about, check out this video of Bela Fleck, a world class banjo player.
