When it comes to guitar playing, legendary musician Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame has invaluable advice to offer. One of his key pro tips revolves around the concept of relaxation and avoiding the association of tension with emotions.
By understanding the significance of staying relaxed, Knopfler emphasizes the achievement of fluidity and enhanced performance. In this article, we’ll delve into Knopfler’s wisdom. We will also explore a simple warm-up exercise to help guitarists limber up and get ready to rock.
Knopfler acknowledges that even he is continually learning to relax his left arm (fret hand) while playing. He highlights the crucial connection between relaxation and fluidity, explaining that tense muscles can hinder one’s playing speed.
In the past, he experienced forearm pain as a result of playing with unnecessary tension. Knopfler confesses that playing iconic songs like “Sultans of Swing” often contributed to this habit, which had become deeply ingrained over time.
“I’m still learning to relax my left arm when I’m playing,” Mark told us in 2015. “The more you can learn to relax that left arm, the more fluid you’ll be. If you tense up, you’re just gonna slow down. And for a long time, I played that way. I used to get pain all down my forearm. I used to play ‘Sultans’ like that a lot. It’s just habit,” he said.
Recognizing the tendency for players to associate emotions with tension, Knopfler advises breaking free from this harmful correlation. It’s common to tighten up when playing challenging tunes or expressing intense emotions through music.
However, this tension can hinder performance and slow down one’s progress. Knopfler encourages guitarists to disconnect emotion from tension, allowing for a more relaxed and efficient playing style.
He added: “Getting the urgency into the playing gets translated into tension, unfortunately. But, you’ve got to stop associating emotion with tension.”
Tension during guitar playing can be detrimental to performance. It limits the flexibility and fluidity of movement, ultimately impeding progress. When a guitarist tenses up, their playing becomes rigid, and their ability to navigate the fretboard smoothly is compromised. By understanding this, players can work towards cultivating a more relaxed and efficient playing technique.
Rocking Warm-Up Exercise
To prepare your fingers and embrace relaxation before a guitar session, try this simple warm-up exercise. Start by playing the exercise ascending the neck, one fret at a time. As you progress, focus on maintaining a relaxed posture and light touch on the strings.
Once you reach the highest fret, reverse the exercise and play it descending back down the neck. This reverse variation presents a challenge as you move down the neck, further promoting relaxation and precision.
Mark Knopfler’s guitar wisdom serves as a guiding light for musicians seeking to improve their playing technique. By emphasizing the importance of relaxation and detaching emotions from tension, Knopfler encourages guitarists to unlock their full potential.
Remember, the path to fluidity and enhanced performance begins with a relaxed mindset and a light touch on the strings. Incorporate the simple warm-up exercise mentioned above into your practice routine, and embark on a journey towards a more effortless and enjoyable guitar-playing experience.
Facebook Comments