Minimizing Finger Movement

Many guitarists have what might be described as fly away fingers. Their fretting fingers, when not actively pressing a fret, pull far away from the fretboard. This is an inefficient and inaccurate way to play the guitar. If the fingers are a long way from the fretboard it takes them a long time to travel to and from the fretboard. The increased distance from the fretboard makes it more difficult to play accurately. It's like throwing a ball to a friend from far away vs. throwing a ball from close to a friend. You will be more accurate if you are close to your friend, and likewise, you will be more accurate if you keep your fingers close to the frets.

Often it's just a finger or two that fly away. It's an uncomfortable feeling that is a distraction from the real goal, which is effortless and expressive playing. The fingers are most relaxed when they are fairly close together and in the same shape as each other. As a general rule, I encourage my beginner students to play with their fingers fairly close to each other and in a similar shape to each other. More advanced guitarists will know that there are many instances where this is not possible. However, it works well for beginners while more advanced students can make quicker progress simply by increasing their awareness of this simple insight.

One of my favourite exercises to help students develop the habit of keeping their fingers closer to the fretboard involves lightly pressing the 4th or 5th string with a few fingers at a time without picking the string. Allow the fingers to lightly touch each other while remaining on the string at the same time. Pretend the frets (fret wire) are not there. DO NOT try to have each finger assigned to a different fret and DO NOT pick the string. The fingers need to be fairly close to each other or even lightly touching each other. A few fingers will typically be placed above the same fret.

To start, practice placing all four fingers on the string at the same time without picking. Then lift all four fingers a few millimeters off the string. Repeat this for a minute or two.

After this exercise, practice placing different combinations of two and three fingers on the string at the same time. Move slowly to ensure that at all times all fingers are close to each other and in the same shape as each other. The focus should be more on the finger or fingers not touching the string. The finger or fingers not touching the string must not fly away.

My students make quick improvements once they incorporate this exercise and it's variations into their routines. Their expressive playing improves and their playing becomes much more effortless and enjoyable. Try it. I hope it works for you too!