filters: this stuff is so hard since its so individual. I once in a time was very occupied by this stuff. It didnt help me much, what helped was just playing alot. Still, I dont deny the fact that you sometime have to sit down with certain things and just deal with them. When the playing is controlled/limited by a systemiced technuiqe, I think there is something wrong. It should be the other way around, your imagination dictating your body. The better technuiqe you have, the more options you have, the vider the vocabulary you have access to, the more sensitive your dynamics/touch are/is the more transparant your body will be. The body is a prerequisite for the soul (or what ever is inside of us) to express it self. At the same time, the body limit the freedom of the soul. At times they get really close/tight and there might be a lift off.
Sorry for that quasi phiosofical drivel. This is what I do:
Which technuiqes is there at all?
Picking, legato, sweeping, hybrid, etc.
If I would practice tech. for lets say 1 hour, I would spend at most 15 minutes of just plain technuiqe excercises. Legato chromatically ascending/descending in some patterns, really focusing one doing it correctly. Then I would play, as I always play over changes/tunes what ever. Same thing with picking. Some basic exercises playing scales, arpeggios and what not, concentrating on sound and touch. Then I would just play for the rest of the hour as before. What I think happens is when you reenforce repertoir of technuiqes parallell, they all will contribute to your arsenal, providing you different options for different situations. When you are in those moments, you wont have time to think, what ever happens happens sort of.
For meself, I hate my technuiqe. I dont trust myself, if you know what I mean. I would like to have a perfect picking tech, with a very transparent pick touch but with the range dynamic posibilities picking provide.
Good luck!
Best, Sandemose
