Rick T.
05/29/24
You will see results
Well organized and explained with clarity. I did the work and saw results. Very satisfied!
Essential Techniques
33 Right and left hand techniques every pro must know
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About this course
There's nothing "sexy" about this intensive from TrueFire's educational guru, Brad Carlton. No fancy moves, no killer licks, no theoretical epiphanies — absolutely nothing herein that will get your blood moving fast. Unless of course, you share the same attraction to the pain and suffering that pros have a penchant for while developing Top Gun left and right hand techniques. These techniques comprise the requisite tool kit for achieving the economy of motion and physical prowess necessary for monster play.
Carlton drills you on left-hand muting; left-hand stretching; left-hand slurs; left-hand trills; left-hand finger rolls; right-hand staccato; hill and valley picking; 1, 2 and 3-note per string picking; hybrid picking; 3 and 4-voice hybrid picking; pivot fingers; guide fingers; dragging fingers; prepared guide fingers; 1-finger double-stops; harmonic finger rolls; finger walks; string hopping; staccato voice; pedal tone bass; chord bass lines; 2, 3 and 4 finger exercises; standing on the bass; standing on the treble; standing on 2 notes; and barre exercises.
Notice anything odd about the preceding list? That's right. No bends, tremolo, legato, hammers or any of the usual "essential technique" suspects here (see other TrueFire courses for the skinny on those). The techniques focused on in Essential Techniques are not so much "expressive" as they are dexterous, bordering on ninja for an intermediate to early advanced player (Attention beginners! This is not a good place to start your guitar adventures).
Why then should intermediate and early advanced players dedicate time in the shed to get a grip on these techniques? Short answer; no pain, no gain. Better answer; to strengthen your physical faculty for performing at your full potential.
We all have our share of "bad" left and right hand habits. These are the speed bumps that prevent us from breaking through to that next level. They keep us from developing speed, precision and fretboard torque. The toughest part of Essential Techniques will be breaking those bad habits. The easiest part of the course is learning the correct right or left hand technique. The zen of Essential Techniques is the physical enlightenment you'll notice immediately in your playing.
Carlton drills you on left-hand muting; left-hand stretching; left-hand slurs; left-hand trills; left-hand finger rolls; right-hand staccato; hill and valley picking; 1, 2 and 3-note per string picking; hybrid picking; 3 and 4-voice hybrid picking; pivot fingers; guide fingers; dragging fingers; prepared guide fingers; 1-finger double-stops; harmonic finger rolls; finger walks; string hopping; staccato voice; pedal tone bass; chord bass lines; 2, 3 and 4 finger exercises; standing on the bass; standing on the treble; standing on 2 notes; and barre exercises.
Notice anything odd about the preceding list? That's right. No bends, tremolo, legato, hammers or any of the usual "essential technique" suspects here (see other TrueFire courses for the skinny on those). The techniques focused on in Essential Techniques are not so much "expressive" as they are dexterous, bordering on ninja for an intermediate to early advanced player (Attention beginners! This is not a good place to start your guitar adventures).
Why then should intermediate and early advanced players dedicate time in the shed to get a grip on these techniques? Short answer; no pain, no gain. Better answer; to strengthen your physical faculty for performing at your full potential.
We all have our share of "bad" left and right hand habits. These are the speed bumps that prevent us from breaking through to that next level. They keep us from developing speed, precision and fretboard torque. The toughest part of Essential Techniques will be breaking those bad habits. The easiest part of the course is learning the correct right or left hand technique. The zen of Essential Techniques is the physical enlightenment you'll notice immediately in your playing.
What you'll learn
- Use thumb fretting to maintain bass notes while playing chords
- Play pedal tone bass lines with moving chords on top
- Create I-IV-V progressions over a static bass note
- Apply second inversion triads over pedal tones
- Develop more efficient finger movement between chords
Release date: 09/19/2007 • 1h 43m runtime
Sample lessons
Left Hand Muting 2
Left Hand Stretching 1
Left Hand Stretching 2
Left Hand Slurs 1
What's included
40 lessons • 1 charts
Left Hand Muting 1
The purpose of this series is to address Essential Technique as it applies to each hand. The principles of economy of motion and conservation of energy will be applied through a series of twenty exercises. You will learn how to develop your own individual exercises based on your technical level in a creative fashion thus making the journey to mastery on the instrument more enjoyable.
Left Hand Muting
This lesson deals with the basics of left hand muting and staccato. You'll learn an absolutely great exercise for controlling those "fly-away fingers." Controlled dampening is an often overlooked technique which will develop finesse in your fretting hand touch and provide for economy of motion in all of your playing.
Left Hand Muting 2
The purpose of this series is to address Essential Technique as it applies to each hand. The principles of economy of motion and conservation of energy will be applied through a series of twenty exercises. You will learn how to develop your own individual exercises based on your technical level in a creative fashion thus making the journey to mastery on the instrument more enjoyable.
Left Hand Muting
This lesson deals with the basics of left hand muting and staccato. You'll learn an absolutely great exercise for controlling those "fly-away fingers." Controlled dampening is an often overlooked technique which will develop finesse in your fretting hand touch and provide for economy of motion in all of your playing.
Left Hand Stretching 1
You could label this lesson "guitar gymnastics" as it deals with the issues of stretching the left hand along the string axis as well as the fret axis. Stretching is the best warmup that exists as it prevents injuries, promotes flexibility, and allows for higher speed with a very relaxed touch. And of course it allows you to reach a greater portion of the fingerboard.
Left Hand Stretching 2
You could label this lesson "guitar gymnastics" as it deals with the issues of stretching the left hand along the string axis as well as the fret axis. Stretching is the best warmup that exists as it prevents injuries, promotes flexibility, and allows for higher speed with a very relaxed touch. And of course it allows you to reach a greater portion of the fingerboard.
Left Hand Slurs 1
Slurs are the fastest way to develop the left hand fingers. I will show you my personal favorite for developing pull-offs which I label "snaps". Be careful though, 3 to 5 reps are all you'll need per day. I'll also explain why I prefer the term "drop-ons" instead of "hammer-ons." After you develop crisp clean powerful slurs you can then apply dynamics to them thus increasing your expressive skills.
Left Hand Slurs 2
Slurs are the fastest way to develop the left hand fingers. I will show you my personal favorite for developing pull-offs which I label "snaps". Be careful though, 3 to 5 reps are all you'll need per day. I'll also explain why I prefer the term "drop-ons" instead of "hammer-ons." After you develop crisp clean powerful slurs you can then apply dynamics to them thus increasing your expressive skills.
Left Hand Trills 1
This lesson combines hammer-ons and pull-offs to create trills. All two finger trills will be covered and then you'll practice those combinations with alternate picking. Practicing trills is great for speed, rhythm, and endurance. After you have a handle on a particular slur, try applying dynamics and accents.
+ 33 more lessons
Reviews
12 results
zubeldia
Verified buyer
11/12/23
I just started the the lessons
douglove1000
Verified buyer
04/11/21
My poor left hand
Very valuable list of advises for all kind of guitarists. The section of the courses dedicated to the left hand made me realize how many bad habits I had... Still time to fix this... it's a long journey, I did not start studying the right hand section yet
sinbad
Verified buyer
03/03/21
Brad Carlton’s Essential Techniques
I have a number of Brad’s courses. All of them are very well done. Even though I consider myself and advanced intermediate player I have many bad habits built up over the years. This course is helping get rid of those bad habits and develop better skill at playing the guitar.
Henryjmc
Verified buyer
06/05/20
Great workouts to improve your techniques
I am using these techniques on my daily practice routine and seeing how they help me improve little by little.
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