I have a technique issue to fix.
With my right hand on descending notes, I have the tendency to not lift my finger soon enough and will choke out the next note.

If I concentrate on over-doing the arm/hand movement I can fix it.
So I have been working on slow legato scales and melodies.
Any one else have this issue?

My 'problem' comes in handy when doing Pull-Offs...

Oh, yeah. That's a bugaboo I've been working on for a while.
Greg prescribed a chromatic exercise from Stick Book Vol 1 for me to work on, and I've made some progress. Unfortunately, with my life having been very much in an uprooted state the past 2 months, I lost my consistent practice schedule (but I'm trying to gain it back) so I've lost some of the ground I gained.
But I'll get it back. And exaggerating the motion very slowly and building it up is the only effective way I know of to get there.

John,
Luc makes some excellent points, and Greg's DVD and books are the go to's for technique.

It's easy to do a "pull off" desending notes, seems natural, until you try to go the other way and you sound like Shatner "Spock, … why.. can't I play …. these notes….. up?" So a consistent approach is needed going up and down. Your concern is well placed and will help you your whole playing life.

Try this -pretend you are "typing" each note coming down. Again you don't have to go crazy here and fly your hand 2 feet off the touch board, but just enough so each note is defined and distinct, and lift your hand just enough so that you don't mute the note. Staying on the note will define it's character whether sustained or staccato ( sharp percussive of non duration)

The child's game of hot lava is also a good one. pretend each note is so hot that if you stay on it you'll get burned, and quickly let your finger leave the string. This way you will be sure not to pull off to the next note since it is already off the string.

hope this helps, keep trying it DOES get better!
Dave Brosky "DBro"

Thanks, Luc and D-Bro, Cool ideas David!

One thing to remember is that we don't have to use nearly as much force to keep these relatively loose strings fretted. So I find holding the strings with less of a grip really helps speed things along and smooth them out.

Also, a half hour skype lesson is pretty inexpensive and can answer many questions... just sayin'...

Thanks guys!

Greg,
I am trying to get through the Book and DVD basic concepts and then I'll have good questions for you

The overlapping notes bit is from years of legato keyboard playing Lots of Mellotron and Organ for instance where you generally want overlap to smooth it out.
I don't have the issue with my left hand which is used to fretting

The main goal is to have descending notes on a string and descending notes that transition from string to string sound as much alike as possible. Starting for that baseline of consistency will put you in control of how your music sounds.

Hi Jonno.

Be sure to exaggerate your movements, relax as much as possible and play more quietly.

These are the triggers for recognising a lack of economy in your moment. Cue comments about Greg's approach..

If you're thinking of moving the hand away from the notes, as in descending, then your not taking the fingers off the touch board , but simply let the note finish as a response to the larger gears of the hand and forearm moving down for the descending pattern.

Rad!

Lately I've been emphasizing economy of finger motion, but not economy of hand motion. I noticed especially with the new 3-finger bass scales that my fingers hardly move up and down at all, but there is necessarily a lot of hand movement along the string.

Hand movement minimizes finger movement quite nicely...

hello all,

...a very interesting thread indeed...

...perhaps this can help:
what ever movement or motion or fingering
you wants to master, try first in your head with a few notes for expl. 3-5
notes for a few seconds, then do it with your fingers, then again in your head
and again with your fingers...
...execute it parallel with both hands the same movement and fingering...

...and at least, do this all with closed eyes and open ears...

...very good luck...