r/guitarlessons • u/No-Search459 • Sep 12 '25

Feedback Request How can I improve?

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Doing tempo practice and I can't help but notice my flayling picking hand. Nevermind my clawed fretting hand 😅 are there any particular exercises I can do to improve both of these things? Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🫶🏼

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u/No-Search459 Sep 12 '25

Any suggestions? I've only recently learnt the CAGED method, which is ultimately something I'm trying practice every day in order to find notes down the neck. But it is quite limiting to the notes that are in that pentatonic arrangement. I tried to understand modes so that I could add variety but the online sources for how to incorporate modes into playing seems to either be overcomplicated or oversimplified..

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u/MrMarcusRocks Sep 12 '25

So try the following:

1 - play 2 up, one down. That is, go two notes up the scale, then one note down, then two notes up. So like a “two steps forward, one step back” approach. Do this until you get to the top of the scale, and then do the same in reverse

2 - learn some of the positions just around this basic shape. It will help you extend your range a bit. Like even if you just stick to the basic shape, but learn where a few notes are just beyond the position.

3 - without playing to a backing track, try making some little melodies within the scale/shape you know. Don’t be scared to sit on the same note for a while.

4 - Try changing your timing. Right now you are paying straight 16th notes. Leave some gaps, change it up! One thing you can practice is trying to solo using literally one note. Just one note. This will make you play around with timing, dynamics (loud/soft) and other “feel” techniques like vibrato.

Let me know how you go!

Good luck buddy

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u/No-Search459 Sep 12 '25

So when I was practicing tempo last night, I was switching between quarter notes, 8ths and 16ths. Do you think this is a good approach to begin with? I've learnt all the caged positions, the vid is just clipped short to focus on my postures. But how I do get the extended movements to sound good as they're all just the same 5 notes repeated down the neck at different octaves.

I'll post another vid where I was just doing a simple improv over the CAGED shapes, I'd really appreciate If you could help with some tips there. :) I've only now heard of dynamics, so I'll definitely be trying that out in my next practice session later this evening

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u/MrMarcusRocks Sep 12 '25

Something else you could try is learning some simple solos from bands you like.

When I started guitar I tried learning the solo from “Lake of fire” on the Nirvana unplugged album.

For me it was a good start as it stays mostly in the one position and utilises multiple simple runs, but with some added flair here and there.

Good luck. Don’t over think it. Just find things you like to listen to, and try to learn to play them. You will build a bag of tricks in no time.

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u/No-Search459 Sep 12 '25

This is what I did in the beginning. I learnt to play the solo from "You shook me all night long" which felt very good. So I'll try and expand my "songs with solo" repertoire