Hi guys!

Are there any techniques to stop your fingers 'flying away' from the fretboard while playing the (acoustic) guitar? Or does it just come from practice?

For example: If I played a G on the 1st string, then the next note is an E, then the fingers tend to lift too far in the air away from the fretboard.

Thanks!
Car Expert

I think it's just a practice thing CE. It's the unfamiliarity of the movement - you move one finger down, and your other fingers move to help you isolate it. The only thing I can think of to help is maybe doing chromatic runs on your fretboard with your fingers, focusing on keeping your fingers down entirely on the fingerboard going up, and concentrate hard on keeping the fingers low and close to the string on the way down.

At the start of every practice session always do scales and arp's.
Take your time and be sure to get the notes sounding with clarity.
Keep the tempo even (use a metronome).
Don't be tempted to rush through at speed.
Once you are confident at the speed you are playing at increase the speed of the metronome and start over again.
If you find you start to falter at the new speed, decrease it slightly.
Set yourself a limit on how long you will set aside at the start of each session (say 10 to 15 mins), know when to quit and don't just keep on going.

Thanks! Thanks onmageetar! I'll try that.
My guitar teacher gave me some short (three/four-note) exercises in my lesson on Tuesday, so I can use them to try it out.

Car Expert

Are you enjoying your guitar playing, CE?

Yes I am enjoying it!

Car Expert