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Post by thanosm on May 24, 2006 7:05:01 GMT -5
After years and years of playing the bouzouki without very little instruction, I developed really bad habits. Namely 1) picking with a lot of forearm and never really learning to isolate the wrist so as to develop a free picking hand, 2) an incorrect angle of pick hand over the strings which resulted in getting a less then fuller sound. I spent a lot of hours over the last 5 years here in Greece breaking these habits. I have read discussions in other forums about pick hand not touching the strings or the kapaki. But what I haven't read is any discussion about how the picking hand - and picking arm up to the shoulder should feel like when playing. For me this was the obvious sign that evaded me for many years. My picking hand, wrist and arm were always really tense(sfigmena) when I played, Wheras they should have been relaxed and my wrist should have been doing most of the work. For the benefit of non pro players in this forum, please discuss (Danny) how your pick hand/wrist/arm evolved in the earlier days of your bouzouki playing days....and how does it feel now ....relaxed ? (even when playing fast?) We always talk about the proper way to play - technique - but we never talk about how the parts of the upper body should feel when we play. No one ever told me that my picking forearm should be relaxed and that my wrist should develop to the point where I can play fast without any stress going through the wrist. Something so obvious ..that held me back for years. Hard to break bad habits when you have to play professionally almost every night. So I really had to work hard during the off seasons... May - September. Sakis Drossos(good player) the guy that makes my bouzoukia... actually fastened a divers weight to my wrist and made me practice like this for hours. When I took the weight off , my wrist felt like a feather .... Anyway Danny (and anyone else that wants to join in ) please comment on picking (wrist vs. forearm) and the way it should feel when we are picking correctly. I think bad picking habits are something that can really set back a player that is just starting to learn.
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Post by dynamismusic on May 24, 2006 9:20:40 GMT -5
Thanosm,
I suggest that your picking be done with the wrist and not the forearm. Your whole arm should feel relaxed and free of tension. What I'm thinking of doing is presenting some video technique clips. I'll make picking my first one as soon as I figure out the best way to do it.
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Post by photos on May 25, 2006 2:54:21 GMT -5
Through the help of Danny, I have been able to identify that I have exactly the same problem that Thanos had. My arm, from the hand to the elbow tenses up when I have to play trills, tremolo, or fast parts.
Danny is helping me get over this, as it is keeping me from progressing to a new level. I like the trick that Thanos used with the diver's weight. Danny told me to play a few notes at a time by suspending my entire arm, not touching it on the kappaki, as a way to get over the tension problem.
I think that just BEING AWARE of the problem is itself a major discovery.
I look forward to fruitful discussions on the bouzouki here at this wonderful forum.
Photos.
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Post by thanosm on May 25, 2006 6:12:25 GMT -5
Photos you are right. Just being aware of the problem is solving half of the problem already. I just get pissed off when I think of all the years I lost while tensing up. I remember practicing Whiskey kai bouzouki (whatever its called) -Sporos... for months and years.... moving the metronome up a notch every so often but I would always get to the point where I thought my arm was going to fall - like I was hauling bricks or something... And I would get so frustrated because I could only get so fast no matter how hard I practiced. And I did practice. And what is really strange is that as a violinist ..I play effortlessly ...so relaxed...and I never thought to do the same on the bouzouki. Now I have the problem solved but not enough time to practice to make up for the lost time. But even so , relaxing and developing my wrist has made me another player all together. Playing professionally at an early age when you don't have the right guidance can be a major detriment to future development. Because when you are under pressure to play, you just get it done any old way ...and when you do it night after night ... it just makes things worse.
Now I remember Danny's pick hand... even though it has been years... it flies ...so effortlessly and I try to relate this to how I play quickly on the violin...different movements ...different muscles for bowing as opposed to picking ...but same relaxed state .... Everyone just relax..... and maybe stay away from Skeezo just before playing...because that will make you tense.... just kidding ! Another important thing is sound on stage if you play professionally. A bad sound or a non responsive sound wich doesn't give a good feel can really make you tense up. I work in a haunted place here in Athens. No matter what gear I use, I cant get a sound. I can get a sound anywhere else ... my zouks sound lucious anywhere else I play ...except for this one place. Its like its jinxed. There is an explanation... but I just haven't found it yet. Anyway , again its great to be here ....
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ousak
New Member
Posts: 25
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Post by ousak on May 25, 2006 8:53:13 GMT -5
love the tips!
my wrist needs rework too...
i've noticed the same thing on "Bouzouki n Whisky" solo.
Yes, I'm aware of it now... Especially after watching Giwrgos Kotsaris dvds...
Even the way he holds the pick is different to mine.
To psaxnw siga siga...
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Post by thanosm on May 26, 2006 4:39:33 GMT -5
Photos,
You keep impressing me as a person. Ise megalos !!!! I have been fighting for Ousak at Skeezo for the last few days. Not because I am his lawyer or anything. But because I think that it is unfair to ban someone ...without a warning..and without a clear explanation. I fought for Ousak without even knowing if he was innocent or guilty. Because its unfair to just bump someone without any reason when at the same time you have no way to control the worst offenders...who unfortunately have struck again today. Anyway ..Pete ..sorry about being off topic....and ironically enough , I started the topic. I think its good to have Photos and Ousak here. Both of you have contributed so much to other forums. Danny is here as well and we don't need to even discuss his qualifications and resume. I am glad to be a part of this .... now we just need to get the word out so we can get some really cool discussions happening here.
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Post by dimmitrakis on May 26, 2006 5:15:41 GMT -5
Photos
Check your email.
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