DaveH - 6-24-2008 at 04:02 AM
I'm back to ask the people who know for some advice on technique.
our questions are usually on right hand technique but I have an issue with the left.
I often find when I'm playing that I lock individual left hand fingers away from the fingerboard. This happens particularly if I'm playing passages
with a lot of 1st and 3rd finger use - the 2nd finger gradually drifts up away from hovering just over the strings where it's ready for action and the
knuckle joint locks so the whole finger is taken out play. I can't seem to stop myself doing this. Is it just a question of practice or is my hand
perhaps in a bad position. Any exercises for ensuring you keep all your fingers ready for action? It also often happens when I'm changing my hand
position up and down the fingerboard.
charlie oud - 6-24-2008 at 05:08 AM
Hi Dave, The problem you describe is sometimes caused by the finger pressure used. Try this.1) Lightly place a finger on the string at a 1st or 2nd
position note without pressing the string against the fingerboard. 2)Whilst only touching the string, start plucking the string back and forth with
the risha. At this stage you will not hear the note. 3)Now, very gradually sart increasing the pressure until the note sounds, do not press any
harder, there is no need. 4) Repeat with all left hand fingers.
5 to 10 mins a day may sort it but remember to apply it to playing also. Good luck. C 
katakofka - 6-24-2008 at 06:29 AM
Hey David
I suggest the following exercice:
begin by the D string, then go in a chromatic manner, first finger on Eb, second finger E natural, third finger F natural, forth finger F#, G, First
finger Ab, second A, third Bb, forth B, C, and first D. Once you get it at low speed, try it at faster tempo.
katakofka - 6-24-2008 at 07:23 AM
Dav. Check that video
look to the chromatic sequence played from 1:26 to 1:38. These kind of exercices might be helpfull
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7h68buh4Ys&feature=related
Good practice
DaveH - 6-25-2008 at 08:38 AM
Brilliant, thanks Charlie and Katakofka -both useful exercises. I will start on that video exercise a bit slowly though (!). Charlie I think you're
right about the pressure issue. I realise that when I play lightly I play with much more agility. As you say though, it's easy to realise it, much
harder to avoid clamping up under pressure. As always, practice is the universal answer and there are no short cuts. 