Practicing with your eyes closed

srick · #1 06-08-2023, 07:01 PM

Moved from another thread…

So I just tried my own suggestion about playing with my eyes shut. And it was, ahem, an eye-opener! What a great technique to, uh, build your technique (Jeez, I'm on a roll).

It's not original. During a workshop, the teacher, Martin Grosswendt, was struggling with my poor sense of rhythm. He had me shut my eyes and play along with his bass line. He continued to play at about 60 bpm over several minutes while I played along. Very meditative and coincidentally, heartbeat rhythm.

Not having the visual input really focuses your attention on your finger position, pressure, and auditory feedback.

davidbeinct · #2 06-08-2023, 07:07 PM

I enjoy playing with my eyes closed. I like to listen to music with my eyes closed too.

Bluenose · #3 06-09-2023, 06:53 AM

I think there are definite benefits learning to play by touch alone.

For example it allows you play while you are sight reading notation or tab.

You can play in poor lighting conditions and if you learn to rely on fret markers, having a capo on an odd fret will cause you to make mistakes.

The only time I need to look at my guitar is if I have to make a position change requiring me to take my left hand completely off the guitar and place it precisely at a different location on the neck.

Railroad Bum · #4 06-09-2023, 06:56 AM

I think it's good to practice with your eyes closed. It can really make you focus on playing whatever you are learning better and with more soul/feeling. I know that when I am struggling with playing some flatpicking thing or a tricky run of chords, I will often just close my eyes and try to work patiently through that stuff. Sometimes I will actually end up learning something, lol.

rick-slo · #5 06-09-2023, 07:03 AM

A thing to do sometimes for a type of practice. Quite a bit depends on the technical difficulties of what you are playing.

Railroad Bum · #6 06-09-2023, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

A thing to do sometimes for a type of practice. Quite a bit depends on the technical difficulties of what you are playing.

I should have added that nothing I play is technically difficult, very simple stuff strummed and flatpicked.

#7 06-09-2023, 07:49 AM

Closing your eyes while you practice really helps. You don't have play exclusively with your eyes closed, but it's great for learning how to play w/out looking at your hands.

FingahPickah · #8 06-09-2023, 08:39 AM

Hearing is easy with eyes closed. No misunderstanding all you see.

mr. beaumont · #9 06-09-2023, 08:47 AM

It can be cool, but in a band situation, you need to be able to communicate with others as well.

Tahitijack · #10 06-09-2023, 09:39 AM

I've been playing keys for a little over two years and have reached the point where I can play with just a glance now and then at my hands and the keyboard as my eyes read the sheet music.

rick-slo · #11 06-09-2023, 11:30 AM

Interestingly with most instruments people don't look at their hands.

Deliberate1 · #12 06-09-2023, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Interestingly with most instruments people don't look at their hands.

True that. I play clarinet and lead tenor in a17 piece big band. I got to keep my eyes open to read the dots on the charts. But when it is time for a solo, my eyes are glued shut. Certainly, some if my band mates keep their eyes open so they can read the changes, which I do not do. I close my eyes so I can hear them.
David

ljguitar · #13 06-10-2023, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srick

Moved from another thread…

So I just tried my own suggestion about playing with my eyes shut. And it was, ahem, an eye-opener! What a great technique to, uh, build your technique (Jeez, I'm on a roll).

Hi srick…
I can knock out first position chords all day long with eyes closed, but I tend to write and play very complex arrangements ranging to fret 16-17 range across the string bed, and I cannot nail them accurately without looking at where my left hand lands. And I do these on both acoustics with 1¾" nut standard 25.4" scale and on my fanned fret (25"-25.75" scale), Strat and Tele (both with 1¹¹⁄₁₆" nut, but slightly different under-neck profiles).

Once I'm in position I can operate runs, scales, melodies, harmonies in place till I have to move to a new position down the neck…then I look again.

Thankfully there is no precedent for 'not looking' with guitar playing like there is in the classical 'piano/organ' community.

Brent Hahn · #14 06-10-2023, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Thankfully there is no precedent for 'not looking' with guitar playing like there is in the classical 'piano/organ' community.

There is among singer-songwriters. It can be a huge benefit when you're trying to make and keep a connection with an audience. I have one song where there are two weird chord changes in a row up around the 6th fret, and they happen while I'm singing the end of the chorus. That little bit in that song (and not looking) might be the one thing I practice the most. If I can do that for each of the 5 times it happens in the song, and be making eye contact with someone while I'm doing it, I really feel like I've "stuck the landing," so to speak.

Jeffreykip · #15 06-10-2023, 09:17 AM

I really should, because I almost have to close my eyes when I sing - it's just a thing (if you've seen About a Boy - that nerd is me). I am usually ok, but I capo all over the place, and so I'll miss things because the fret board space changes. I think I'll try practicing with my eyes closed and see if it helps.