[TBman]

Originally Posted by Sunsethill66

Many people play with way too much tension and thus put out way too much energy. When learning any new piece, there is no metronome that goes slow enough, nor should there be. So slow that you can check for tension, fingering, position angles and the works on difficult shifts, to a point that the guitar goes silent between notes. if you are putting too much grief on your left hand ring finger and pinky from stretches, pull your elbow closer to your side. Diaphragm breathing, gently and naturally and often. Watch for tension in either hand, it does nothing for you.

Originally Posted by Sunsethill66

I purchased a book from David Leisner that greatly improved my own tension difficulties, "Playing With Ease". i found tensions that I did not even know I had. Plus tips on learning new pieces without learning the tension along with it. Funny how that works. I had tensions built into the Bach Chaconne that did not need to be there. I had to go back to the sheet music and relearn those parts, without the built in tension.

Thank you, excellent advice.