Looking at left hand while strumming

[Christopher4689]

Should we be looking at our left hand as we strum to make sure we're placing our fingers in the right spot?  Is this something we should eventually wean ourselves out of doing?

At first I was trying not to look, but kept making so many mistakes it was frustrating. 

 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Even pro's look at their fretting hand. 

Don't fret about it 🤣

glace.. but don't stare

Edited January 19, 2020 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[Randy120]

I say no.  You should not make a habit of staring at your hand. It is ok while you are learning a new form, or playing a complicated part. Look how many pros never look at their hands. You should get comfortable enough with these forms so you can play them without looking.

If I hear a sour note I let it go. If I hear the same sour note twice I look to see what is going on. You can't read music, look at the fretboard, and make chord changes at the same time. 

[Oldjock]

Yes and no. As you are learning a song you must watch your left hand to make sure the fingertips are going where they should. Once you become more confident that the chords or riff sound good , that’s the time to shift your eyes. Practice will help smooth it out. 
It is very difficult to ski while watching your feet, yet the movement of the feet control the path. After a few falls it becomes second nature to trust your feet to make the right moves. Playing guitar is much the same, trust your fingers.

[NeilES335]

I see nothing wrong with looking at your freting hand while playing. (Watch Steve K; he does it all the time) Eventually, your "muscle memory" will kick in, and you're fingers will just naturally go to the right place /shape. So, don't worry about it. N

[Steve Krenz]

Christopher,

Great question. 

The answer is, as someone said, yes, and no.

When you are just starting an unfamiliar task, new chord or finger combination, then look when you need to.  You need to have the visual reference while your fingers are trying to figure out where to go.  Especially if you are working on a new skill - and the fingers are still finding their way - then look as you need to.  Don't feel bad about it.  Look until your fingers can find their own way to the places they need to go.

BUT, yes... you do want to eventually wean yourself off of this.

Where you're wanting to go is a place where the fingers can go where they need to go without the constant visual reminder.

It's easy to fall into an unhelpful routine of ALWAYS looking at your hands, then back at the music, then your picking hand, then the music, then the fretting hand and so on.  This will eventually slow your progress down (plus give you a neck ache!)

So, when you are first learning a new chord or finger pattern then look at your hands. Look as much as you need to to get your fingers familiar with their new challenges.

But, once your fingers know where they need to go, then begin trying to keep your eye on the music and let your fingers find their own way.  You'll find they generally will do pretty well in finding where they need to go without you having to guide them by looking.  Sure... you might miss a note here and there but don't worry about that. Your fingers will find where to go.

Glancing at your fretting hand is always something you will need to do from time to time, especially if there is a big jump on the neck that you need to make.  But, in general, once you've worked out where your fingers need to go then try to keep your eyes on the music and let your fingers feel where they need to go.

Hope this helps!

- Steve

 

[Christopher4689]

Thanks so much Steve for that detailed explanation and to all who responded. 

[Odie]

I'm primarily a strummer & singer but also do some flat picking instrumentals and currently working on some Carter Style tunes (Music With Ryan website).

+On the instrumentals, I look back & forth, music/tabs to fret hand (left) a good bit until slowly memorize. Once memorized, I don't have to look at the music and look at fret hand. If having difficulty with a certain part then go back and work on that part looking at both music/fret hand. The basic chords in first position are easy, but there are lots of slides, double stops, pull offs & hammers ons. Just learned a tune up the neck to 12th fret and have to look!

+On strumming and singing though, I've never tried to memorize the lyrics, so look at the music and seldom ever look at fret hands; however, these are over 100 gospel, country, folk tunes that's just the basic chords (Rest Home Gig). Recently, I started a small band. We've done two gigs and working on a third which is 50's music (Lead Guitarist & Banjo, Bass, Strummer/Vocals (me), and Female Vocalist). The Lead Guitarist memorizes the entire gig, usually doesn't sing, doesn't look at the music. But yes, he looks at his hands especially on the guitar solo parts. Since we're going into uncharted chords for me, it's been a learning (self taught) experience on some progressions. For example,

Hello Mary Lou by Rick Nelson: Verses: D/A/E/E7/A/C#7/F#m/B7/E/A. It's at a fast clip, and I'm strumming/singing but when got to the A to C#7 to F#m to B7, and it was a train wreck at first. Had played A & B7 many times (and C7) but never the other two. With no one to show me, had to learn on A to leave middle finger planted then slide down then re-fret other fingers then to F#m to B7, and do I look/sing at same time? Well, I'm looking at fret hand during that progression for sure! Well, like Steve said above, it's more of a quick glance. 

I've not been on here for a year or more. Can't say enough about the importance of playing with others, can really be both inspiring/motivational and has gotten me out of a rut. In addition, I'm slowly relearning the piano/keyboard from my teenage years (currently 61 years old) with Learn & Master. 

Best Wishes