is it okay to look at my hands when playing?

[hellbike]

I'm going through modern gutar method (berklee) and when playing chords i often miss - either with left or right hand.

Is it okay to look at my hands when playing? Or should i learn to play without looking at my hands from the very beginning?

[hemingway]

If it stops you hitting bum notes, look wherever you need to!!

I like to look at foxy chicks. Playing or not.

[Scantron08]

The only problem is that you can lose your place on the page when you look down.

[boneyguy]

You should be looking at girls when you're playing or did you forget why you started playing guitar in the first place?

[biggtr73]

I think you're asking the wrong question. What do you gain, long term, from looking at your hands? Mostly just the need to look at your hands when making routine movements.

However in some cases when it's a very strange or unusual move or shift, looking at your hands for a sec may be much more efficient then practicing something over and over that you are not likely to do again.

If you are looking at your hands, you are generally worried about mechanics, not thinking about making music. It only slows you down and distracts you.

[chabby]

It doesn't much matter. i've seen great players that watch their hands all the time to terrible players that never looked once. I've developed kind of a peripheral vision from performing for many years and don't meed to stare at the damn thing, but at the same time not afraid to look when I have to.

[H. Mac]

Yes, it's okay to look at your hands when you play. No question about it. Want proof? Here ya go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_oaqMjZZFc

[mal paso]

I'd say as a beginner, that not only makes sense, but probably helps. When you get comfortable enough with the chords and the movements, you'll probably not have to look at your hands so much(but if you do, it's ok)

[PeterVV]

Seems a strange question?, is there a right or a wrong here? You just do what you are comfortable with, and whatever helps you play better. I honestly dont think there is a right or wrong here

[Maxwell Street]

eventually you'll know where to go, on some moves a glance might be all that's needed to maintain your bearings...

[czgibson]

With some big position shifts I think it's entirely OK to look at your hands.

If it's causing you trouble in following your score, one thing you can do is arrange your playing position so that your music and your fretting hand are close to being within the same eyeline. Violinists in orchestras often arrange things so that they can see their music, their fingers and the conductor with minimal eye movement.

[Tarnisher]

Yes. It's also okay to trace under the words on a page when reading.

Do whatever works for you. Worrying about what other people think about your methods is a sure fire way to stunt your progress.

[dngrsdave]

As a beginner guitar player (less than 3 yrs)I definately have to watch my fretting hand while I play. My biggest problem now is I play mostly while sitting down with the guitar angled so I can see the fretboard. When I stand and use a strap, I have difficulty because I can't see the individual strings on the fret's.

I'm hoping as I get more familiar and better ,I'll be able to stand to play. My goal is to play at a local jam night. I'm close but I've never played in front of any one yet. I've seen other guy's sitting while playing so I plan on trying that first. I just hate to make a Fool out of myself. Although , It's not like I havent played the Fool before....just not with a guitar.

[bingy]

My advice to students is, try and practice not looking.
It's a link in the circuit that you don't need.
However, I agree, look if you need to look.
Look up one of my favorites, Snooks Eaglin.

[DonB52]

After over 40 years of playing, I still have to look sometimes.

[telex76]

I had a piano teacher that would slap your knuckles with a ruler if you looked at your hands.

[Larry F]

I'm not exactly Mr. Stage Presence, as I keep my eyes on the fingerboard whenever I solo. Just as I pre-hear what I am going to play, I also pre-visualize it. I use strings and their size and tautness for color, so I will often make some pretty far-reaching shifts or snaky moves.

A local guitarist has a cable show where he takes requests over a speaker-phone. He talks and plays at the same time, as if the two activities are unrelated. His field of vision is off in the distance, too. His playing is mechanically proficient, but noodly to the nth degree. He doesn't act like he is into it at all.

Bill Graham described Mike Bloomfield's guitar playing like holding a baby in his arms. It really is like that.

Someone said that Bill Wyman positioned himself onstage for maximum eye contact with the girls. If you read his book, Stone Alone, you'll see that this paid off a thousand-fold.

[slowpinky]

Yes, it's okay to look at your hands when you play. No question about it. Want proof? Here ya go!

Yep for sure - but there is a whole formal sitting position there that makes looking at the fingerboard more ergonomic - and allows any charts or sheet music to be in the eyeline too. If you are standing or sitting without a leg rest or footstool, then you do need to watch that you dont get into the habit of keeping your neck bent down all of the time. Not good - and will discourage eye contact.

I have been guilty of keeping my eyes closed a lot of the time - but it makes sense that you keep them open and maintain an eyeline with the rest of the band.

In the end its experience - playing jazz I can keep my eyes closed while playing - unless Im reading (where you get used to keeping eyes on the music and trusting your hands) or maybe the occasional glance for a tricky position change; and know by the way the music is going when to look around or try and catch someones eye.

[greggorypeccary]

Originally Posted by PeterVV

Seems a strange question?, is there a right or a wrong here? You just do what you are comfortable with, and whatever helps you play better. I honestly dont think there is a right or wrong here

Of course there is a right or wrong - this is the internet!

[brewwagon]

Originally Posted by telex76

I had a piano teacher that would slap your knuckles with a ruler if you looked at your hands.

.....maybe poking our eyes out would have been more effective


use your ear!