A Few Thoughts on Excess Tension in Your Playing

Exploring my own tension habits on the guitar has led me to spend copious hours over the years re-working my technique and movements, and studying with an Alexander Technique teacher (AT is all about breaking habits of tension). I also notice excess tension in many of my students, and work with them to change the habits that lead to it.

The question comes up quite frequently, and so I decided to weigh in publicly on the issue.

Here is an off-the-cuff video with some of my thoughts around tension, and what to do about it. While this video deals with tension in general, I will add that developing the right fundamental techniques and movements is also extremely helpful (or at least not harmful!).

Enjoy!

About Allen Mathews

Allen Mathews learned guitar as an adult, and has been a full-time guitar teacher for almost two decades to students age 4 to 96. He has taught classical guitar at Reed College and Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and has been a guest lecturer and clinician at schools and universities throughout the U.S. Allen is often praised for his creative teaching abilities, and his dedication to helping adults learn classical guitar. He has a popular Youtube Channel offering regular classical guitar tutorials, and has gained fans worldwide for his weekly emails and articles at ClassicalGuitarShed.com.

Thanks to you (you are my only teacher) in only a few months I've gone from very basic beginner pieces to having just completed learning Bach's Gavottes 1&2 in good form and execution. As a non-classical electric guitarist who has always used a pick and never his fingers, this has been no small feat!

-Gregg Olson

Hi Allen, I am thoroughly enjoying your website and I find it is just what I need in my renewed passion for classical guitar. I have rediscovered a great love for this instrument and the music I can learn and play and it has changed my life for the better dramatically! Thank you facilitating this process.

-George Rogers