Guitarists are known as "lazy people" because they do as less as possible but obtain a lot from their instrument!

Being lazy does not mean no work but the minimum work needed for reaching the target.

The aim of this drill is to get a better perception of what strength or pressure is really needed to make a clear sound with your favourite string instrument, and avoid too much tension in the hand which applies the pressure (usually left hand).

So you will be able to practise for a longer time (I remind beginners that it is very important to stop practising when you start to get pain).

This drill shall be repeated with each finger that is used for holding the string on the fretboard.

Remember also to put your finger against the fret (refer to lesson # 12 by Chris Tarry).

Left-handed people will, of course, swap left and right.

Drill is done atempo

So here we go:

First step

Put one of your left hand fingers just on top of the string (grazing it like for playing harmonics), and play the string with the other hand.

Then you gently increase the pressure on the string, while the other hand continues to play it. As the pressure is increasing the sound is coming out, a kind of nasty metallic grazing sound.

As you continue to increase gently the pressure, and if your finger is well off (against the fret), the sound is becoming better and better. Continue until you get a clear sound.

Second step

When the sound is clear, stop increasing the pressure and remain for a while in this position, producing a clear sound (for your left hand to accustom with the minimum pressure needed).

Third step

After a while, start to release gently the pressure and go back (producing again a nasty sound), as gently as you came to the clear sound, toward the initial position (dont go back completely to it, you just need to move away from the clear sound pressure), then increase again the pressure and come back to a clear sound, and loop on steps 2 and 3.

Fourth step

After having repeated steps 2 and 3 several times, stop for a while (saying 20 to 30 seconds), move away your left hand from the board, and try to relax it a bit (usually I leave my arm hanging along my body).

Fifth step

From the relaxing position, try to apply straight the correct pressure and make the string produce a clear sound at once (remember about the fret also).

Repeat all 5 steps until you are able to produce a clear sound at once and with the minimum pressure needed.

You will notice your left hand is getting less pain as you are reducing muscular tension in it.

Repeat the drill with all 3 others left hand fingers.