Bad Habits?

[Glenn Stanfield]

Hello,

I'm new here and while this is not my first post it is the first thread I've started so a bit about myself. I've "played" guitar for almost 50 years, and still can't play very well. My musical start was violin for about a year, then String bass for another (elementary school orchestra needed a bass), then on to guitar. Learned basic music theory.

Now, nearing retirement, I've decided to do something I've wanted to for years, and that's learn Lap Steel. I have one ordered from Melbert and hope to have it in a month or two. To be honest I have never even held a Lap Steel, so I'm literally starting from nothing. I have a few amps, and a Peterson tuner so I'm set in that respect.

Now to the reason for this post. I've learned, through the years, one of the best ways to break a bad habit is simply to not start it in the first place. Since I'm freshly starting I thought this is the right time to address this. So I'm asking the vast experience on this forum: what are some of the bad habits you've had to break? What's the best way to avoid them?

[Peter Jacobs]

Welcome, Glenn. This 8s a great community, so ask lots of questions and you’ll get a ton of friendly advice.

The habit I needed to break was using too much of my forearm to do vibrato. That’s what happens when you start playing without a lot of live players or video to learn from. Of course, I’m using a Lap Dawg bar, not a round one, so I might use a different motion than some others. The point is, learn how to do basic things efficiently so you can focus on more complicated moves.

[Glenn Stanfield]

Vibrato using forearm, this is exactly the type of bad habit I'm asking for. Something I can work on learning to perform correctly from the start.

How do you vibrato now? I'm envisioning a wrist action, saving the forearm movement for fretting? Or is it something else? I have a couple of Shubb bars similar to what you use I think.

Thank you for this Peter!!!

[Peter Jacobs]

It’s more that I use my fingers, so very little wrist movement. Look at videos of Megan Lovell of the band Larkin Poe. That’s what I’m going for (and occasionally accomplish). https://youtu.be/0_A0V_HYjds?si=3pu4TFeMJ1N_xJkw

Another potentially useful video I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3x5pjAJkw -- he uses a bit more wrist

[Glenn Stanfield]

Ok, I see what you're talking about with Megan Lovell, but havent finished the second video yet. Both of those channels just got a new subscriber.

The motion Megan uses is different than I've ever used, it's going to be a challenge for sure but the results worth it.

Once again, I appreciate your time Peter.