When I was just starting out playing, I read an article
about Eric Clapton as an innovator.
It said he had the perfect blend of technique and control.
Reading that had a profound affect on me. Technique
seemed like a straightforward, mechanical thing. However,
control was another story. It seemed be a hard-to-acquire
quality that was rare among guitarists, and in practice,
was difficult. By the time I heard a note in my head, and
figure out where it was on the fretboard, the measure
had long passed. This seems to be the heart of the problem.
Even great players like Steve Vai have said
that really playing what you want is “so elusive”.
I spent the next couple decades trying to learn this
rare art of improvising exactly what I
wanted to hear.
The 3 Components
The three components of killer guitar control are:
1. Technique
2. Fretboard Knowledge
3. The Brain-to-Hand Connection.
Technique is the physical aspect of playing the
guitar – your ability to hit the notes quickly, accurately,
and in tempo. Fretboard knowledge is how well you
see the patterns on the neck, and how they can be used
musically. The Brain-to-Hand connection is your skill
of hitting the notes that you hear in your head.
