Relaxing while playing.

breakstuff

I'm currently learning the solo to The Unforgiven by Metallica and have got the clean intro to it virtually done however it seems,as whenever I'm learning something new,I find it really difficult to relax and find myself tensing up which had an adverse effect on my playing.I sometimes find the more I play something over again the worse I play it.I end up gripping the pick too tightly and however much I try to relax I just end up tensing again.It only really happens when I'm learning something new as I'm ok when I'm just jamming to myself.I find putting the guitar down and coming back later helps nut it's getting a bit frustrating now.Have you guys got any tips on how to get yourself to relax while playing.

Cheers.

MatthewShreddery

I don't have any tips really, but the fact that you are aware of tension is a great start.

Now that you are aware of it you can work on nipping it in the bud as soon as it starts to creep up on you.

Taking control of your breathing helps too.

We tend to breath very shallow when we play.

Flink_Poyd

I get a bit tense when I have a lesson, gripping too hard and holding my breath etc. What helps me is closing my eyes

richardhomer

I think this is pretty common. I used to suffer the physical effects of nerves when I first started playing live, facing a 'tricky bit'.

Sheer repetition always resolved it - in other words I just worked hard to make playing the section that caused me to tense-up second nature. Eventually I could play 'on auto-pilot' - it was always the unfamiliar which caused me problems.

octatonic

Slow down.

Most people tense up because they are trying to play things too quickly.

A good practice tip is to play at 60-75% of your maximum speed for most of your practice sessions, with a burst of speed at the end.

Speed is a byproduct of accuracy.