Orosz Technique - Finger tapping method

[Jratwen]

Did a search on this and could not find it on the forum.

Just curious if anyone has tried the Orosz Finger tapping Technique? This is a method you can use away from the guitar to improve finger flexibility, control, accuracy, and response speed for playing any musical instrument - including of course right and left hand finger control for playing CG.

The 472 exercise, 306 page, MagicMusicianFingers Deluxe method is on sale for $29.75 and am considering giving it a try. I guess the main appeal to me is that the exercise I expect should improve my CG playing capability that can be done away from the guitar. Certainly not much to risk at the $29.75 price.

It is a commercial site, and cannot be posted here. However, if you google MagicMusicianFingers that will get you to the site quickly. Anyways, just wanted to post for your information and any comments you may have.

Thanks - Jim

[AsturiasFan]

If you search at the board index you will get the following link. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35593&hilit=Orosz

[Jratwen]

Thanks for the link. Don't know why I didn't get any results - maybe either too many words or no accent on the name. Sounds like a lot of healthy skepticism and no real experience with the method.

Still sounds like a fun experiment to me for only the current $29.75 sale price. Might still give it a try. Will try to report back if I do.

- Jim

[AsturiasFan]

Yep! For only $30.00 you can't go wrong especially if you are taking one for the CG team. I'm a skeptic but not a cynic so maybe it' worth a try. I've purchased chords/scale theory books that I thought were overpriced at $30.00. Definitely report back if you get it.

[Jratwen]

Hey, Ya...CG guinea pig...well, somebody's gotta. May be my calling .

If so, I'll definitely report back after a fair trial.

- Jim

[Jeremy]

To quote Hector Quine in his book 'Guitar Technique':
'But beware also of wasting time over finger exercises away from the guitar; these are useless for developing dexterity. You learn only what you practice, and finger gymnastics which have no direct relevance to actual playing improve nothing but your ability to perform finger gymnastics!'

[wbajzek]

To quote Hector Quine in his book 'Guitar Technique':
'But beware also of wasting time over finger exercises away from the guitar; these are useless for developing dexterity. You learn only what you practice, and finger gymnastics which have no direct relevance to actual playing improve nothing but your ability to perform finger gymnastics!'

I think that's probably right... You're not just building strength, but training your neurons.

[AsturiasFan]

To quote Hector Quine in his book 'Guitar Technique':
'But beware also of wasting time over finger exercises away from the guitar; these are useless for developing dexterity. You learn only what you practice, and finger gymnastics which have no direct relevance to actual playing improve nothing but your ability to perform finger gymnastics!'

That sounds very reasonable. Orosz is apparently a friend of Sakari. From what little I know I would guess they have similar ideas concerning dexterity. Most/all on Delcamp who have finished Sakari's course have recommended it, but I decided it wasn't for me. I never could accept Sakari's great lengths to develop the ability to keep the non playing fingers absolutely motionless. Douglas Niedt in his fast AMI scales videos and Roland Schlieder in his master class videos show world class right hand techniques that don't seem to directly incorporate Sakari's ideas. But again, I'm not a cynic so Sakari might be right for some people.

[Jratwen]

To quote Hector Quine in his book 'Guitar Technique':
'But beware also of wasting time over finger exercises away from the guitar; these are useless for developing dexterity. You learn only what you practice, and finger gymnastics which have no direct relevance to actual playing improve nothing but your ability to perform finger gymnastics!'

Even though the latter part of Orosz focuses on rhythm more-so than finger movement - I don't see either Orosz or Sakari too much as teaching how to play the guitar or even to be a musician. I think either one is intended to improve finger flexibility, control, independence, and accuracy. The main difference is Sakari intends to teach the fingers to behave well specifically on the guitar.

The main thing I am after is training my hand to behave as five individual fingers rather than a fist. At best, I am hoping to develop better tools, so that when playing guitar they will be more responsive to to my brain with the result of fewer mis-fires, so to speak.

The appealing thing about Orosz, is that it will not take time away from guitar and hopefully improve finger dexterity and control, which at my age I see as a positive whether playing guitar or not. At the $29.75 price (which I haven't spent yet), it seems something fun to experiment with, and if I do not like it I can just consider it a throw-away at that price. Who know, maybe I will still s*ck at guitar but end up with killer typing skills . At my age, it becomes a matter of use it or lose it as far as finger dexterity. I think this could be a good thing in that regard if nothing else.

Not to change the Thread, but have tried the first few days of Sakari's free lessons. His method for fingernail shaping is working great. Though the shape is a bit different than I had learned and been using from Scott Tennant, I have tone on all six strings like I have never had before, particularly for i and m with good solid tone and no scratching on the wound strings.

Not expecting to convince anyone of anything. And particularly not in the mood to do the duck and cover . Just felt like adding my thoughts for whatever they may be worth.

Thanks - Jim

[Paul Saywood]

Its always interesting to read or hear about a method that makes things easier, but the fees, (although not a lot) just make me suspicious, I've never known of any miracle that has to be paid for to be what it claims to be. Believe in anything enough and you'll see the difference, pay for it and you've more reason to believe...

I'm not being difficult here, but when someone has something really relovutionary in guitar circles the credit they ask for is recognotion and not cash.

[Martbarr]

From a quick look on orosz site he seems to number lh fingers 12345 rather than 01234.
Is that correct, if so is it very confusing?
As a concert standard pianist I'm learning CG, and just about learned my new lh finger symbols.
I daren't mess with it in my head

Thanks Mart

[PaulHintz]

I would think that another (negative) aspect to finger-exercise regimens is that they encourage the inaccurate belief that our fingers, in isolation, play the guitar. In fact the entire arm is involved, especially since the muscles and tendons controlling the fingers extend the length of the forearm. As someone just now recovering from my third round of forearm-pain issues, the last thing I'd be interested in, or encourage anyone else to try, would be finger drills. Just my (limited) experience.

[ronjazz]

I would think that another (negative) aspect to finger-exercise regimens is that they encourage the inaccurate belief that our fingers, in isolation, play the guitar. In fact the entire arm is involved, especially since the muscles and tendons controlling the fingers extend the length of the forearm. As someone just now recovering from my third round of forearm-pain issues, the last thing I'd be interested in, or encourage anyone else to try, would be finger drills. Just my (limited) experience.

Excellent point. In fact, our fingers are really not the problem, it is our brains that we train to play an instrument. As a victim of focal dystonia, a neurological condition that destroys technique, it is has become clear that there is truly nothing wrong with my fingers, it's literally all in my head. While one can probably do no harm with an external technical exercise, it is also probable that there would be little real gain. An interesting compromise is to use a small, portable piece of guitar fingerboard with strings; these devices are available commercially; I have one that I velcro to my shoulder belt while driving, and practice rasqueados and alternate picking. It's of very limited use, though, since one really needs to be focused on the actual movement, not on the road.

Also, playing the guitar involves the shoulders and back and pelvis, even the legs to some extent. Forearm problems may be due to not utilizing the entire mechanism enough. The musculature for carrying the hand to the strings runs all the way across the shoulders, and the spine is very involved as well.

[Luis_Br]

I normally avoid methods that begin with words like "Magic", "Super", "Hiper" and ends up with "Deluxe", "Premium", "Plus".
I think simple gymnastics without specific targets won't bring results. I havaen't read Orosz book, but I think overstressing our muscles may bring problems. I follow modern body therapies which recommend focus exercises on muscles you don't use as much, so you balance your body. If you already play a couple hours of guitar, doing more finger stressing exercises may actually bring more damage than good. Without the guitar you should work opposing motions from regular pressing ones, exercise also less used overall body muscles and work stretching to release hard muscles and keep good body articulation and posture.
On the other side, several exercises without the guitar to help enhance kinaesthetic perception were very helpful to me. Violin school has the famous Action Studies, without the instrument, which are used a lot. I use a similar approach to the guitar and I find it very helpful. But they are exercises to help thinking, perception and coordination, not to develop muscle strrength or stamina. For the latter I agree the best thing is to work directly on the instrument. You develop the muscle and the instrument technique at the same time.