Non-resistance

Nature's way is simple and easy, but men prefer what is intricate and artificial.

- Lao Tzu

Like birds that ride the wind, fish that swim with the current or bamboo that bends to absorb the weight of fallen snow a wise guitarist observes and uses natural forces to her advantage. 

A prime example is dropping the left shoulder.  I have noticed that many beginning guitar students unconsciously lift their left shoulders when playing music they find difficult.  This only compounds the problem because raising the shoulder moves the left hand fingertips away from their ideal perpendicular aspect to the strings. 

For their first few dozen practice sessions most students need to repeatedly remind themselves to 'drop the shoulder...drop the shoulder.'  In time the reminder is no longer necessary because their shoulder automatically relaxes before they begin to play.  

What has happened is the student has trained themselves to stop fighting the natural law of gravity. Playing is so much easier because the entire left arm is now hanging naturally without tension. Struggle has been dissolved through non-resistance.

Non-resistance happens when we don't try too hard.  A classic example of a student doing the opposite is trying to play a song too quickly before they have the technical skills to sound convincing at speed.  The student is resistant to a golden musical rule: 'You can't play fast what you can't play slow.'  Playing slowly at first is a form of non-resistance that allows us to play without strain and securely absorb the rhythmic values of the music.  

Observing the principle of non-resistance in tempo building and all other key areas of practice is the first step towards easy, relaxed and naturally progressive musical advancement.