Fitts and Posner's theory of motor skill development is a foundational concept in understanding how we acquire and refine skills, including guitar playing. This theory divides the learning process into three distinct stages: the cognitive stage, the associative stage, and the autonomous stage. Let's explore how each of these stages applies specifically to developing picking technique on the guitar.

1. Cognitive Stage

Overview: In the cognitive stage, you are just beginning to learn the picking technique. This phase is characterized by a high degree of conscious effort and thought.

Application to Picking Technique:

• Understanding Basics: You start by learning the fundamental movements involved in picking, such as how to hold the pick, the angle of attack on the strings, and basic picking motions (downstrokes and upstrokes).
• Common Errors: At this stage, mistakes are frequent. You might miss strings, struggle with timing, or have inconsistent picking force. These errors are natural as your brain and muscles are figuring out what to do.
• Feedback and Correction: You rely heavily on external feedback from a teacher or instructional videos, and you spend a lot of time correcting mistakes and consciously thinking about each movement.

Tips:

• Practice Slowly: Focus on slow, deliberate practice to ensure you're performing the motions correctly.
• Use a Mirror or Video: Watching yourself can help you understand and correct your hand positioning and movements.
• Break It Down: Practice simple picking exercises, like open string picking or single-string scales, to build a solid foundation.

2. Associative Stage

Overview: In the associative stage, you start to refine your technique. Your movements become more coordinated and errors decrease as your practice begins to pay off.

Application to Picking Technique:

• Refinement: You begin to fine-tune your picking motion. This involves making your movements more efficient and consistent.
• Increased Awareness: You're more aware of your technique and can self-correct more effectively. Your focus shifts from basic movements to improving speed, accuracy, and dynamics.
• Pattern Recognition: You start recognizing patterns in music and how to approach different picking techniques, such as alternate picking, economy picking, and sweep picking.

Tips:

• Consistent Practice: Regular, focused practice is crucial. Aim to practice picking techniques within musical contexts, such as scales, arpeggios, and simple songs.
• Metronome Use: Gradually increase the speed of your exercises with a metronome to build speed and accuracy.
• Feedback Loop: Continue to seek feedback from teachers or peers, and record your playing to identify areas for improvement.

3. Autonomous Stage

Overview: In the autonomous stage, picking technique becomes second nature. You can perform it automatically with little conscious thought, allowing you to focus more on musicality and expression.

Application to Picking Technique:

• Fluidity and Speed: Your picking technique is smooth and fast. You can effortlessly switch between different picking techniques depending on the musical context.
• Muscle Memory: Your muscle memory is highly developed, meaning your fingers know exactly where to go without much conscious input.
• Focus on Expression: With technical aspects largely handled automatically, you can concentrate on phrasing, dynamics, and emotion in your playing.

Tips:

• Complex Pieces: Challenge yourself with more complex pieces and genres to further hone your skills and maintain your technical proficiency.
• Improvisation: Practice improvising to apply your picking technique creatively and musically.
• Continual Learning: Even in the autonomous stage, there's always room for improvement. Stay curious and keep learning new techniques and musical styles.

By understanding and applying Fitts and Posner's theory to your guitar picking technique, you can better navigate the learning process, stay motivated, and achieve your playing goals more effectively. Remember, progression through these stages takes time and consistent practice, so be patient and persistent!

Chris Brooks