Don't lift fingers too high from the fretboard

The two things that Martin Simpson emphasises in his workshops for improving tone and speed are:

1. When sounding notes the fretting finger should be as close to the fret as possible, almost on top of it, rather than in between two frets, (like in the picture, although I feel he could get even closer to that fret)- and:

2. Fingers shouldn't have to travel too far down or up.

For myself number 2 is something I must improve. My fingers often move up an inch or so above the string when not fretting. This is especially true of the little finger which seems to have a mind of it's own. It apparently wishes to remove itself as far from the fray as possible when not actively employed. This must have a detrimental effect on speed and accuracy so I must look to improve which can only mean a program of practice.

These are motor skills of course and can only be drummed in by repeated performance. Some guitar skills are quick and easy to learn, perhaps because they utilise already known motor movements- some take considerably longer. I have the distinct feeling that this will take time as I have to unlearn all the years that I have been doing it wrong- a not inconsiderable length of time. It is at these moments that I bewail the fact that I wasn't formally taught as perhaps some of my bad habits would have been weeded out earlier