Sliding hand to find note

lincolnblue

I have noticed something that most guitarists do - I even do it without realising it I think. When playing lead, between phrases, many guitarists slide their hand to the top of the neck (to the headstock) and back down to the note they want. I imagine it's an unconscious thing but anyone know why people do it? Is it to find the right note or is it just an unnecessary habit? (e.g. 2.29 on this video) 

Ché

It's the equivalent of a saxophonist taking a breath.

It also allows the first note to be played as glissando if needed.

paul_c2

I think its just a thing to "get your bearings" on where your hand is along the fretboard. Since its done in a silence and doesn't really decrease efficiency, but does increase accuracy, I can't see a downside to it. It would be worse, for example, if you developed a dependency on seeing the fret dots.

TheBlueWolf

It's a habit I've picked up over the years. It's mostly a glissando thing for me.