First I'd like to state some things!
Tech is not the end all be all way of improvement.
Melee is a game of variables in which two opponents pick there options and the one who picked the better option comes out with the more advantageous outcome. All Learning new Tech does is add new variables to choose from in these situations. A lot of new players fall into the trap of practicing new variables without understanding what they are already capable of.
Prior to learning new tech, practice and understand the speed and ranges of all your move set and movement options.
This is exceedingly important for Marth and you should cycle through them
ALL regularly. I would even go as far as to go into training mode and watch the slowed down animations of all your move set.
After understanding your moves you'll have an easier time learning, understanding and implementing new tech into your game.
Helpful advice
Write down a list (Actually write it down) of everything you can't do. Through out the months of playing, add things and cross them off, but only tackle one thing a time.
Study the tech you want to learn prior to practice. Learning things intuitively is ok, but it takes longer and leaves a lot more room for errors. So before dedicating hours into practice make sure your actually practicing right.
Be mindful and deliberate with every input. Do not auto pilot!
When studying the tech you've decided to learn, Take notes! Things you feel will be beneficial to practice and application. Remember if they took time out of there day to write it you should probably take time to write it as well.
BEGINER TECH LIST!
- Wave dash
- Wave lands
- Jump cancel grabs
- Ledge planking (ledge grab, ledge hop, regrab ledge)
- Raising and falling areas
- L canceling
- Short hop
- Fast Fall
- Dash dance
- Fox trot
- Run cancel (crouch during run animation)
- Teching
Notes:
When you air dodge into the ground (wavedash/waveland) you'll be in 10 frames of lag
When you press a jump button, your character squats first. This is Marth jump squat and it lasts 4 frames. When you let go of the jump button during this time you will short hop. This is also your window for the grab input to perform a Jump Cancel grab (JC)
When you grab the ledge you can't move for 7 frames.
Understand that there's different heights of areals. Do a fair as soon as you start your jump. Then jump again and try to do one right before you land. If you press any trigger button 7 frames before landing you will L- Cancle. You can only do this when you are in an areal animation. It will double the speed of your landing animation, effectively halfing your land lag.
You can fast fall by flicking your joy stick down at any time your charecter is descending in the air normal. Something to note is when you are at the apex of your jump find the soonest possible time you can Fast fall (FF)
Know how far you can dash and when you dash turns into run. You can dash dance anytime during your dash animation. NOT RUN.
Teching is complicated... So just remember you have a 20 frame window to press L/R before impacting the ground/wall/ ceiling.
Once you've mastered these (mastered meaning, can do 20/20 times without mess ups & know there practical applications) move on to Out of Shield options and SHFFLing
Remember to do your homework and good luck with Melee! Everyone's glad to have you join the community!