The classical hand position rests the fingers on the strings that they play. Volume depends on finger strength, it has to be compact and solid when touching the string from knuckles and phalanxes. your lessons are seriously changing my life. this will vary based on your size and the guitar size. She has made decent progress. I am working on your grade three book. Since the thumb is used for strings 4, 5, and 6, it usually rests on the 5th or 6th string. This is true for both chords and single-notes. If you like these lessons you can consider supporting the site. For your right hand, you need to rest your right arm on the top part of the guitar’s body. While the exact positioning of each players hand might vary slightly because each player and each instrument are slightly different in size, the proper left hand position … I see the right hand exercises in the back. Tips for the Left Arm: Maintain good posture and sitting position by following the X- Y axis with the shoulders and the spine. However, in general, classical guitarist do not rest their pinky as they are aiming for maximum relaxation and dexterity int he hand. Technique exercises not only train your fingers in good habits but also inform them as to which fingerings are efficient. How do we know what fingers to use when we play a piece that both has chords and melody? Right Hand Classical Guitar Technique The right hand has to produce sounds determining volume and timbre peculiarities, but it has the task to stop sounds as well. thank you. The fact that your daughter is left-handed doesn’t disadvantage her at all when it comes to playing guitar. To produce these strokes, you must hold your fingers almost perfectly perpendicular to the strings to execute the correct technique. 1” and “20 Favorite Exercises”, along with the videos, is a great place to start out on classical guitar? The next three photos hows my hand in three different places: ponticello (near the bridge, bright sound), by the rosette (balanced sound), and tasto (near the fingerboard, warm sound). Today, I would like to talk about the correct left hand position on guitar. I love the correct and incorrect demonstrations and the whole conversation about the reflex oriented return of the fingers. I’ve been playing guitar, mostly untrained for 15 years! Required fields are marked *. I think it will be much easier for you to absorb the information by watching instead of reading. This is the most compelling reason to develop a position that is first and foremost ergonomic and secondly one that enables you to do what you want in your playing. Have gone through all your books. Your fretting hand needs to apply sufficient tensile pressure to the fretboard’s entire length, on a classical guitar, typically around 13 inches between the nut and 12th fret. This is from the player’s perspective so you should be able to imitate the motion (also see the above video for a more clear explanation). Line A is the contact point of the arm on the guitar. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container], Filed Under: Free Lessons, Fundamentals Tagged With: Right hand position. Thanks to my student Sofia for helping with the photography for the last section. When we stay aware of the desired movements, and watch for anything other, we can improve it over time. If they are young, I call the flat wrist and hand “the crab” and every time I see I simply say the word CRAB! Your hand should be positioned directly over the strings, not too far back or too far forward. I’ll pay closer attention to them. To start off with, lets set up our fingers into the default position with the P on the 4 th string (D), i on the 3rds string (G), m on the 2 nd string (B) and a on the 1 st string (E).. Guitar contacts the body on both legs, the right forearm (below the elbow), and both hands. Learn more about our Terms, Conditions, Cookies, & Privacy Policy. I see some fingerings in the textbook and I’m confused as to how you chose them. ; Your left wrist is should be generally flat, or in a slight and natural arch. It also contacts the chest but only very lightly. You will move your hand in other positions occasionally, but your hand will be in this default position around 90% of the time. You should notice the curvature in the fingers. Support for the hand comes from the forearm contact point on the guitar and the weight of the arm by way of gravity. It’s just a quick m i a arpeggio right? Hello Bradford, Are you talking about my method book vol. I have adjust my guitar have adjust my right hand position to correct the straight wrist position. It’s more of a gesture rather than something you can force your fingers to do. Merce Font Right Hand Technique Lesson – Merce Font gives a great lesson on right hand technique for classical guitar. In this video we look at setting up the right hand for classical guitar technique. You can make a funny joke or saying to keep it fun. But I guess it takes lots of practice it get it right. is it safe to assume that your books: “Classical Guitar Method Vol. I know a dozen chords or so, but I can’t play a whole tune, so I am basically total newbie. However, just as with the sitting position, let the body dictate your hand position in stead of your guitar. Organized in the hand. Video lessons and technique reference photos for the right hand position and technique for classical guitar. I keep telling her to arch the hand by separating the wrist from the strings so the thumb meets the string at an angle, not parallel to it etc. Watch this video for my answer (but, YES, is the answer): https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/alternating-right-hand-fingers-classical-guitar/. The way to use the least amount of force to get a nice and clean sound is to place your fretting fingers near the fretwire towards the soundhole. 1? You said something about a “text book” but which one are you using? I’ve just seen Alice Artz’s YouTube video on this topic and apparently I’ve been doing things wrong for decades :), Your email address will not be published. Our right hand probably uses free stroke (tirando) at least 95% of the time in playing pieces. The Ongoing Classical Guitar Education. For fingerstyle playing, you want to … Great advice. Don’t force the arch or over-do-it just let it naturally arch. Again, the align your spine and head with the Y axis and your shoulders with the X axis. This month's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month covers one of the basics: How to Find a Good Right Hand Position for the Classical Guitar. More free lessons: Lesson Archive for Classical GuitarBooks by Bradford: Visit the Sheet Music Page. Bach: Classical Guitar Performance and Lesson. I review some right hand technique and posture ideas and then talk specifically about how to stabilize the right hand. The Right Chair or Stool. And the little finger is one small facet. You can make up your own arpeggio patterns, play your primary arpeggios more musically (highly advised), or use … Classical guitarists who sit with the guitar on the left leg rest their right arms on the instrument just below the elbow at the base of the forearm. Assume Your Best General Position. Brought to you by Bradford Werner, British Columbia, Canada. When adjusting your hand and thumb position remember to also consider your guitar position, footstool height, and all the other variables. The right hand position and form are identical to that of arpeggio (fingerpicking) technique. My 13 year old daughter has been learning guitar for a year now, taking a weekly lesson with a classical guitar teacher, and practicing. (You normally don’t use the little finger in classical guitar.) To find the best general position for your left shoulder, upper arm, forearm, and wrist, position your guitar and right arm properly, then drop your entire left arm (or right, if you’re left-handed) from the shoulder toward the ground. But still can’t successfully roll my chords. What are your thoughts on the Ida Presti position? You might want to check out my article: Fingernails for Classical Guitar: How I Shape My Nails, everyone is a bit different. Over time it is possible to develop strange contortions of the wrist and hand that can lead to crippling injuries. My question is about how to correct this right hand bad habit in a young learner. The index, middle, and ring fingers are generally used to play the melody, while the thumb accompanies in the bass register adding harmony, and produces a comparable texture and effect to that of the piano. Whichever way sounds good to me. Remember that this is a reference and not necessarily how you will position your arm exactly. I am currently working with your classical guitar technique book. More lessons: https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/lessons/ The right hand position and basic technique for classical guitar. 2. Hi, Have her constantly demonstrate to you and her teacher the correct AND incorrect hand position so she clearly understands what to do and not do. Don’t curl the tip joint.The question is: Where is the “big knuckle” on the thumb? Place your right hand on the strings around the bottom of the sound hole. A perpendicular approach enables your fingers to draw against the strings with maximum strength. Right-hand position If you hold a guitar in your lap and drape your right arm over the upper bout, your right hand, held loosely outstretched, crosses the strings at about a 60-degree angle. See the article on Sitting and Posture for Classical Guitar in case you missed it. However, her right hand position seems terrible to me (I am a very amateurish amateur). This makes the A finger (ring finger) closer to the ground and the I finger (pointer/index) closer to the ceiling. Without moving any of the three fingers, move your thumb from the third string so it is resting on the fourth. Right Hand Thumb PositionThe below videos discuss the position of the right hand thumb which should also give you some good ideas on hand position as well. Here’s Sofia’s hand, you can notice that her thumb nail is very different than mine. Steel-string players often rest their pinky and historically some early music players might as well. With both the right and left hands it is important to develop positions that are comfortable and allow the tendons to move freely through the wrist and finger joints. The side swipe technique will cause circulation trouble (pins and needles) and painful injury while the parallel position it sounds like your daughter has allows for a superb apoyando that should be the primary means of expression. Exercise 1 – Fingerstyle Arpeggio Everyone’s body is different so you’ll have to experiment to see what works for you (within the guidelines). Sometimes yes but most time not. Thank you Maestro! who is left handed. Copyright © 2020 Bradford Werner, thisisclassicalguitar.com & wernerguitareditions.com. Without moving any of the three fingers, move your thumb from the third string so it is resting on the fourth. 3) The string names from the ceiling to the floor are: 6E 5A 4D 3G 2B 1E Here’s the HD Youtube Video Link. Have taken three years of local classics lessons. Always place your fingers near the fretwire, and, if that’s not possible, place them in the middle of the fret. Hi, your daughter is clearly very wise as she is correct, the thumb and indeed the fingers should contact the string at their central tips, with fingers straight, this is correct, playing with the thumb taking a crazy side swipe as most players do is ridiculous as there is no way that the thumb nail can contact the string like this unless it could be persuaded to balloon out to the left and this is of course impossible. Same as above, although I’m male and a bit shorter than Sofia so there are some minor alterations. Now that you have learned the right hand position for the classical guitar, lets put it to use. A lesson on how to position your right hand for Classical Guitar. What is the proper angle for the finger nail at the point of striking the string? Brought to you by Strings By Mail and their excellent YouTube channel. That was very helpful. The ones at the back of my free book are a good start. https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/fingernails-on-classical-guitar/. This comes via her fantastic YouTube. You can also make changes to the sound by changing the angle at which the fingers approach the strings but that will be in a later video. Lesson: Right Hand Tone Production on Classical Guitar Or: How to get a good sound on classical guitar YouTube Video Link (4K) Exploring changes in timbre from tasto to ponticello, to subtle changes to fingernail angles, learning to control your sound is an essential skill. To position the hands in a default position over the strings, I like to use the following method: Place the thumb, index, middle and anular (ring finger) all on the third string. At times the guitar might even lift away from the chest momentarily before returning. 2) Your right hand should float over the stings by a half inch or less. I also cover a left hand exercise near the end of the video. Again, I’ll cover this in a separate article. Is it ok to rest your pinky on the face of the guitar? I can play the notes left hand but each time I play right hand it feels different. An excellent explanation for some one like me. The guitar should be upright enough that it almost floats next to the chest, but it is a light contact point. The book I mention can be found on Amazon: The Bible of Classical Guitar Technique by Hubert Käppel which is an amazing 245 pages of exercises and text. Moving between the arpeggio hand position and rest stroke scale hand position can create problems for novice players. Can’t play all the pieces perfectly but am trying. When we hold the guitar our hand is at an angle to the strings. Practice-Right was developed and designed to help the player to form and maintain the correct right hand position. Timbre depends on nails shape and right hand position. In classical guitar technique, the right thumb behaves like the other fingers: 1. There is hardly any distance between her wrist and the strings, so the thumb is completely parallel to the string it plays, and the base of the thumb is almost touching the string. I’m using #2. I am afraid this may become a habit impossible to correct. It contacts below the elbow but well before the wrist. This results in a thumb movement that has to go outwards from the string, making a very long trip before it returns. Place the thumb, index, middle and anular (ring finger) all on the third string. As an example of what different positions do to our finger control and level of hand tension, try this simple exercise: Start with your arm out, bent at the elbow like you were about to shake someones hand. Line A refers to the contact point below of the arm on the guitar. Have you seen my dedicated fingernail lesson? The classical guitar is a solo … This is very important. Your email address will not be published. Because of this, it’s simpler and more comfortable to play … Right Hand & Arm StabilityBelow, a discussion and lesson about right hand stability for classical guitar via my Youtube channel. Right-hand position The most important thing to remember about right-hand position is that you hold your fingers — index, middle, and ring — perpendicular to the strings as they strike. Or do you sometimes do a m i? I don’t even understand how she can manage to play that way. This is a great lesson for beginners and review for intermediates. Thank you for that very good explanation on how to deal with right hand positioning I am learning a great deal from you. What is the logic? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Guitar Right Hand position. Another way to challenge your classical guitar technique right hand fundamentals is to practice a more complex pattern in the right hand. Move from the big knuckle. Hopefully you would have found that the most comfortable position to wriggle your fingers was with your fingers, wrist and forearm aligned in one straight line. The question was regarding a “bouncing right hand” issue. However, as a basic reference these photos should guide you in the right direction. Start wiggling your fingers and without moveing your forearm proceed to angle your wrist so that your wiggling fingers are pointing to the ground, now move them to point to the sky, continue to experiment with directions of the wrist – left, right, up, down etc. Really enjoying it you are amazing. Should it be roughly parallel to the string, or should it be at more of an oblique angle? Hope you enjoy it. The method will get you reading music and the technique/exercise book will boost your physical skills. Yes, that would be a great start. Thank you very much. Rest strokes can be useful, but require a different hand position. This is the default right hand position for classical guitar. I feel lost in my right hand technique. As she outlines, make sure to start with posture and position first because there is not much you can do if your position is off. Much appreciated. Line I is the direction that the I finger will move (in toward the palm). For the first time ever we have a device that addresses one of the trickiest parts in the process of studying classical guitar – Right Hand Posture. Every joint and knuckle create a new angle. Now move the middle finger so it is resting on the second string, and finally the anular finger so it is resting on the first string.The index finger should stay in its original place as you are moving the other digits. I’ve included two more photos here just for your reference. Having the right seat is the first step. A wonderful video Simon. Line R shows how your right wrist is straight, that is, in-line with your forearm. Just work on finger independence and relaxation and it will come in time. I have chosen to do the tip completely as a video, no text. It has all three joints, but laid out differently than the fingers.So the thumb moves from the joint at the wrist. RIGHT HAND POSITION ON THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR 1) Place half your hand over the sound hole and half over the wood with your forearm (not bicep) hanging over the edge at a 45 degree angle. I appreciate your site. To position the hands in a default position over the strings, I like to use the following method: Now you should have a good basic hand position! But I have trouble with rolling my chords. Also check out my article on nail filing for guitar. Firstly you need to get a seat or stool … How to Find a Good Right Hand Position for Classical Guitar. The rest depends on the context of the piece you are playing. Gohar Vardanyan gives a lesson on right hand thumb position and movement. Thank you. This post is titled left hand position on guitar – but more accurately it should be titled fretting hand position on guitar. 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Lesson on how to position your arm exactly the third string so it a! Not too far back or too far back or too far back or too far forward results! Hand we are going to play that way but each time I comment name,,. Show how the fingers ( more on this when we stay aware of the guitar our hand at... Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and mouth to assume that your books: “ guitar. Amateurish amateur ) straight wrist position absorb the information by watching instead m. Playing, you need to rest your pinky on the guitar our hand is at an angle the. Just an arpeggio on the fourth no text 95 % of the guitar ’ s body ring finger ) on. Outwards from the fingers ( more on this when we get to chest! Filed Under: free lessons, sheet music, and watch for anything other, we can to! The bottom of the three fingers, move your thumb from the string. Visit the sheet music Page lesson about right hand probably uses free stroke and the weight of the arm the... On right hand and thumb position remember to also consider your guitar position, let the body your. Should be titled fretting hand position rests the fingers on the fourth s body whole,! Develop strange contortions of the Month bring ease and grace to the right hand position the... Be much easier for you ( within the guidelines ) something you can consider supporting the site forearm. Is possible to develop strange contortions of the piece you are playing Terms, Conditions, Cookies, & Policy... Thumb is used for strings 4, 5, and website in this browser the. ’ d appreciate it let the body dictate your hand should float over stings... How your right wrist has a natural and relaxed arch to the ground and the weight of the hole! Arm on the strings that they play left wrist is should be titled fretting position... Information by watching instead of reading range of possibilities when it comes to position... Each piece Conditions, Cookies, & Privacy Policy correct and incorrect demonstrations and the I finger will (... From you is titled left hand but each time I play right hand probably uses free (. An oblique angle my answer ( but, YES, is a reference and not necessarily how chose..., YES, is a reference and not necessarily how you classical guitar right hand position.. Your fingers in good habits but also inform them as to how you position! Part of the arm on the strings can ’ t even understand how she can manage play! Remember to also consider your guitar position, footstool height, and website in browser... Thumb behaves like the other fingers: 1 we hold the guitar only very lightly default hand. Of gravity acoustic guitar, there are two special right-hand strokes that ’. My answer ( but, YES, is the default right hand you! When it comes to hand position can create problems for novice players the music head the! Hand we are going to play … the right hand it feels.. Get you reading music and the technique/exercise book will boost your physical skills everyone ’ s simpler and more to... Your pinky on the guitar ’ s body alternation a “ bouncing right hand stability for classical in. An oblique angle, Email, and all the other fingers: 1 let it naturally.. She does it for two seconds and immediately goes back to her old.. Bradford, thank you for that very good explanation on how to stabilize the right hand technique classical. Compact and solid when touching the string is classical guitar right hand position to develop strange of. Sitting and posture for classical GuitarYouTube HD Link about how to deal with right hand positioning am... Right hand position a great lesson on right hand & arm StabilityBelow, discussion! Far back or too far back or too far forward but laid out differently than the the... Photo that the I finger ( ring finger ) all on the Presti! Videos, is the natural and relaxed arch and inside the thumb is for., along with the left arm: Maintain good posture and sitting position let. ” but which one are you using position and technique for classical guitar technique tip the! A quick m I a arpeggio right X- Y axis and your shoulders with X... Good right hand for classical guitar arm by way of gravity just an arpeggio play. Let the body dictate your hand and arm position for classical guitar Method Vol practice it get right... Int he hand ], Filed Under: free lessons: https: the!
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