Classical Guitar Technique: The term "technique" refers to how your fingers, hands, and body move and function to produce notes on the guitar. Because the musical textures and patterns are different in classical guitar than they are in most other styles of music, the technique used to play the music is also different.
Except for minor differences in positioning and grip, the left hand works primarily the same way in all guitar styles. Right hand technique, however, varies greatly. Rock, blues, and country guitarists generally use a "pick" to pluck the strings with the right hand. Classical guitarists invariably use their right hand fingertips to pluck the strings. Virtually every proficient classical guitarist today also uses long fingernails on the right hand as individual "picks" to pluck the strings. Most guitarists who have only a casual interest in classical guitar don't like to grow out right hand fingernails, and this works fine in the beginning. If you do develop a more serious interest in the instrument, however, you will want to learn how to properly develop right hand technique for effective use of the fingernails. Nail care and grooming is a serious issue for professional classical guitarists. Nails produce a louder, and generally accepted "better" sound than the flesh of the finger tips. They also make fingerstyle guitar playing (playing without a pick) MUCH easier. If you really want to learn how to play classical guitar, it is worth the effort to grow out your right hand fingernails. File your nails with the "diamond dust" type files that are available at most pharmacies. Don't use crosscut metal files - they create a rough surface on the nail. File your nails so that there are no corners or rough edges. You may want to experiment with different lengths and shapes. Every player has a unique way of shaping nails for his/her particular technique. Just make sure that there are no nicks, points, or grooves that catch or click on the string. Most players use fingernailsthat extend 1/32 to 1/8 of an inch above the fingertip.
Seating Position And Basic Movements: Most classical guitarists sit down and use a footstool under the left leg when performing. This position is considered to be the most efficient for the arms, hands, and fingers in executing the movements required in classical guitar playing. Below are some guidelines which most performers use to establish a comfortable, effective traditional seating position: Sit on the corner of an armless chair, and lean slightly forward with your back straight. Lay the guitar perpendicularly across your left leg, with the tuning pegs to your left. Contact the guitar at four points: the top of your left leg, the inside of your right leg, your chest, and the inside of your right forearm (lay your forearm on top of the large curve of the guitar). You should not have to hold the guitar with your left hand to keep it in place. See the illustration below: (PICTURE) With the guitar in this position, slide your left hand up and down the length of the fretboard. If you need to adjust your shoulder or if you need to move your elbow, then adjust the distance and angle of the guitar to your body until your hand can reach every spot on the guitar neck comfortably, without adjusting your position. This is a key element in efficient left hand technique. Keep your feet flat on the floor, and avoid any extreme positions which strain a particular group of muscles or joints. In general, try to keep your joints comfortably alligned, and keep your muscles within the midrange of their movement. Avoid undo tension, as this creates fatigue and can distract your concentration from the music. Many players like to practice in a less rigorous position, with the guitar resting on crossed legs or in some other comfortable position. This can be effective, especially for beginners who have enough to concentrate on just finding and playing notes in rhythm. As you become a more serious player, however, it is helpful to evaluate and eliminate the ways in which your position restricts movement in your hands and body.
Rest Stroke and Free Stroke:
Classical guitarists distinguish between two different ways of plucking the strings with the right hand. The "rest stroke" is a movement in which a right hand finger plucks a note by pressing DOWN INTO the string, and then coming to REST on the adjacent string. The follow through motion and support of the rest stroke movement allows you play more loudly than you can with other movements. Rest strokes are used to bring out scalar passages and single notes that need more "punch". The "free stroke" is the antithesis of a rest stroke. To perform a free stroke, pluck the string with one of your fingers and PULL AWAY from the guitar, so that it swings away freely. This type of movement is used for the majority of situations in classical guitar playing. You should expect to use free strokes any time two or more strings are played together, and for most spots that don't require particular emphasis. As with most of the finer elements of classical guitar tradition, casual performers don't give too much attention to free strokes and rest strokes. As you become a more proficient performer, however, your ability to use, control, and combine these two types of movements will bare a great deal on your musically expressive potential. Experiment with them in the beginning, and you will become comfortable and more aware of their effect as you progress. |
