left hand fingers distance from fretboard

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

left hand fingers distance from fret...

so i've been reading "pumping nylon" and he suggests that the fingers should move no more than half an inch to an inch away from the fretboard when you play.

i find this impossible to do. my pinky moves up to one and a half to two inches when i play.

try a 1,2,4 slur on the sixth string. how much does your pinky move when you go back to the 1st or 2nd finger?

is this a problem i have to worry about? am i being non-economical? is scott tenant crazy?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2009 15:32:06

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to at_leo_87)

economy is the key to health and speed. work on it.

_____________________________

[signature][/signature]

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2009 17:55:38

omega0684

Posts: 41
Joined: Nov. 5 2008

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to at_leo_87)

how long have you been playing? i have only been playing for a few months and find it very difficult to do but my finger position is better now than it was when i started, so hopefully in a few more months it will be natural. it just comes with experience and practice i guess.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2009 3:31:18

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to at_leo_87)

10-12 years. Haven't counted in a while, its at least 10.

it is important to use the minimal amount of energy. keep your hand from clenching etc

_____________________________

[signature][/signature]

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2009 3:43:23

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to at_leo_87)

you see, my left hand doesn't "feel" like it's slow or tense. and at this point, it's my right hand that cant keep up.

but when i look at it, i see the fingers moving more than the recommended amount by the book. only by a bit. i never gave it much thought until now.

i'm just concerned it'll be harder to fix in the future, if it actually does cause a problem or hindrance.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2009 23:55:23

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to at_leo_87)

About the 1-2-4 slur.. watch Nunez' Encuentro. His pinky flies there too. I think its the sound that matters. If you really think you sound bad, then there are different possibilities which could be the reason.
I would also be curious what the advanced players here have to say on that.

_____________________________

Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2009 2:02:50

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to XXX)

the reason for that is a totally different mechanism.

and no, it is an anatomical thing and a mechanical thing. organic mechanisms wear out, all mechanisms do, the way to maximize efficiency and speed with minimal wear is the least amout of travel and the least possible effort.

its not about sound, distance to fretboard has nothign to do with sound. actually the momentum generated from being farther away would pull the strings sharp. so if you are concerned about sound, best bet is to be closer to the strings.

for hammer ons, it makes sense to come from farther off the board because you have to generate the sound with your left hand only.

_____________________________

[signature][/signature]

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2009 15:54:43

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to XXX)

quote:

About the 1-2-4 slur.. watch Nunez' Encuentro. His pinky flies there too.

i dont have that video but his videos on youtube clearly shows how his pinky and other fingers fly around a lot, definitely more than an inch away from the fretboard. watching other pros, their hands move around a lot too.

it actually feels awkward to keep the fingers so close. when playing certain chords, some fingers just seem to WANT to move out of the way. but i dont know if it's the way i conditioned my fingers to move or because it's just what the hand naturally wants to do.

quote:

and no, it is an anatomical thing and a mechanical thing. organic mechanisms wear out, all mechanisms do, the way to maximize efficiency and speed with minimal wear is the least amout of travel and the least possible effort.

to counter that, i could say that the extra movements provide momentum which makes things easier and requires less effort/force and therefore less strain/tension/wear. you can create a lot of power with little effort. think of using momentum to lift heavy weights. or winding up to swing a bat or to punch.
BUT, what you say makes sense too.

so what i'm trying to figure out is, which way is right?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2009 3:31:05

Munin

Posts: 595
Joined: Sep. 30 2008
From: Hong Kong

RE: left hand fingers distance from ... (in reply to at_leo_87)

I'm pretty sure all pros advocate using as little finger movement as possible.

However, if I were to constantly focus on that, I'd never get to, you know, actually play the guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2009 5:53:06