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Recently had a few lessons to try to improve my ragged technique.
The teacher pointed out that I have a "bad habit" of resting the fingers on the soundboard and against the treble strings, when playing appoyando with the thumb. He stressed that the hand should be completely free ( i.e. no resting) for best tone, volume, etc.
I was just watching a video of a well-known contemporary player, and he appeared to be resting his fingers on the soundboard and touching the strings when playing rapid thumb appoyando, similar to what I do. So I'm confused!
Is there more than one "rule of thumb" (sorry) about the thumb appoyando technique? Or is it just a case of 'whatever works for you' , etc.
RE: Resting fingers when playing wit... (in reply to britguy)
I'd like to hear some opinions on this as well because I received conflicting information throughout my lessons with different people.
I think many players rest index or middle finger very lightly on the soundboard, but not with seriously "locking" the hand in place there with a lot of pressure. I see that most of the time. For me it is a bit awkward though because i have quite small hands, and sometimes I get scratching sounds when the middle finger moves around while in this position...one teacher told me that resting on the high E string definitely should not be done though, also because then you're killing the overtones (not sure if that is the right word in this context) you get from the high E string when playing the low E string...something like that?
I think with alzapua it's even more confusing. Some play it with a completely free thumb and others with lightly resting the index or middle finger on the high E string on the upward motion.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Resting fingers when playing wit... (in reply to britguy)
tricky one ... i never really noticed what I am doing and now that I look it made me a bit self conscious so it changed ,,,
I think that most of the time my hand is free , especially when doing the bass note chord --bass note chord.. thing and chord work , but if there is a run in the bass with the thumb then from time to time my first finger will touch the top E , but only from sometimes .. So if there are chords involved , never Single note run ...sometimes ....the E string ,...
I think it is what works best for you ... it wouldnt do any harm to change for a while and see how it goes with you ,....
Posts: 1956
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton
RE: Resting fingers when playing wit... (in reply to El Kiko)
it would be very difficult for me to play with the thumb, without at least my pinky resting somewhere on the guitar, it provides stability, thus more precision on my thumb...if one can do it without resting, very nice, but i find resting much more efficient...
RE: Resting fingers when playing wit... (in reply to britguy)
I can do both, but when I play without thinking of what exactly I'm doing, I find I rest my index or middle (or both) lightly on the first string. Gerardo sticks out his middle finger and nearly touches the top of the guitar below the trebles (at least when he is doing p-p-i technique).
Posts: 407
Joined: May 26 2010
From: Sarpsborg,Norway
RE: Resting fingers when playing wit... (in reply to britguy)
I sometimes rest the hand with my ring-finger and sometimes do not rest, it depends if I want to do golpe or for how long a passage is with the thumb for me.
I say that it is best to strive for good habits, but people are different, and so what is a good or a bad habit will also depend on the person I think.
I have many odd things about my playing because of some very scared tendons and lost fingertips and other damages, but it gets the job done(somewhat)!
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