srshea -> RE: Cure for bad habit? (Oct. 14 2012 21:12:21)
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Well, in the takes-all-kinds department, when I had my first lesson my teacher, who’s an old professional, gave me the exact opposite instructions![:D] I went in with the habit of having my fingers desperately mashed against the soundboard, and he told me to lightly rest those free fingers on the first string. But what he stressed was the LIGHTLY, and I think that’s really the most important thing. Your right hand should be relaxed, poised, and easily mobile, and so long as you’re not creating a bunch of unwanted tension by keeping your fingers planted, and so long as it’s not hampering you in the performance of other techniques, I think the old “whatever works” rule is the one to follow. I just finished up practicing and I observed what I do with the right hand during pulgar passages. I tend to keep the index lightly touching the first string and the other fingers lightly touching the guitar top. So I guess I’ve settled into something that falls between what I was doing before and after the “correction,” but I remain mindful of the importance of having those fingers lightly, not heavily planted. Works for me. The fingers resting on the top provide a little stability and the middle and ring are ready to come up and drop down for golpes. The index is set up for P-I stuff or an upstroke when I need it.
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