Miguel de Maria -> RE: Question for everyone (Dec. 28 2005 19:03:32)
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Shroomy, I'll try! It's kind of an abstract concept, a metaphor which may not be valid for everyone. But it makes a lot of sense to me and it has helped. By the way, I agree with G. about nail shape (not that he needs my agreement! :)). I recently started "ramping" and it has contributed to more ease. Shroomy, try to look at the string in a different light, not as an obstacle or a wire that must be fought, but as a simple, light piece of nylon that just needs to be displaced, or moved. As an experiment, brush the string with your i finger. When I say brush, pretend the tip of the finger is like the tip of a brush--flexible, soft. There is almost no force involved. (as an aside, you will probably firm the fingertip later, much later). It is also sort of like a scrape, but to me it is much more brush. If brush doesn't work, try scrape. In my particular technique, the finger is held almost completely straight. this ends up giving you lots of leverage. Grisha's metaphor about balancing the fingertips on the strings is highly valid as well. If you were walking on the strings, would you have bent legs or straight? The good thing about straight fingers is that a tiny motion at the big knuckle will lead to a larger motion at the end (I think). Anyways, Paco obviously doesn't play exactly this way. It looks like Sabicas and Pepe Romero do, as well as old-school picado flamenco players. Brushing also works for rasgueados. Say, a downward p stroke. Don't strike the guitar aggressively. Pull or drag the thumb across the strings very lightly as if you were playing the harp. That is the motion. Now once you get a little control, you actually want to pull it with a little snap. There is not really more force, just more speed. That speed of course requires more force and will naturally push the strings lower. But if you keep the idea of brushing, it helps marshall what force you need economically. But the picado and rasgueado are really the same idea, to me. A brush, the fingertips rolling, not being clawed or poked. Think of how a harp player looks...so gentle and relaxed, as they brush the fingertips. I think this is a good way to start. On the other hand, combine this with daily Scott Tennant speedbursts and string crossings, starting with 5 minutes and build to 15 or more. Eventually the stacatto feeling will integrate with the brushing, and you will be in business. I practicing string crossing for several minutes each day, and speed bursts for about 10. I also play a lot of licks and jam once a week at my gig for 3 hours (rumbas mostly). Once you get the feeling that the string is rolling effortlessly off the fingertips, you can experiment with stiffening it and getting more volume. Playing "up" really is a metaphor for using efficiency. These strings are light and do not have to be forced. So much of our effort and strength is wasted unless we find a highly economical way of playing. If we are not using our resources most efficiently, no way can we play a demanding technique like picado at 144 bpm sixteenths or more. I hope this helps....keep asking questions if you have any!
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