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Hello anybody, Ive been watching flamenco players on dvd I notice that there elbow joint (brachial area) appear to be resting on the top back end of the guitar, Its possible because of the years of electric playing that this feels unatural and forces my wrist to bend, which I think from what Ive read is wrong. Should this joint be touching the topback end of the guitar except for picados, or are those crazy shirts Paco De Lucia wears on stage causing an optical illusion?
While Im at it, during picado runs is there a correct side of the fingers to use, for example, using slighly more of the right side of the fingers, or should the attack be midline, any thoughts.
Nando, what you will find is that there are few, if any rules. It is a rare guitarist indeed who does not bend their wrist to some degree. Some guitarists play with the left side of their fingertips, others with the middle, and rarely, the right.
Some guitarists play with the left side of their fingertips, others with the middle, and rarely, the right.
Mike;
Playing with the left side of the fingernails of the right had requires what to me is an awkward and potentially dangerous wrist position that could lead to injury of the right wrist. I am one of those guitarists that uses the right side of the fingernails which allows me to use a neutral wrist position.
Several people have asked me how I could play flamenco guitar for over forty-five years and not have wrist problems? Attention to detail helps and whatever it takes to avoid pain is at the root of my methodology. If playing guitar hurts some part of the body you must stop and evaluate what you are doing before you develop a serious injury.
It really helps to have a good teacher who sets you off in the right direction early on. Trying to change habits that are bad can be difficult. If you do not have a teacher then obtain videos of flamenco technique and emulate them. If possible video tape yourself to see your right hand position and evaluate it. Again, if you experience pain something must be adjusted.
Ive been favoring the right side slightly, althought its hard to tell from videos, thats the impression I get, I dont have a teacher so I have to be carefull of the habits I pick up. Sometimes I read something somewhere and take it to the extreme, like pushing into the top of the guitar during picados, this may be true but until I saw how subtle this is in a video and how soft the stroke is. I guess its all good if you like the struggle which im learning is true about flamenco players,I have yet to meet one. This forum is great for people who are isolated like me. excellent.
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