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I was slightly changing my RH position doing picado. I'm playing a bit closer to the strings now and it seems ok. It's a slight adjustment but in the guitar world it's a huge difference. I was wondering if I should continue this way. Never had any problems before but I think for string crossings i think it's better. Do you hear any difference in tone? I was curious about this. Thanks.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
quote:
ORIGINAL: jg7238 I was slightly changing my RH position doing picado. I'm playing a bit closer to the strings now and it seems ok. It's a slight adjustment but in the guitar world it's a huge difference. I was wondering if I should continue this way. Never had any problems before
Personally, I would look at that last sentence and question why change? You have an excellent picado, a really well functioning mechanism. I think you have to be very careful pushing things and making adjustments when the mechanics work so well, especially in a technique which is so fast and finely tuned. Tiny things can upset the balance with dramatic (negative) effects.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
Your picado was allready sounding great, so every (minor)adjustment you think that'll Improve it even more... all I can say try and see if it feels and sounds ok? I wish my picado sounded as good as yours!!!
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
quote:
Do you hear any difference in tone?
Well, I can't hear the TV in the background, so that's throwing me off a little.
I'm not sure how reliable my memory is of your earlier picado videos. That said, my impression is that your picado in this video is cleaner in execution.
But, yeah, I agree with Ramzi that putting up two videos would make the comparison a little easier.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
Juan, In my opinion your picado technique is wonderful as it is. Whereas I have changed hand positions etc in the past, in your case, due to your already highly developed picado technique(from which you get a great sound as well as speed), I would be careful when considering a change. I have heard a horror story or 2 of people developing focal dystonia after attempting complete technique overhauls. Whereas the causes of FD can rarely be empirically determined, there is enough anecdotal evidence to avoid a big change. I could be wrong on this, it is just an opinion but I think your technique is already top class. I would prefer to see you writing more stuff so I can listen to it
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to JohnWalshGuitar)
quote:
ORIGINAL: JohnWalshGuitar I have heard a horror story or 2 of people developing focal dystonia after attempting complete technique overhauls.
Yes, that's exactly what I was alluding to above, interesting you have come across folk too. I'd say its more than anecdotal, I have read it in papers on the subject (one of several common precursors to FD).
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to Blondie#2)
Interesting Blondie, I mean in my experience the only evidence is anecdotal. I would like to read some of the papers you speak about if you have access to them. I have a good friend who was a fantastic classical guitarist whose right hand got crippled from FD. Still no idea what the cause was and still no improvement or long term prognosis. Very sad
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to JohnWalshGuitar)
John I suggest your friend joins the Facebook group, massive source of help, information, advice and swapping of information about retraining, different approaches, plus discussion on some of the big names in FD who have had much success helping people retrain/recover (like Joaquin Farias).
A bit chaotic in trying to find stuff (no search facility like a website forum) but your friend might learn a few things.
Its certainly possible to recover - my hand was screwed through FD also but after many years of frustration I finally worked out what I had to do, took me a couple of years to fix it and I went on to pass my grade 8 in classical guitar.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to rombsix)
I really appreciate all the replies. @Ramzi: I will definitely post both ways either tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for commenting. @Blondie#2: I'm just trying to search for more comfort on certain passages and it seems that by playing closer to the strings just a tiny bit it gives me the results that I want. But at the same time I don't want to sacrifice tone and possibly power.@Koenie17: Thanks for your comment.:) @machopicasso: Like I mentioned to Ramzi, I will post the two versions soon. @JohnWalsh: Thanks for chiming in. Now you have me thinking there. For a brief moment, I felt something funny on the top part of the hand(RH) but thankfully it went away. Maybe I should think twice about readjusting. Thanks again John. @Todd: I tend to agree with you regarding the loss of some power but I think I was just trying not to play too loudly. The change is that my RH is a little closer to the strings. You can say the wrist is more flat. Oh well, maybe I'm just getting now too obsessed with this. I appreciate your comment Todd. I'll see how it goes.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
If I were were going try to be a guitarist I would be looking at your right hand as a relaxed example of a really fine picado.
One problem I have with a lot of guitarists who have monster picado is that it's simply not musical due to being pushed too hard. I think this is a major mistake. Yours is musical.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
Juan,
I don't know about the difference in your technique, but as others have said your picado sounds great. Are there any tips you can share to help somebody like myself develop a better picado technique? It looks like you hold your guitar like Paco Pena, are you using a Gitano support or something like that? I have been thinking about changing to that position from using a foot rest.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to estebanana)
Thanks Stephen. Thank you Cervantes. I believe my right foot was on the chair rest so I put the guitar on my right thigh and it seems that way. I think playing a scale with IM for example, starting with I stop the note immediately with M, then M, stop with I, etc..... (Using staccatto). Take a look at this.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
Hey Juan, Atrafana is great at speed bursts but so are you man.
Here is an exercise exploring a few different ideas that you might enjoy. Sorry you can't see my RH and it is dark and all. It is kinda the opposite of speed bursts. But I don't have any advice on RH postition or on speed as I think you know more about them than I do.
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to ToddK)
quote:
Atrafana's channel is great, with tons of great tutorials.
He's a great player and teacher. I often use his videos to learn material.
Absolutely. That's why I used his video. I hope he didn't mind.
Thanks Dave for the upload. Interesting. I'll check it out.
Ok, here are some comparisons with the RH position again. My hands were really cold and I was not warmed up. I think I'm gonna stick to the old way of playing. No sense in really changing. I think I'm gonna follow your advice Todd. In the first part of the video I want to change to the new position somewhere in between which is why you hear a slight break in the flow...
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to jg7238)
ola juan i think great suggestions from john walsh work on compositions when i hear ou play picado the guitar goes back in the corner- you just astonish me with your playing maybe you can check out the players you admire and pick up a few simple things ? i.e see a few youtube vids - but I'm sure the will be in envy of u.
maybe one thing - extend the right arm reach over to tv and turn volume down as you record- we gotta hear you a little better
RE: Experimenting with the RH positi... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
quote:
Juan, is the change that you are lifting your elbow higher and trying to get more of a straight line in your wrist?
Not really Miguel. I was trying to place my hand a bit closer to the strings. You are partially correct as far as the wrist being more straight. I guess I was just experimenting but I'm not going to take that chance especially after John's very interesting post. @Minorthang: About the TV, again I will turn it down next time. I know a few members have made some comments about the TV including Grisha. Sometimes I just forget. Oh well...
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