Lesson: Beginner Right Hand Technique for Classical Guitar
Summary
TLDRThis video lesson focuses on basic right-hand position and technique for classical guitar. The instructor demonstrates natural hand positioning, emphasizing a comfortable wrist arch and moving fingers towards the palm. He highlights common mistakes, such as collapsing the wrist ('the crab') or improper thumb placement. The lesson explains the difference between free stroke and rest stroke and the importance of keeping the hand relaxed while playing. The video also discusses whether the tip joint of the fingers should collapse, noting that opinions vary depending on playing style. Multiple perspectives are provided to enhance understanding.
Takeaways
- 😀 Maintain a comfortable arch in your wrist to avoid strain.
- 👍 Move your fingers towards the palm, like making a fist, instead of moving them outward.
- 🎸 Avoid collapsing your wrist, commonly known as 'the crab' position, for better technique.
- 👌 Ensure that your thumb stays outside of the fingers, not caught between them.
- 🎶 When playing, your hand position should remain consistent whether you're using free strokes or rest strokes.
- 📏 Use the upper knuckle to control finger movement for precision and better technique.
- 🚫 Avoid letting your fingers kick outward; they should always move inward toward the palm.
- 🛑 Don't collapse your knuckles or overly tense your hand; a relaxed position is essential for fluid playing.
- 👀 Understand that whether the tip joint of your fingers should collapse is a debated topic and can vary by technique.
- 🔄 Your wrist and hand position should stay relaxed and consistent, regardless of playing tempo or loudness.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the lesson in the video?
-The main focus of the lesson is to teach proper right-hand position and technique for classical guitar, including the natural hand arch and movement of the fingers toward the palm.
Why is the teacher's head cut off in the video?
-The teacher's head is cut off to provide a closer view of the hand, allowing the viewer to better see the right-hand position and technique.
What is the importance of maintaining a comfortable arch in the wrist?
-A comfortable arch in the wrist helps avoid forcing the wrist too far up or down, ensuring that the hand moves naturally and efficiently while playing.
What is the proper motion for the fingers while playing the guitar?
-The fingers should move inward towards the palm as if making a fist, with the thumb positioned on the outside of the fingers. This motion should come from the upper knuckle.
What is the 'crab' hand position, and why is it incorrect?
-The 'crab' hand position refers to a collapsed wrist with fingers extending outward awkwardly. It is incorrect because it makes it difficult to move the fingers naturally toward the palm and leads to inefficient playing.
How does incorrect wrist positioning affect playing?
-If the wrist is positioned too low, it becomes difficult to move the fingers inward toward the palm, forcing the player to pull the fingers outward, which can create tension and inefficient hand movements.
What is the difference between free strokes and rest strokes in guitar playing?
-A free stroke occurs when you pluck a string and bypass the other strings, while a rest stroke pushes the string inward and rests on the string below it. Both strokes use the same hand position.
Should the tip joint of the finger collapse while playing?
-Opinions on whether the tip joint should collapse vary. Some teachers say it is acceptable to let it collapse, while others disagree. The teacher in the video believes it is okay for the tip joint to collapse during slower tempos or relaxed playing but suggests keeping it firm when playing fast or loud.
How can a student check if their fingers are moving correctly toward the palm?
-A student can place an object like a metronome at the starting point where the fingers touch the string. If the fingers move inward without knocking the object away, the motion is correct. If they kick the object outward, the fingers are moving incorrectly.
What are some common mistakes that students make with thumb positioning?
-Some students place the thumb between the fingers or move it too far in one direction. The correct thumb position is outside the fingers, avoiding interference with finger movement.
Outlines
🎸 Introduction to Right-Hand Position and Perspective
This paragraph introduces the lesson on basic right-hand position and technique for classical guitar. The instructor explains the setup, which includes a demonstration from both a teacher's and player's perspective. The key focus is on maintaining a natural hand arch, moving the fingers towards the palm, and ensuring the thumb stays on the outside of the fingers. The paragraph emphasizes that students should avoid common mistakes, such as bending the wrist too much or collapsing the hand, which can lead to improper playing techniques.
👌 Correcting Common Right-Hand Position Issues
The paragraph highlights common mistakes students make when positioning their right hand, such as the 'crab' hand where the wrist collapses. The instructor emphasizes the importance of maintaining a natural, relaxed wrist arch and moving the fingers inward toward the palm while avoiding bending the fingers outward. The thumb should remain on the outside of the fingers. The paragraph discusses how improper wrist position can affect the ability to play across strings, and provides corrective techniques to avoid such issues, ensuring that the hand stays balanced and functional.
🧭 Differences Between Rest Stroke and Free Stroke
This section explains the difference between rest stroke and free stroke. A free stroke involves plucking the string without touching others, while a rest stroke involves pushing the string inward and resting on the adjacent string. The instructor emphasizes that the basic hand position should remain unchanged between the two strokes. Common errors such as allowing the fingers to collapse or the wrist to flatten during rest strokes are also discussed. The goal is to maintain a relaxed yet functional hand position for both types of strokes.
🤔 Should the Tip Joint Collapse?
In this paragraph, the instructor addresses the controversial topic of whether the tip joint (the knuckle at the fingertip) should collapse while playing. The instructor takes a middle-ground approach, suggesting that it is acceptable for the tip joint to collapse during slow and quiet playing but not during faster or louder playing. The balance between functional tension and relaxation is discussed, with the recommendation that students focus on avoiding excessive bracing of the finger. The instructor acknowledges that different teachers may have varying opinions on this subject.
👁 Player's Perspective on Right-Hand Position
The instructor shifts to a player’s perspective view to demonstrate the same right-hand techniques. Emphasis is placed on the correct wrist arch and finger movement, specifically moving the fingers inward toward the palm, as if making a fist. The paragraph highlights common mistakes such as students yanking fingers outward or misplacing the thumb. The instructor reinforces the need for a relaxed hand position and correct finger movement to ensure proper technique.
🔑 Free Stroke Demonstration and Hand Position Recap
In this final section, the instructor demonstrates free strokes while highlighting key points about hand position. The importance of keeping the wrist relaxed and the fingers moving naturally toward the palm is reiterated. The instructor cautions against collapsing the wrist, the knuckles, or misplacing the thumb. The video concludes with a recommendation for students to explore the website for additional resources on posture, technique, and reference materials on hand positioning.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Right-hand position
💡Arch
💡Crab
💡Free stroke
💡Rest stroke
💡Knuckles
💡Tip joint collapse
💡Thumb position
💡Wrist collapse
💡Functional tension
Highlights
Introduction to right-hand position and technique for classical guitar, with a focus on a natural and comfortable hand position.
Demonstrating how to use the hand in a natural way without forcing the wrist too high or too low; aim for a comfortable arch.
Importance of moving fingers in towards the palm, similar to making a fist, while keeping the thumb outside the fingers.
Avoid collapsing the wrist into the 'crab' position, which limits proper finger movement across the strings.
Maintain a comfortable wrist arch to allow fingers to move naturally towards the palm, aiding in playing the strings without bending the wrist awkwardly.
Common mistakes include letting the wrist drop too low or moving fingers outward rather than in towards the palm.
Guidance on correct thumb positioning: the thumb should never get caught between fingers or move too far in any direction.
Measuring proper finger movement: when placing fingers on strings, they should move towards the palm without kicking outward.
Distinguishing between free strokes and rest strokes: free strokes bypass other strings, while rest strokes push the string inward and rest on the next string.
Hand position remains consistent between free strokes and rest strokes; avoid collapsing knuckles or bending fingers unnaturally.
Discussion on tip joint collapse: some teachers allow it, while others don't; the speaker suggests that it's acceptable in slower tempos but avoids collapsing during fast, loud playing.
Key hand technique tip: always focus on keeping a relaxed hand position without forcing tension into the fingers or wrist.
When playing faster or louder, some functional tension is necessary to prevent tip joint collapse, but it shouldn't lead to dysfunctional tension.
Recap from the player's perspective: emphasize the same hand position and technique with a relaxed wrist and fingers moving inward, avoiding the 'crab' position.
Final tips on maintaining good posture and hand technique: keep fingers relaxed, avoid collapsing knuckles or wrists, and remember that proper finger movement involves bringing fingers inwards.
Transcripts
hi so this is a lesson on basic right
hand position and technique this is for
this is classical guitar calm bread
heads cut off because of Kineo a closer
view of hand so a couple things on this
video I'm going to first show you from
this perspective as if you are watching
a teacher in a lesson and then next what
I'm going to do is take my iPhone and do
the same lesson but from your
perspective so how you see your right
hand from your own eyes from the players
point of view so the first thing I want
to do is just demonstrate how to use the
hand in a natural way which you are
going oh how to do actually but there is
this you want a nice comfortable arch so
don't force your risk to go up like that
or to down like this just a comfortable
arch and then you're going to move your
fingers in towards the palm as if making
a fist you make when you do that the
thumb comes around the outside of the
fingers and the fingers move in towards
the pond they don't move out like this
they don't do that you use this upper
knuckle you bring the fingers in so
let's introduce the guitar into this and
all of this all these angles will be
more clear on the second part of this
video where you see the players
perspective you see more of the arch and
things like that so when you bring the
hand in here you want to do the same
thing we want to move from this joint
moving the fingers in towards the palm
which means you can play you the string
you can play across the strings and
you'll not bend your wrist and so you
can play perpendicular you can play the
strings as a
moving the fingers in towards the palm
so here's some do's and don'ts common
problem for students is if I'm teaching
a child I call it the crab so your wrist
is down this is all collapsed the crab
so we'd really don't want that so the
problem with us the risk is to Dan
because if the risk is down I supposed
to move the fingers into the pawn
strings are two of the way you'll end up
going like this so you have to bring the
wrist up to a comfortable arch and then
bring the fingers in towards the palm
thumb is on the outside of the fingers
if your guitar positions not correct
your thumb might automatically want to
be somewhere else or too far in one
direction but if it's balanced I think
for beginners you can just think of a 45
degree angle of the guitar and you can
check out the other lessons on site a
type of a posture but then the thumb
will be on the outside of the fingers
never getting caught between the long
traffic jams later on
engage that ever joined one thing that
you can do is measuring your starting
point so if I put my fingers on the
strings and they having to take this
metronome for example and place it at
the starting point where I'm touching
the string here if I move my fingers in
towards the palm they should it
shouldn't kick this out of the way you
see that it's moving away from the
metronome
most students when the five is if you
put something on the starting points
they'll go like this it kick outward
with the fingers creating this the crab
as I said before that they kind of
locked on awkward hand position like
this so we don't want that
a couple of other points on the
difference between wrestler can free
strokes or free stirrup is when you
complete the pluck of the string but
bypassing the other strings and women
the fingering to work upon a restaurant
is when you push the string inward and
rest on the string below it now notice
that my hands ition is not actually
changing between free stroke and rest
stroke lots of students when they start
to do rest ropes they kind of end up
going like this and standing that finger
has the resistance the resistance will
be much of your if your knuckles are up
to collapse like this yeah I don't want
to kind of lay your hand out but instead
just a nice relaxed rest or can be
accomplished with the same hand position
you tuned for free strip very last thing
this is getting a little bit more eat
your kids into technique and because
this is just supposed to be a basic
overview but I'll discuss this briefly
about whether any of these knuckles
should collapse particularly the tip
knuckle this little part of this last
little part of the finger with this tip
joint should that collapse or not it's
an important question because there are
many teachers that say yes let it
collapse you play and how many they say
no absolutely not do not better clubs
um I'm in the middle of the road so when
I think of this I think that at slower
tempos when I'm not trying to play too
loud yeah I collapse my junk they're
just the tip junk and I'm moving from
this proper one so I can't clap to need
these but this tip drag does collapse if
you can see that from there but it would
clap that rather than space
ah I don't want to brace my finger to
stop it from collapsing so exert tension
into my finger when I'm playing
especially in slow tempos but to be
honest with you when I'm playing faster
and I'm playing loud because I'm trying
to exert more weight I do tense up and
just a little tiny bit more it's
functional tension it's not
dysfunctional tension though I would say
and I don't flap that novel so for me
the collapsing of the tip joint depends
on what kind of texture I'm playing I
think even in overall I believe that I
can't relax hand that joint little
collapse and that is okay even if you're
playing loud or fast or slow I believe
it's an okay thing to do other teachers
will disagree and everyone has very good
reasons for this so you can discuss it
with your own teacher because this is
really just an overview a basic overview
so again don't do that do this go to
this crowd open up your hand
don't move your fingers away from the
guitar like this this but instead move
your fingers in towards the palm
as if you're making a fist so I'm going
to change views now and show you all the
same stuff from the player's perspective
okay so we're back and this is from the
same lesson but from the player's
perspective so from your eyes as if you
were studying so let's go over some of
these concepts again first main concept
is the fingers moving in towards the
palm so making a fist and allowing the
thumb to go around the outside and the
fingers to move around into the palm
moving mainly from the upper joint so
that looks like this so some common
problems
we want a nice relaxed relaxed arched
wrist like that not this but like this
not too far that you can see the strain
on my tendons at just a relaxed arched
wrist no no yes no yes also we want some
curvature in these fingers we want to
allow the fingers to move in towards the
palm so not this as I said before when
I'm teaching kids that sometimes see
them go like this just like the crab
instead relaxed arch to the wrist the
fingers move in towards the palm
not yanking out like that that's not
natural that isn't look good but just
like this the thumb also plays but it
goes around the outside of the fingers
don't get caught doing this lots of
students do this
or they even think that or if I'm just
doing it a little bit it's okay but it's
not you need this finger to be able to
bypass the thumb
I don't play something besides open
strings reporting a camera
so not this or even if it looks good but
you're yanking the fingers up not that
with that
so I'm mainly using free strokes can't
really see it because my thumb let's
move it up with but even when you're
doing rest strokes you do the same type
of motion and there's my collapsed tip
joint but even if you don't collapse the
tip joint you just group the fingers in
towards the palm as you should
so no collapsing the the wrist no
collapsing the knuckles don't put the
thumb in there like that but instead as
if you're making a fist relaxed fist
hopefully
so I hope that you found this useful you
can find more lessons that this is
classical guitar calm so on the site
there's a number of reference videos and
photos of posture techniques and lots of
pictures of these hand positions that
you can use for reference
but that is kind of like the basics of
how to hold the handsome dues them some
don'ts hope you enjoyed it
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