Cape Cod Acoustics
  • Home
  • Your Lessons
  • Performance services offered
  • About Gene
  • Contact
  • Guitars, Ukes & Accessories
  • Acoustic Guitar Blog
  • Tips for guitarists
  • Guitar Gallery
  • More...

Technique reminders

9/26/2013

1 Comment

 
Little things can make all the difference when it comes to getting the best sound from a guitar. I’ve mentioned a few of these tips in previous entries but they bear repeating as I see many students who need to correct small but crucial technique elements in their playing.

First and foremost is posture. Most of us routinely sit down when we play and where we sit can make all the difference. It’s obvious to most players that sitting in a chair with arms makes playing all but impossible unless you sit on the very edge of the chair so the arms do not make contact with the back of the guitar. The opposite mistake is sitting on a soft, comfortable sofa – this encourages holding the guitar with the body at something approaching a 45-degree angle to your body. This in turn forces the player to reach farther around the neck, which limits hand movement and makes arching of the fingers almost impossible. The late, great bluesman T-Bone Walker played his guitar (while standing) with the instrument almost flat in front of him. This always amazed guitarists but as very few of us have T-Bone’s chops, I would avoid this!

A chair with a straight back and no arms is best. And just like your mother always reminded you – sit up straight! That way the body of the guitar can be held flat against your body and this in turn makes reaching around the neck mush easier. The problem with this of course is that it makes seeing the fretboard more of a challenge but resist the temptation to tilt the guitar slightly to see the neck more easily. The more you tilt the guitar, the farther around the neck you must reach. And the farther you reach, the more difficult it is to correctly arch your fingers, which is essential for accurate placement and clear, clean tone.

One of the most common technique boo-boos I see (guys seem to be more guilty of this for some reason) is resting the elbow and forearm on the thigh while negotiating the neck. This is a subconscious reaction to the weight of the neck. Problem is, this totally restricts flexibility in the wrist, something that must be present to arch those fingers but even more importantly, to be able to drop the wrist to play barre chords. Hold that neck up – I have seen this little adjustment help students who have struggled with hand movement and barre chords almost instantly solve the problem.

The best way I know to counter the weight of the neck is to play with a strap on the guitar, even when sitting down. One proviso here however – I’m talking about guitars that have a strap button installed on the heel of the guitar. Straps that are tied to the head of the guitar tend to get in the way, especially when sitting and playing. Straps used while a player is sitting must be adjusted (shortened) compared to when used while standing. Try using a strap if you just can’t break the habit of resting your arm on your thigh when you play. You will be amazed at the difference in your fretting hand technique.

Playing while standing is often awkward and a real challenge for anyone who’s always played while sitting but it is certainly worth doing because the aforementioned fretting hand/arm issues are eliminated. Also, if you sing and play (and you should!), standing allows deeper breathing and this makes for better singing. Voice teachers ALWAYS require students to stand when they sing, for good reason.

Just remember – no matter how much you practice, incorrect physical technique can defeat all your attempts at advancement.

Peace & good music,
Gene

1 Comment
Rob link
10/2/2013 11:51:46 pm

Hmmm although most of your advice seems good, you may have missed out some factors. I mean, which knee are you resting the guitar over?

This, for one, makes a big difference to how the guitar sits compared to your body. If over the fretting-hand knee (as is traditional), then the guitar is flat to the body, and angled more, whereas if you have your guitar over the strumming hand knee (a much more modern approach), the guitar needs to be angled slightly more to avoid squashing the fretting hand arm.

I would be grateful if you could clarify :)

Rob.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Gene Bourque

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed