| When you start to play classical guitar one of the | | | | opposed to your index finger, but it may be allowed to |
| biggest stumbling blocks is poor left hand technique. | | | | drop more behind the treble strings to give reach when |
| The main issue is that both hands are moving in | | | | you stretch for the bass strings. It should never come |
| different rhythms and all the eight fingers used need to | | | | over the top of the neck. When you are playing |
| move totally independently of each other. You may | | | | correctly your left hand fingers come down at almost |
| not think that is so hard so try this exercise place both | | | | 90 degrees from the fret board and just the tip of the |
| hands on the table top in front of you and raise the | | | | finger makes contact with the string. Ideally you should |
| palms leaving the finger tips touching the table now | | | | only use sufficient pressure to ensure the notes are all |
| raise and move each finger backwards and forwards | | | | clear, surprisingly children are usually much better at |
| in turn while leaving all the others on the table and not | | | | gaugeing this than adults. |
| moving any of them. OK so did you find it easy? Was | | | | When a barre is required the barre finger should be |
| one finger more difficult to move than the others? | | | | placed across all of the strings required and rolled just |
| I will confess here that I personally have great difficulty | | | | slightly into the fret, this helps to eliminate any buzz |
| moving my ring fingers, but each person is different. To | | | | where strings fall under the joints. It sounds hard and it |
| play classical guitar you will need to not only be able to | | | | is the part of the technique that requires the most |
| do that, but to also move each hand in different | | | | practice. Heikila Sakari has developed a training |
| sequences and rhythms! Not to worry there are | | | | system for off the guitar work his site is and I also |
| exercises to help both on and off the guitar, but before | | | | recommend the book Pumping Nylon by Scott |
| we come to that I will outline the correct positioning for | | | | Tennant which includes his left hand exercises (this |
| the left hand. In order to get into the correct position | | | | one is really for intermediate players and above). |
| you will need to be sat on a square backed chair with | | | | There is also a series of books by Abel Carlevaro |
| the left foot raised on a classical guitar footstool and | | | | (Serie Didactica Para Guittara) which is in 4 parts, I only |
| with your guitar across your body pointing its neck to | | | | have parts 2,3, and 4 Right Hand, Left Hand and the |
| your left (Left handed players playing left handed will | | | | culmination!). This work is in Spanish and English |
| need to reverse everything I say). Place your left arm | | | | translation it is published by Barry in Buenos Aries |
| under the neck of the guitar and put the thumb in the | | | | copyright 1967 and Montevideo Uruguay copyright |
| center of the back of the neck, now arch your fingers | | | | 1975 and it is a comprehensive work on the exercises |
| as when you tap them on the table and place them | | | | for both left and right hands and both in harmony. The |
| just above the strings. If you are sat correctly your left | | | | essential idea is to work slowly and correctly and only |
| arm is free to move and it does not take any of the | | | | add speed after each exercise is mastered. |
| weight of the guitar. | | | | I really hope that you find this helps and I wish you |
| When you start to play the thumb is usually directly | | | | every success in your playing. |