Right Hand Feedback, preliminary take of Malaguena Options

[methodseeker]

Dejan,

I've been working on your Malaguena lesson -- sporadically. I'm more focused on e-guitar but through looking at a few lessons like yours I've gotten drawn into pulling out a classical guitar I hadn't touched in many years (and could never play very well). This lesson is great because it practices two techniques that cause me a lot of difficulty: rest stroke and tremolo.

I'm aware of a few problems in the video below, most particularly I can't yet play tremolo evenly up to speed (I usually practice it slower), and the tempo wanders too much. Other than that, I wonder if you could take a look at my right hand technique and give me some feedback. I have trouble getting a clean slight-nail attack. Maybe I just need lots more practice. My nails are weak and I just can't grow them very long, so I have to use mostly skin contact on the strings -- I think. And when I try to get nail contact, I often hook the string. I was just looking again at your video and realized that you have a more direct attack: the nail appears nearly parallel to the string, while I've been using a more diagonal attack. In this video I'm intentionally trying to imitate you more.

Anyway, I'm having fun with your lesson and any tips would be very welcome.

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[Dejan Farkas]

I am glad you're having fun with the lesson and I'll do my best to help you here

As I see in the video, your rest stroke is just fine, just keep on imitate like this , it is visible that you make effort to play it but over time it will became effortless. Pay attention when you move on the lower string to alternate index and middle fingers, not to play two strokes with the same finger.

Tremolo technique requires practicing, try this: set metronome to 80 bpm and play each note of the tremolo with each beat (or even slower, it is important that you play it easily), and then gradually increase the tempo. In this way it is less likely to play outside the tempo and it will help you to build the technique. Later on you can set the tempo that one beat correspond the four strokes, and at the time your timing will be correct.

Regarding nails, try to shape your nails to prevent hooking, they do not have to be too big, it is enough to have them slightly above the flesh to catch the strings. But as I said, keep on imitating me and keep the nails parallel to the strings.

Overall it sounds good, and I must admit that you have a good sensibility for music. You can feel it very well, but the technique is still preventing you to achieve the full potential so it is just a matter of practice. Another-words, you know how it should be played but your fingers are not obeying you completely.

I hope I answered the questions, if you need any additional help feel free to ask

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[methodseeker]

Thanks for your comments. It's good to know that I'm not too far off.

Pay attention when you move on the lower string to alternate index and middle fingers, not to play two strokes with the same finger.

I tried to copy the strokes exactly from your video. I'm not sure which you're referring to, but in your demonstration of Malaguena, it looks like you play two notes consecutively on the B and G strings with the index finger, I think it's the B and A in the second bar of the second section, then again in one or two other places. Maybe I'm doing it somewhere else I shouldn't. I'll try doing strict alternation.

Tremolo technique requires practicing, try this: set metronome to 80 bpm and play each note of the tremolo with each beat (or even slower, it is important that you play it easily), and then gradually increase the tempo. In this way it is less likely to play outside the tempo and it will help you to build the technique. Later on you can set the tempo that one beat correspond the four strokes, and at the time your timing will be correct.

Regarding nails, try to shape your nails to prevent hooking, they do not have to be too big, it is enough to have them slightly above the flesh to catch the strings. But as I said, keep on imitating me and keep the nails parallel to the strings.

Thanks for the tips and the encouragement.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

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[Dejan Farkas]

You spotted well, I did play on one place two consecutive strokes with index finger, by mistake, sorry if I created a trouble for you this way. Similar to techniques with pick we have alternate and economy picking, it is important to master first the alternate, and later on to introduce economy, since alternate picking gives more control on timing. This is why I wish you to focus on alternate technique

You are welcome, and would be glad to help you anytime

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

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