Mind Over Guitar matters (5)
18/08/08 11:26 Filed in: Guitar
Technique
Although the purpose of this document is not to
provide step by step instructions to guitar
technique, I do feel that it is essential that the
student be aware of some of the fundamental
principles of guitar technique.
Chapter
2.
Although the purpose of this document is not to provide step by step instructions to guitar technique, I do feel that it is essential that the student be aware of some of the fundamental principles of guitar technique. Many of these are ignored either by the teacher or by the student in their haste to get to the "musical experience". This temporary oversight which although understandable, can slow down the over all process of developing sound and flexible technique capable of bringing the student from struggling beginner or intermediate student to one capable of dealing with all music at any level.
SOME FUNDAMENTALS
Posture
The purpose of the discussion of posture here is two fold, primarily it is to ensure that your body will be able to withstand many hours of practice and to facilitate the implementation of some of the fundamentals discussed in this document.
I find that a way to test your current sitting position is as follows but it requires the assistance of a second party. Sit as you would in normal playing position and as you have your assistant or friend remove the guitar from you. Do not change your posture, and with your arms hanging limply by your sides see how long you can stay comfortably seated in that position. In many cases you will find that you have been using the guitar as support for your body. I feel that the having a relaxed body on which the guitar is simply placed allows all of your energy to be directed toward your fingers and not wasted in maintaining the position of your body.
One of the most common complaints among guitarists who spend hours per day practicing is that the back and neck start to give them trouble. Generally speaking this tends to be caused by the use of the guitarists footstool which unless good posture is maintained can seriously throw the body out of alignment beginning with the raised left foot. My own experience led me to re-evaluate my posture. At around the age of 32 my back one day decided to completely seize and leave me totally unable to walk (except with great pain) much less practice. I sought the advice of a chiropractor who promptly X-rayed my back and both he and I were amazed to see that my spine viewed from behind had an S -shape to it. After two months of therapy I could once again walk and a few weeks later was once again able to practice for short periods of time.
Stay tuned..........
Although the purpose of this document is not to provide step by step instructions to guitar technique, I do feel that it is essential that the student be aware of some of the fundamental principles of guitar technique. Many of these are ignored either by the teacher or by the student in their haste to get to the "musical experience". This temporary oversight which although understandable, can slow down the over all process of developing sound and flexible technique capable of bringing the student from struggling beginner or intermediate student to one capable of dealing with all music at any level.
SOME FUNDAMENTALS
Posture
The purpose of the discussion of posture here is two fold, primarily it is to ensure that your body will be able to withstand many hours of practice and to facilitate the implementation of some of the fundamentals discussed in this document.
I find that a way to test your current sitting position is as follows but it requires the assistance of a second party. Sit as you would in normal playing position and as you have your assistant or friend remove the guitar from you. Do not change your posture, and with your arms hanging limply by your sides see how long you can stay comfortably seated in that position. In many cases you will find that you have been using the guitar as support for your body. I feel that the having a relaxed body on which the guitar is simply placed allows all of your energy to be directed toward your fingers and not wasted in maintaining the position of your body.
One of the most common complaints among guitarists who spend hours per day practicing is that the back and neck start to give them trouble. Generally speaking this tends to be caused by the use of the guitarists footstool which unless good posture is maintained can seriously throw the body out of alignment beginning with the raised left foot. My own experience led me to re-evaluate my posture. At around the age of 32 my back one day decided to completely seize and leave me totally unable to walk (except with great pain) much less practice. I sought the advice of a chiropractor who promptly X-rayed my back and both he and I were amazed to see that my spine viewed from behind had an S -shape to it. After two months of therapy I could once again walk and a few weeks later was once again able to practice for short periods of time.
Stay tuned..........
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