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GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Your Personal Guitar Lesson |
Photo by Robin Gentile, NYC
| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" It contains many of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
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Rest Stroke Follow-through
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
A basic part of a correctly executed rest stroke, is that after plucking the string, the finger must
follow through and come to rest on the adjacent string. We know that. That’s why it’s called a
rest stroke! But you might need to be reminded that if you are alternating “i” and “m” for
example, one finger should stay resting on the string until the other finger plucks a
string. In other words, one of the fingers is resting on a string at all times. That’s why the
rest stroke is often called the supported stroke—the finger resting on a string in effect supports
the weight of the hand.
When I watch students (even excellent students) play a scale with “im,” it is surprising how often
I observe the finger that is supposed to be resting on the string, lifting off its resting place
BEFORE the other finger moves to play its stroke. It is especially common at a change of string.
For example, “i” plays the second string, follows through to come to rest on the third string, but
then comes off the third string before “m” plays the first string.
Watch this video for an overview of the topic (video clip #1):
You want to be absolutely certain the resting finger remains “stuck,” resting on its string, until
the next finger plucks. If it lifts early, the fingers and hand have no contact or connection with
the strings at all. This defeats one of the major advantages of rest stroke—the stability and
security of always having a finger resting on a string at all times. Not only does this
resting finger lend tremendous security and stability, but also serves as a reference
point or guide for the next finger to feel where the next string is.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Changing from one string to another presents the situation of string crossings. A string
crossing can be a precarious moment for the right hand. It is often the cause of a missed note,
cessation of finger alternation, or loss of synchronization between the hands. Any of these can
cause complete breakdown of the execution of the passage. Unfortunately, it is precisely at the
string change that many players fail to follow through on their rest strokes.
Watch this video to see why rest stroke follow-through is so important at string crosses (video
clip #2):
If you're still having trouble understanding why rest stroke follow-through is so important,
imagine yourself in a familiar room with absolutely no light to see. If you keep a hand in contact
with a piece of furniture, lamp, etc. at all times as you walk through the room, you always have
a reference point to feel or figure out where the next object might be. But if you only touch
objects quickly and let go, not maintaining contact with anything, you will lose track of where
you are and probably start bumping into things even though you are familiar with the room.
To see how this technique is applicable to real repertoire, watch this video example of
Francisco Tarrega's Lagrima and Fernando Sor's Study No. 5 (video clip #3):
Tarrega's Capricho Arabe anyone?
Watch how the rest stroke follow-through is used on the theme in video clip #4:
Play a scale rest stroke ascending AND descending with “im,” “ma,” and “ia.” Watch your
fingers very carefully (or have someone else watch your fingers) to see if they are working
correctly.
Watch me demonstrate rest stroke follow-through on a scale in video clip #5:
When you play any passage rest stroke, watch your fingers very closely. Observe the follow-
through of each finger. Make certain each finger "sticks" on the adjacent string until the other
alternating finger executes its rest stroke. Rest stroke follow-through will make a huge
difference in your right-hand security, stability, and accuracy when you do it right.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
A basic part of a correctly executed rest stroke, is that after plucking the string, the finger must
follow through and come to rest on the adjacent string. We know that. That’s why it’s called a
rest stroke! But you might need to be reminded that if you are alternating “i” and “m” for
example, one finger should stay resting on the string until the other finger plucks a
string. In other words, one of the fingers is resting on a string at all times. That’s why the
rest stroke is often called the supported stroke—the finger resting on a string in effect supports
the weight of the hand.
When I watch students (even excellent students) play a scale with “im,” it is surprising how often
I observe the finger that is supposed to be resting on the string, lifting off its resting place
BEFORE the other finger moves to play its stroke. It is especially common at a change of string.
For example, “i” plays the second string, follows through to come to rest on the third string, but
then comes off the third string before “m” plays the first string.
Watch this video for an overview of the topic (video clip #1):
You want to be absolutely certain the resting finger remains “stuck,” resting on its string, until
the next finger plucks. If it lifts early, the fingers and hand have no contact or connection with
the strings at all. This defeats one of the major advantages of rest stroke—the stability and
security of always having a finger resting on a string at all times. Not only does this
resting finger lend tremendous security and stability, but also serves as a reference
point or guide for the next finger to feel where the next string is.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Changing from one string to another presents the situation of string crossings. A string
crossing can be a precarious moment for the right hand. It is often the cause of a missed note,
cessation of finger alternation, or loss of synchronization between the hands. Any of these can
cause complete breakdown of the execution of the passage. Unfortunately, it is precisely at the
string change that many players fail to follow through on their rest strokes.
Watch this video to see why rest stroke follow-through is so important at string crosses (video
clip #2):
If you're still having trouble understanding why rest stroke follow-through is so important,
imagine yourself in a familiar room with absolutely no light to see. If you keep a hand in contact
with a piece of furniture, lamp, etc. at all times as you walk through the room, you always have
a reference point to feel or figure out where the next object might be. But if you only touch
objects quickly and let go, not maintaining contact with anything, you will lose track of where
you are and probably start bumping into things even though you are familiar with the room.
To see how this technique is applicable to real repertoire, watch this video example of
Francisco Tarrega's Lagrima and Fernando Sor's Study No. 5 (video clip #3):
Tarrega's Capricho Arabe anyone?
Watch how the rest stroke follow-through is used on the theme in video clip #4:
Play a scale rest stroke ascending AND descending with “im,” “ma,” and “ia.” Watch your
fingers very carefully (or have someone else watch your fingers) to see if they are working
correctly.
Watch me demonstrate rest stroke follow-through on a scale in video clip #5:
When you play any passage rest stroke, watch your fingers very closely. Observe the follow-
through of each finger. Make certain each finger "sticks" on the adjacent string until the other
alternating finger executes its rest stroke. Rest stroke follow-through will make a huge
difference in your right-hand security, stability, and accuracy when you do it right.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
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| These are my very detailed, in-depth articles and high-def videos on how to play the classical guitar. It's like getting your own private guitar lesson every month. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Looking for easy Christmas guitar arrangements? Chances are, I have covered it, or will soon. The tips are by subscription only. |
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over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best
on the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the
written tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are
thorough and the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a
sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best
on the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the
written tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are
thorough and the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a
sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.