| Your left hand determines the note and | | | | quite a bit different doesn't it? Now do |
| your right hand determines just about | | | | a three-finger pattern using index, |
| everything else from tone, to timbre, | | | | middle and ring finger. And of course |
| volume, texture and all the subtleties | | | | mix that pattern up by starting with a |
| of the sound that comes from your | | | | finger other than your index. This will |
| classical guitar. Yet it is often | | | | probably feel a little awkward at first |
| overlooked when it comes to practice. If | | | | but keep at it. With a simple practice |
| you want to really improve your | | | | exercise like this your classical guitar |
| classical guitar playing you need to | | | | playing will improve dramatically. |
| start focusing on right hand technique. | | | | Free pdf written by a master |
| Here are some tips and tricks on how to | | | | There is a series of studies called 120 |
| do it. | | | | right hand exercises for classical |
| Practice the types of strokes | | | | guitar. Matteo Carcassi wrote these |
| A lot of beginner guitarists don't | | | | studies and they are in the free public |
| realize that there are two different | | | | domain. The exercises vary in difficulty |
| types of right hand strokes you can | | | | so are appropriate for beginners to |
| perform. The first stroke (and most | | | | advanced. You can slowly work your way |
| common) is the free stroke where the | | | | through them over time. Using these |
| finger doesn't contact anything after | | | | studies is a great way to improve right |
| plucking the string. The second type of | | | | hand play and also improve sight-reading |
| stroke is the rest stroke where the | | | | skills. |
| finger comes to rest on the next string | | | | A Recommended Book |
| down after plucking. Practice your | | | | If you are looking for more guidance on |
| scales and arpeggios using both types of | | | | improving your play I recommend you get |
| strokes. | | | | a book by Scott Tennant called "Pumping |
| Walking across the strings | | | | Nylon". I own it and have made it a |
| You can set up your own exercises that | | | | part of my regular practice sessions. It |
| will dramatically improve your right | | | | has a lot of practical exercises for |
| hand play and I recommend you do walking | | | | both the right and left hand. In 2006 a |
| exercises at the beginning of every | | | | new version of this book aimed at |
| practice session. | | | | beginners was published. There is also a |
| Walking exercises are simply exercises | | | | nice DVD version available if you are a |
| where you play across all six strings in | | | | visual style learner. |
| varying finger patterns. You can do this | | | | Because the left hand is closer to your |
| without stopping any of the strings with | | | | eyes, and because most people are right |
| your left hand (open) or you can do | | | | handed focusing on improvement of the |
| scales. | | | | right hand is often overlooked. But if |
| Heres how to do it: Simply pluck down | | | | you really want to take your classical |
| then up the six strings alternating | | | | guitar playing to the next level you |
| between your index and middle fingers. | | | | should make a conscious effort to |
| Easy enough right? You started out with | | | | improve your right hand technique. Your |
| your index finger plucking the bass E | | | | speed of playing, clarity, and ability |
| string right? Now change that up and | | | | to express with the instrument will be |
| start your plucking by using your middle | | | | greatly enhanced. |
| finger on the bass E string! It feels | | | | |