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HOLDING THE INSTRUMENT    



Very important !!!
Take your Guitar to read these concepts in order to check with it you understand well what one says to you. Do not hesitate to return back to this chapter throughout your training to control your position on the instrument.

 The Guitar rests on the right leg, as close as possible to your body, the instrument's body being in vertical position, the Guitar's neck stays horizontal.
   The stability of the instrument is ensured by the right arm which rests (aproximately at the biceps level) on the instrument.
   If you wish to see your left hand fingers position over the "touch" (the part of the axe on which one plays) it is necessary to make the effort to lean you ahead but you should not especially change the position of the instrument!!!
   If you play upright (with an Electric guitar for example) you must avoid carrying it too low. The axe must be slightly tilted to the top (see figure I in this page).

important
WARNING : Often rectify your position, especially in the beginning. Defects are acquired very quickly, but are corrected painfully...



LEFT HAND

 The nails of this hand must be very short. Too long nails prevent from correctly pressing the strings against the touch.
  At the time of your first studies you may feel the pulp of the fingers being a little painful, you don't have to worry, it's normal. By dint of practicing your fingertips will take a little antler and will lose this undesirable sensitivity.
 On the partitions the left hand fingerings are indicated as follows:

Notes : one 0 indicates that the left hand does not play; the thumb is not used.

figure I

figure II

 The thumb must always be placed as on figure III below. The other fingers are bent over the strings : they are perpendiculars to the Guitar's neck (see figure IV below).

figure III

figure IV

important
WARNING : To obtain a clear and precise sound , it's necessary to put your finger(s) more close possible to the frets (see the figure V below). Note : a touch is the space between two frets.

figure V

 

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