Re: Classical balance vs steel presence

Date: 4 Jul 2003 15:03:51 -0700
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic
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email-address-deleted (Jeff Carter) wrote in message news:<email-address-deleted>...
> >Hi David,
> >
> >Was your right hand accustomed to a straight wrist classical style or
> >do you adjust your RH technique greatly to accomodate the wider neck?
> >
> >best,
> >rob anderson
> >
>
> Hi Rob,
>
> I'll confess, I am primarily a classical player (ex-Shearer student in college,
> and just returned from performing in Manuel Barrueco's masterclasses at
> Peabody), but I also play fingerstyle instrumental music on a Lowden O23.
>
> Personally, I find that I don't have to change anything when going from
> classical to steel-string, other than a slight acclimation to the narrower
> string spacing (both left and RH).
>
> IMHO, the principles of efficient muscle movement and hand/body positioning is
> appropriate for virtually any style of guitar. And forgive me if I'm
> misunderstanding what you mean by "straight wrist classical style", but
> frankly, there should be *some* arch in the RH wrist to accommodate a more
> natural playing position, and alleviate excessive tension.
>
> Cheers,
> --Jeff
I also came from playing exclusively classical for 20+y and use the
same R hand position on my steels with classical
technique/fingernails, no thumbpick. The big difference I note between
the classical and steel is the string tension difference. I also am
often very happy playing fingerstyle pieces on my Papazian classical
which has a lovely clear and balanced voice. When going back to my
steels I find them unpleasantly rigid and unresponsive to subtle R
hand attack changes. But then after I play awhile, I love the voice of
the steels. I think that David has put it as well as anything I have
heard in terms of presence but a good classical has fine presence on a
different level. I also get a sense of strength of tone on the steel
that is somewhat less on the classical. Maybe that's what David meant
with presence.
I continue to be confused about which instrument I prefer and it's a
great problem to have.
hans