Classical Guitar Lesson #7: Left Hand, Part 1

[lirjonmessi]

i think that your guitar was not tunned in this video .

[1988scottcarey]

It finally makes sense!!

[ainKwang]

can we use same guitar with right handed ? ? if we are left handed can we just rotate the right handed guitar and play it ?

[aguamigo22]

Please don't mark this as spam, this a very helpful post for lefties:

I just got a job working for a company called "Lefty's San Francisco" and they sell common products for lefties like lefty scissors, school supplies, cooking stuff, gardening and home improvement tools and lots of cool stuff for left-handed people. It's the number one company that sells left handed products so check us out if you're in your right mind

[Sarihta1978]

I am a beginner and I am truely having a hard time with my left hand...this video certainly helps.

[AnarchisticLeper]

I'm giving my left handed technique an overhaul and was wondering about the positioning of the left hand thumb. Where should you place it and what parts of it should be in contact with the neck?

[Lutemann]

It depends on the size of your hand. John Williams, fro example, often has his thumb sticking over the top of the neck because his hand is large. Put you hand in a good position and the thumb will go where it should. BTW, the left hand is not static. It movers around a lot.

[gao048]

great lesson, but try to introduce the terms in multiple ways , such as some modern terms that new guitarists are familiar with, such as , when you say slur you can also say hammer on or pull off, its just a suggestion.

[Lutemann]

@gao048

"Hammer on" and "pull offs" are old folk guitar terms and are not used by classical guitarists.

[LucySparkles1]

Great lesson... but what about the left hand thumb??? My first lesson was with a Spanish guitarist and he said that in open position, it should be behind the second fret. I am now studying classical and hearing that it should be behind the first. However, I have already developed the habit. What do you recommend I do??

[guitarguy1685]

if professionals squeeze their 4th finger then is it really that important to not do it? I mean if they are professionals then they are probably very good.

[sagyas]

What is the Scale?

[happygolucky2000]

please keep things simple

this is not for beginners.  real beginners know nothing. you talk about slurs etc DO NOT talk about advance stuff. KEEP IT SIMPLE

[Lutemann]

You cannot learn classical guitar from a few short videos. Get a teacher.

[happygolucky2000]

then why call your vids lessons, implying that they are for beginners, which they do, and which they are not...lol

please retitle them.

[SoullessOpeth]

owned dude. GET A TEACHER

[happygolucky2000]

I am a teacher which is why I could say what I said.

[gurshark]

it does not say beginner lesson. it says "Classical Guitar Lesson"

[Lutemann]

Watch someone else's videos if you have a problem with mine; it's a free country.

[gurshark]

I think your series is very very informative and clear. I was referring to this idiot happygolucky2000 who is complaining about whether or not this is a beginner's video. I was merely pointing out that there is nothing in the title indicating skill level.

[happygolucky2000]

lol

beginner is mentioned in the script

[Lutemann]

There is no such thing as "beginner's technique."

[Kkerr72]

@happygolucky2000 How is a slur an advanced topic? a fourth grader can tell you what a slur is. Advanced topics are like secondary dominants and counterpoint. learn to music.

[EvilGniusStudios]

@Kkerr72 this is for BEGGINNEEEERRSSSSS

[SwallowedByTheTide]

I have a question. Is the left hand technique for electric guitar the same as it is for classical? I play electric and my hand does not stay straight most of the time and my thumb comes up along the side of the neck opposite to my palm. i find it hard to keep it straight without straining my wrist and arm. I have scoliosis so my arms are as long as they would be if I didn't have it but my trunk is shorter so its tough to put my hand in that position. Is it okay that i'm playing this way?

[krazyguitarpicker]

Wow thanks! I was having serious problems keeping my left parallel with the neck and when you said you arm should fall naturally I realized why, mu guitar is not on the right angle!

[xxxmilenaxxxemo]

i have alot of trouble with strumming the strings im not supposed to strum. any tips?

[LiquidCrystalz]

ok that didn't work. Do you mind if I email it to you?

[Lutemann]

That's fine.

[LiquidCrystalz]

i didn't mean fully streched as in straight but let me see I'll post a response of my teachers theory.

[LiquidCrystalz]

this is gud but slightly inacurate, the true hand position should have the thumb locked behind your third finger and when playing a scale rather than moving your arm down so that your fingers are in line with the fretboard you should bend your fingers down. So in an A M scale starting on E your fingers should be fully extended and as you play you should go curling them until your fingers are completly curved at high E. I think i phrased that strangely..oh well

[Lutemann]

Interesting commnents but you give no reasons. The hand position I describe is pretty much what John Williams, Manual Baruecco and David Russell use, to name a few. If you are going to lock the thumb in a certain place, you'd better have a reason. Having the fingers completely extended is never a good idea because that's their weakest position. It's all about principles, not about rules.

[Singardia]

Can you clarify what you mean by "locked behind your third finger?"

[Jitpring]

I've just watched all three parts. In a future edition, you should mention one of the most common mistakes: too much lh pressure. Only minimal pressure is needed. A good exercise is to play pieces muted, that is, just barely touching the strings. Foam under the strings at the bridge is good to mute the open strings while doing this.

[Lutemann]

You're so right. This is a common problem and you've named the solution.

[Romesh0001]

Great Video Learnt alot!

But I have a problem with the fourth finger it keeps sliding off the fretboard, when I changing position any tips on how to prevent that?

[Lutemann]

No, not without seeing you play. Why not make a video of the problem.

[Singardia]

Are you rotating your hand when you go back to the first position instead of keeping the knuckles parallel to the strings as shown in the video above. I have that problem when I play a F chord on the 4 high strings.

[guitar0707]

man ,this is good info!

[PedroGron77]

Thanks for your video-posting.

I am a bit experienced in playing guitar and like to concentrate on that basics again and again.

Peter

[blabberblabber]

Wonderful stuff you're doing, here, Kent. Quite the public service. Relative to "natural tendencies", a student, on almost any instrument it seems, tends "naturally" to put the instrument in what I call the "death-grip". If you're left thumb is cramped, you're holding it "naturally" to tightly!

[Lutemann]

You are right, but fortunately you don't hav to play the teacup, so tension is not an issue. BTW, the guitar is a very untatural activity.

[happygolucky2000]

btw the guitar is not an activity. well my guitar doesn't move unless i or someone moves it. lol

[GFAJanitor]

I suppose fly away fingers are to be avoided, but have you ever wondered why they are so natural? Consider the fly away pinky you see when people drink from a small teacup, for instance. Nylon Cheers!!