The Ida Presti right hand technique for guitar - Alice Artzt - 1/4

[Guitartzt]

Thanks for your kind words. I do teach in Princeton NJ, of course, but not so many people live near there. I also have tried teaching using Skype, with mixed results - really depends a lot on the location of the student, the quality and speed of their connection, and even apparently the time of day. So sometimes it works out reasonably well and sometime just a big problem. Maybe, soon, the technology will get better.

[arthasbr]

I wish I could have a teacher like her xD

[Guitartzt]

Thanks for your kind words. I often use an armrest made in Brasil called a Plenosom - they have been imported into the USA - probably you can find it by using Google.

[ebranner]

oh wow.. this is such an amazing lesson.. fantastic. i play a sergio abreu as well. quick question. what kind of arm rest is that? i need one, and love how yours looks. thanks!

[Guitartzt]

Many thanks for your kind words. Best etc, Alice

[closetome]

fab vid, one of the best I've seen on youtube

[Guitartzt]

Thanks for your kind words. Glad I could be helpful. Best etc, Alice

[havokbaphomet666]

Wish she was my teacher lol

she explains very clearly and very much like the way a teacher should explain

[Guitartzt]

For the Presti technique, you let your hand just hang relaxed. That generally will get all your fingers dangling so that, when the fingers are curved in a good playing position, the finger tips are all more or less lined up above one string - perfect for tremolo. If you play arpeggios then you can reach out with the a finger and curve the i a little more, and you could even play some arpeggios with different fingers - a 5 note arp. low note to top note = pimai, for instance, if you want to.

[NolitaDenise]

I'm confused. I should adjust my fingers so that the index hangs longest before touching the strings? I know it's a stupid question but guitar videos never seem to have enough angles. I keep re-watching the series and I'm still missing how exactly to hold my hand.

Now if I can just get a wayback machine and watch your videos first, I'll be able to undo some nasty habits and confusion.

[Guitartzt]

Thank you for your kind words.

[zdubduke]

I was never a serious classical player, but if I were Alice would be the type of instructor I would look for!

[Guitartzt]

I would think it would work with any finger style player. My main reservation would be that it will wear out your fingernails (assuming you use fingernails), but probably that will happen no matter what position you use. Try it - I'd imagine it would work. I've certainly seen a number of steel string and electric players in bands, sitting and using a classical position to play.

[neddomac]

Hi Alice would I be able to apply these techniques to steel string acoustics? I play in a classical position simlar to yours and do a lot of fingerstyle. thanks.

[skaterguy1015]

hi, I'm very interested in trying out this technique! One question, seeing as even I follow this video as well as I can, i'll probably need some quick tips. If I send a short video of me using your technique do you think you could give a little critique? Thanks!

[skaterguy1015]

hi, I'm very interested in trying out this technique! One question, seeing as even I follow this video as well as I can, i'll probably need some quick tips. If I send a short video of me using your technique do you think you could give a little critique? Thanks!

[Guitartzt]

@skaterguy1015 Sorry for the delay getting back to you. What might work is that lately I've been giving a few lessons online using Skype, so if you find you need to have me look at what you are doing and check on it and give you some advice, I could do that in an online lesson. The quality may depend on the speed of your internet connection. If you are interested, just reply to this message, and give me your E Mail address to reply to.

[Guitartzt]

Glad you are now getting a better sound. Do make sure to relax your hand as much as you can - that will help a lot. I believe there were some differences between what Segovia and Presti did, but a lot of similarities also. Just looking at pictures, I have hte 9impression that Presti's right hand position was more like what Llobet and Tarrega did, but without really seeing them play (impossible) it's not easy to be certain of that.

[25793812A]

After your extremely valuable videos I keep my attention on to the subjects you are pointing ,and from observing in YT videos ,I think Segovia and Presti used similar right hand technique.

The entire carpal area remains straight ,flat,and the hanging fingers forming short hooks .

When I tried ,I notice it restricts my flexibility,but it gives out a much better sound!

It makes sense as the fingers now are shorter(stronger)and energy is more focused.Great sound now comes out of my cheap guitar:)

[Guitartzt]

Sorry to have made it look harder than you anticipated. The thing I do find though, particularly among Americans, is the assumption that if you are talented, you just DO whatever it is easily. Elsewhere in the world the assumption is you WORK really really hard to do whatever it is. However, the thing I found is that practicing the guitar is GREAT FUN - I should know having spent probably around 6 or more hours a day doing it for the past 54 years. GO for it. Best etc, Alice

[Guitartzt]

Sorry to have made it look harder than you anticipated. The thing I do find though, particularly among Americans, is the assumption that if you are talented, you just DO whatever it is easily. Elsewhere in the world the assumption is you WORK really really hard to do whatever it is. However, the thing I found is that practicing the guitar is GREAT FUN - I should know having spent probably around 6 or more hours a day doing it for the past 54 years. GO for it. Best etc, Alice

[kenwolman]

Alice spent one hour with me late one afternoon in May 2005 and I left knowing what a mountain I had to climb. I was in love with the sound, and still am. I do not know even yet whether I have the desire (for that is what it is) to plunge into and past the elementary exercises. But even from what she showed me, I cannot go back to noodling unless I'm ready to go to serious work. Alice, thank you--you did what you were supposed to. You made it look harder than I thought it would be.

[Guitartzt]

So glad I could help you - the way Ida Presti helped me.

[vladimirguitar]

Dear Alice! I am so impressed by deepness of your understanding of the subtleties of sound, technique and music! I am a professional guitar player, but all my life i am struggling with technique and sound. You've presented to me totally new for me hand position and sound conception, which immediately changed widened my volume diapason, especially ability to make accents. So music got richer! And i love your style of explanation, clearest possible! Thanks, thanks, thanks!

[Shinichiroudayo]

This really helped me to develop a fuller, more appealing sound!

Thank you so much. - It's the foundation that matters.

[Guitartzt]

So glad it helped you.  Best etc, Alice

[Hiroshima49]

No one could have explained the right hand technique so eloquently. It's a great contribution to the world of the classical guitar. Deeply appreciated.

[Guitartzt]

Thanks so much - glad you found it helpful.

[anakkuna]

thanks:)

[Guitartzt]

You're very welcome.

[Guitartzt]

Glad you liked the video. I'm not sure where I said noise instead of sound - I'd usually use that word for something less controlled than that denoted by "Sound". I played a lot of contemporary works, though nothing very atonal. About the most "modern" thing I played was the Henze Tentos - also Koshkin, Obrovska, Eastwood, plus Berkeley, Britten, etc etc etc. Most of my recordings are out of print, though I can make CD copies for people if they really want them

[RingOfRae]

Very nice and important lesson. Very interesting that master Artzt says "noise" instead of "sound". I wonder if she plays any contemporary repertoire. If so, I would like to give it an ear....

[lurker62]

I can vouch for maestra Artzt's playing of contemporary music by eg Jana Obrovska & Dusan Bogdanovic as I own her "Variations, Passacaglias and Chaconnes" CD - one of my favourites.

[Guitartzt]

Greetings to you too. Best etc, Alice

[donPabloArturo]

Hallo Alice. I looking for Guitaruists in guitar lexicon. Know I found You. "A" letter.

Greet

Artur

[Guitartzt]

You're very welcome. Best of Luck. Alice

[Guitartzt]

Playing without nails is certainly not ideal. I'd suggest still doing the same Presti technique, and just try to keep your nails out to the ends of your fingers if possible and curve your fingers a lot to try to at least get a bit of support from the nails. Good luck. I do remember Presti once performing in NYC Town Hall with nearly no nails, as hers were not strong and had pretty well worn out during the previous tour. She sounded wonderful - as usual. Amazing!

[jtagos1]

Thanks, I will follow your advice. This video is probably the best explanation of right hand technique available for free on youtube. I'm sure many guitarists worldwide will take advantage of it.

[jtagos1]

Miss Artzt, thanks for the wonderful videos. I wish I had seen them a few years earlier before I had adopted some of these techniques. However, do you have any advice for how the Presti technique can be modified for people who play without nails? My career requires that I keep my nails short, so I had to clip them a few months ago.

[Guitartzt]

Many thanks in advance for the music. If scanning it and sending it as an attachment doesn't work, then if you like you could send it by mail - 51 Hawthorne Ave, Princeton NJ 08540.  Many thanks, and good luck to you.

[steelback2]

Hello .Miss Artzt i have been trying to to send you some music ,as i said i would ,for your invaluable help.(i have still to experiment yet with the balls )through yahoo mail but to no avail .ifyou need advice which i may have to offer let me know*

[Guitartzt]

Glad to be of help. Good luck with the ping pong balls. Make sure to have some acetone nearby when you use the crazy glue. It will dissolve any mistakes you may make. Also best to get some strong tweezers to use to clamp the false nail and real one together while you are working. Once you get a technique for it, it is not hard - but does take a bit of practice - you won't probably get it instantly. Thanks in advance for any music. Best etc, Alice

[steelback2]

Thank you miss Artzt. i will give it a chance soon as soon as i find ping dong balls .You know this video will become a classic of guitar information in very near future .For your reward i will send soon rare hard to get classical guitar music .

[Guitartzt]

Put the false nails UNDER your own and file them in a chisel shape, with your own nails longer and the false ones shorter underneath, so the false nails only protect your own nails in the attack and you get the sound of your own nails only. The false nails are never anywhere near the cuticle, and never affect the sound at all - they just make your own nails stronger. If you do it right, it works wonderfully.

[steelback2]

Thank you miss Artist i have never heard the piece myself. I have never used ping pong balls on my nails don't know how?. what makes your nails grow strong ,i had good ones. talking about pieces of music where can i get canta cuando me ausente by hidrobo. anyway 5 stars on this video from me. well done.

[Guitartzt]

Various B vitamins are supposed to make your nails grow strong. But I found the best is to make little half moon shapes from ping pong balls and glue them under your nails with crazy glue. Takes practice to glue them well and file them so they sound good, but if you do it well, it really works to get a lovely loud sound with no worries. A lot of guitarists do this.

[thejugglenaut91]

i think it sounds terrible and it totally screws up the cuticle. But that's just me.

[seikun616]

Do you have any website or articles in a blog?

[Guitartzt]

I don't have a website - probably should have, but not yet. Certainly I've written a lot of articles but I'm not sure if any are still around online. At this point, all I can suggest is to google me and see if you find anything. I didn't do that in a while so really am not sure what may turn up. Best etc Alice

[steelback2]

Well done miss Artist .Nice guitar you have just heard you first time j duartes  piece your good as well .i have to use false nails ,hell on wheels when they come off .have you tried j duartes arrangement of albeniz torrie bermeja it would be nice to hear your unique approach .

[Guitartzt]

I never tried Duarte's Torre B - actually never played that piece as everyone else seemed to be doing it. I always tried to play really wonderful music that others didn't play so much. I hope you put the false nails (ping pong balls) UNDER your own nails - didn't glue them on top. Then it doesn't matter if they fall off - you can still play and sounds the same. Gluing false nails, or ping pong balls, on top of your nails is an invitation to disaster.

[Guitartzt]

Thanks.

[JesseGuitar07]

that was awesome 5******

[Guitartzt]

No I doubt that has anything to do with it. There is a typical problem guitarists get with their right hands that is mostly related to their trying to play with the wrist too low (too near the guitar soundboard) and also the hand positioned too near the bass strings. Hard to explain in a few words. It is a serious problem and has stopped many careers. If you are anywhere near NJ, let me know and you can come and I can show you what's going on.

[ls1phsyco]

I have trouble with my right hand, do you think it's because my guitar is not a classic guitar and there is not enough space between the strings?

[DjosueD]

if you want to play classical guitar music, you need a classical guitar.

[Guitartzt]

Thanks.

[guitarmanchester]

Excellent stuff!!!

[Guitartzt]

No problem. I feel I benefitted so much myself from studying with Ida Presti, that I owe it to her to let people know a bit about her technique and ideas.

[francos1960]

Thank you for your generosity !

[Guitartzt]

Glad you liked it. Presti was such a phenomenon, I feel we all need to know how she did what she did so that technique isn't forgotten and lost.

[davinort]

Nice video Alice, very informative. Thanks for doing this, and keeping Presti's technique "alive",

[Guitartzt]

Thanks for the kind words.

[carbonatodebario]

Incredible...

If it's already perfect in video, imagine it live!