The Ida Presti right hand technique for guitar - Alice Artzt - 2/4

In this video from January 2001, internationally acclaimed classic guitartist, Alice Artzt explains and demonstrates the legendary Ida Presti's right hand technique for playing the guitar. Part 2 of 4. Copyright © 2009 - Alice Artzt. For more information or to contact Alice Artzt, she can be reached at: guitartzt@aol.com

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[Guitartzt]

Re ulnar deviation, if you just position your arm resting on the guitar, slightly closer to the guitar neck, with the lower bout of the guitar a bit lower, if you then curve your fingers nicely, you should find that the right hand corner of the nail is closest to the string (or to the ceiling of the room if you want to think of it that way) and will start the stroke. You don't have to go into any sorts of contortions, and if you do, or if it hurts, then you are doing it wrong.

[Guitartzt]

Of course the guitar is Brazilian - I have 4 of his instruments. I've known Sergio ever since meeting him 40 years ago when we were both on concert tours in England. He is an amazing guitar builder - for my taste the best building today. He was an amazing performer also - one of the very few geniuses (quite literally) I've known in my life, and the only one I've ever known really well.

[Guitartzt]

All their recordings were wonderful and I think all out of print now. But you might try to look for a multi-CD album that was issued some years ago that had all their Philips records on it - you might find a few copies around for sale - or if none is to be found, then find someone who has that and get them to make you copies.

[salbella1]

have already changed my whole world, and given me a lot to think about. I hope you know how much you help people like me by posting these videos. Tone, practicality, precession, etc is something I always consider and try to improve, but sometimes I get stuck. For example, I have spent the past year and a half trying to find the right shape for my nails and have not been able to come to a conclusion. I've changed according to what technique i am learning, but I know that is bad. vids appreciated!

[Guitartzt]

@salbella1 - continued - Certainly I use rest strokes - nearly always for melodic lines and also often for the top voice in arpeggios. I don't do anything special for the tremolo - just make sure your hand is relaxed and that the fingers can easily reach where they need to play without doing any adjustments or hand movements. Then you just practice a lot using dotted rhythms to get it as even and smooth as possible. Practicing very accurately, slowly, and loudly helps nearly everything.

[salbella1]

@Guitartzt Thank you so much! I think just watching these videos on how to adjust your body, arms, and hands puts so much into perspective.

[Guitartzt]

@salbella1 So glad I could help you. Best of luck in your guitar playing.

[renatiusm]

This is the best explanation of right hand techniques I have ever heard! Great teaching! Thanks

[tcorman]

Question: if you start from the right side of the fingernail, it seems to require a good amount of ulnar deviation, which I understand to be a Bad Thing. Am I misunderstanding the positioning?

[silviopqueiroz]

THIS GUITAR IS BRAZILIAN! SERGIO ABREU IS A BRAZILIAN LUTHIER!

[TheFingerstyleGuitar]

I remember having a cassette as a teenager (some 20 years ago) of Presti/Lagoya

I loved everything on it, but their Scarlatti sonata sucked me into a lifelong love of the Classical guitar! Thanks so much for posting these vids - now I must go search for that - any recommendations of their recordings?

[Guitartzt]

@salbella1 Thanks for your kind words. I'm so glad I could help you. I have my a nail longer than the i and m because my a finger is shorter and often has to reach further. In general the nails should be a little longer than the finger and a nice rounded shape that more or less follows the shape of the finger tip. Then make sure your fingers are curved enough that you start your stroke right at the absolute side of the nail and slide towards the middle of the nail.