Classical Guitar Lesson #2: P stroke

Maybe i did use the wrong word to descibe.On the video 107 you are showing as middle joint should be strait your's is slightly bend it as you play during the video.Again sorry if i offended you.That what i did learn from Antonio Dumezic. Raffi Aslanyan, and finally Carlos Bonell. And also it is important think if you feel you are producing god sound what ever the position you are doing that's the one is wright.Best regard

I really need to do the P stroke video over again. What I really wanted to say was that all three joints of the 'P' extend together to the string, and then all three joints flex together. The middle joint does not have a very large range of motion, and for some peple it won't move at all. People who hold the P- tip fully extended will tend to move almost exclusively from the wrist joint.

Hi .I am not trying to be rude .but you finger positioning P is wrong,it is not supposed to be bend,at least it must be strait,
best regard .

I'm not sure what you mean by "wrong" There are various schools of thought on the 'P' stroke, all of which are used by fine players.

Dear ericaltendorf,

You have really brought up some good points. Yes, you must move latterally a little with P even though it can't really be seen. The reason you should minimize the latteral movement is for efficiency (IMO). All latteral movement is wasted movement and contributes nothing to the stroke. P does make a very narrow eliptical motion in order to avoid hitting the string on ectension.

It seems the question of "straight-line" vs "circular" P stroke has to do with the return. It is fine to strike the string in a straight line, but clearly the thumb cannot follow exactly the reverse straight line back, or it would strike the string on return. It must move laterally somehow to bypass the string. (I actually have the same confusion about using 1st segment extension to clear the strings on ima free stroke return.) Lutemann, what is your take on this aspect of the stroke?

Part 2
As far as the fingers hitting the strings on the return, that is not a problem. There is a delay ( you don't have to think about it) in the natural extension of the middle joint which allow the finger to miss the string on the return.

It's more for acoustics and build quality that anything. An acoustic guitar with a solid wood top will begin to sound better over time as the wood ages and stretches just like a violin. The more it's played the fuller and warmer and louder it will sound because the properties of the wood will change. Older wood=better tone under most circumstances. Why do you think people pay tens of thousands of dollars for violins. Electric guitars on the other hand were made better in the 60's than theyarenow

old violins that is. Wood has a subtle effect on electric guitars but a tremendous effect on acoustics.

thank you for the nice lesson!
It is useful ;)