I used to express the same position for the left hand thumb to my students with almost the exact same description. Planting the thumb just behind the 2nd finger allows the balanced hand to reach one finger per fret with the index reaching a little to the left while the second finger plants in front of the the thumb. This also allows the fingers on the fret board to maintain some contact or pressure on each fret while chromatically ascending - then when descending the motion is to simply lift off the neck one finger at a time. That way the intervals are available with out struggling. The index finger gives the position then the 2nd finger is half set higher, the 3rd finger is a whole step from one - a half step from 2 and so forth - this is the naturally occurring intervals in the hand. If the hand has stressed wider than 1 finger per fret, then the mind perceives larger intervals. This is how one learns to read and play the scales and know where the notes are etc. The notes aren't really memorized as much as they are processed over time with the muscle memory of the left hand syncing on the fretboard guided by primary music information [other wise known as basic music theory - the understanding of whole steps and half steps, chromatic movement, simple scales & intervals which leads to harmony knowledge]. These technical approaches apply to the CLASSICAL guitar (and flamenco) not to steel string or electric - but the classical technique can be applied or used in other music genres worlds and can be helpful. I could go on but listen to Angel - he was playing like this when he was 5 years old…
Another way to say it is efficient movement---the less motion the better---as you are saying compared to sports---efficient movement the less movement the better the faster and more accurate you can be.
I can cite several players at the top of the game who commit these faux pas -especially the pinkie- so it may just go to show that perfect music does not require perfect technique.
@@ZRJZZZZZ Pablo Sainz-Villegas spreads out the pinky on the picking hand (example: Concierto de Aranjuez in the Concertgebouw) and he is one of the best classical players.
That doesn't mean you should be aiming for less than perfect technique or making excuses for failing to do so. Technique is there for a reason. Does it mean that all is lost if you can't master it? No! But it's not a reason to think technique is not needed. Keep on practicing. No-one will ever be perfect and we'll all always be learning.
@@ZRJZZZZZ Boyyung Byun (extended pinky right hand); Vera Danilina (same, one of the best in the world at the moment); Xavier Jara (cello position for guitar, usually considered improper);
Ugh! It's so frustrating when people talk and they don't describe well for those who cannot see. Do this, move like that, keep your fingers here, use this side of the nails... WHERE? WHICH FINGER, PLAY HOW AND WHICH SIDE OF THE DANG NAILS??? I understand though. It's a visual world after all, most people have excellent or at least good enough sight. Oh well, what do you do? Being blind is a bitch, trust me. I say it unapologetically but be sure: it's no one's fault. We can't reasonably expect the whole world to adjust for one person:) it's just life, mes amis
telling students to keep fingers 5mm in front of the strings, and relax as much as possible is much worse that Ethan Hunt completing his tasks in Mission Impossible. in fact all we need is just a darn darn damn SSSSLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW til u can control your fingers individually, and prolonged patience and focus. it took me 6 torturing months consciously controlled to play SLOW scale, in order to correct my wobbling fingers
Look. This is what it comes down to: standard technique is for the regular players (which is the vast majority of us). If you are a virtuoso, standard technique does not apply. Further, virtuosi don't necessarily make better teachers. They may not even fully understand how they achieve their greatness. Thus,.copying them will not necessarily make us sound like them, though it may inch us forward if we are lucky.
@@ZRJZZZZZ it's not only my advice, the last joint of the thumb(where the nail is)should generally be straight, and usually around the middle of the neck with the thumb in a natural position ,most importantly there should be minimal tension on the thumb, and almost of all the pressure on the strings comes from the weight of the arm and a bit from the back muscles, that's why with good technique you should be able to easily use the thumb as a 5th left hand finger.
You could be right, but I would never argue with a Romero about anything that has to do with the guitar. You are talking about six individuals who have been performing publicly on the instrument for over 100 years all over the world and teaching it wherever they go.
@@ZRJZZZZZ No one is god, He may be an incredible artist, but as teachers we also have a responsibility to always keep learning to not hinder our students, and he clearly stopped, bad thumb positioning with excess tension has no artistic merit.
I used to express the same position for the left hand thumb to my students with almost the exact same description. Planting the thumb just behind the 2nd finger allows the balanced hand to reach one finger per fret with the index reaching a little to the left while the second finger plants in front of the the thumb. This also allows the fingers on the fret board to maintain some contact or pressure on each fret while chromatically ascending - then when descending the motion is to simply lift off the neck one finger at a time. That way the intervals are available with out struggling. The index finger gives the position then the 2nd finger is half set higher, the 3rd finger is a whole step from one - a half step from 2 and so forth - this is the naturally occurring intervals in the hand. If the hand has stressed wider than 1 finger per fret, then the mind perceives larger intervals. This is how one learns to read and play the scales and know where the notes are etc. The notes aren't really memorized as much as they are processed over time with the muscle memory of the left hand syncing on the fretboard guided by primary music information [other wise known as basic music theory - the understanding of whole steps and half steps, chromatic movement, simple scales & intervals which leads to harmony knowledge]. These technical approaches apply to the CLASSICAL guitar (and flamenco) not to steel string or electric - but the classical technique can be applied or used in other music genres worlds and can be helpful. I could go on but listen to Angel - he was playing like this when he was 5 years old…
Great teacher too. 😊🎸
This great guitarist is a Maestro and we ordinary players should listen to his advice concerning hand position, economy of movement, ergonomics, etc.
Muchas gracias, maestro!
Saludos desde el Perú
After hearing Angel play Villa-Lobos Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra I thought, "This guy is the best guitarist in the world."
Great video! What is the name of orchestral piece in the played in the beginning?
Great video! Thank you!
Good insights!
Another way to say it is efficient movement---the less motion the better---as you are saying compared to sports---efficient movement the less movement the better the faster and more accurate you can be.
I can cite several players at the top of the game who commit these faux pas -especially the pinkie- so it may just go to show that perfect music does not require perfect technique.
Please cite those several players who are at the top of the game, if you will.
@@ZRJZZZZZ Pablo Sainz-Villegas spreads out the pinky on the picking hand (example: Concierto de Aranjuez in the Concertgebouw) and he is one of the best classical players.
That doesn't mean you should be aiming for less than perfect technique or making excuses for failing to do so. Technique is there for a reason. Does it mean that all is lost if you can't master it? No! But it's not a reason to think technique is not needed. Keep on practicing. No-one will ever be perfect and we'll all always be learning.
@@ZRJZZZZZ Boyyung Byun (extended pinky right hand); Vera Danilina (same, one of the best in the world at the moment); Xavier Jara (cello position for guitar, usually considered improper);
I like it when dickheads cite exceptions based on people no one knows instead of just having the decency to give up when they know they are wrong.
WOW I'm not as crap as i thought!! 😊
Thx
Yes, a majority of modern (younger) players have impecable tonal control, "monotonal" control I'd say.
Ugh! It's so frustrating when people talk and they don't describe well for those who cannot see. Do this, move like that, keep your fingers here, use this side of the nails... WHERE? WHICH FINGER, PLAY HOW AND WHICH SIDE OF THE DANG NAILS??? I understand though. It's a visual world after all, most people have excellent or at least good enough sight. Oh well, what do you do? Being blind is a bitch, trust me. I say it unapologetically but be sure: it's no one's fault. We can't reasonably expect the whole world to adjust for one person:) it's just life, mes amis
The Romeros are great "guitar" players true,... but they are not good teachers.
I don't have first hand knowledge but they do make strange analogies at times:)
@@niceguitar6144 Yes, they are not very studied in musicianship, but they have definitely mastered their guitar.
@@00vTv00 The Romero are "guitar" players? Why the qualifying scare-quotes? 😮
telling students to keep fingers 5mm in front of the strings, and relax as much as possible is much worse that Ethan Hunt completing his tasks in Mission Impossible.
in fact all we need is just a darn darn damn SSSSLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW til u can control your fingers individually, and prolonged patience and focus.
it took me 6 torturing months consciously controlled to play SLOW scale, in order to correct my wobbling fingers
Look. This is what it comes down to: standard technique is for the regular players (which is the vast majority of us). If you are a virtuoso, standard technique does not apply.
Further, virtuosi don't necessarily make better teachers. They may not even fully understand how they achieve their greatness. Thus,.copying them will not necessarily make us sound like them, though it may inch us forward if we are lucky.
I looked through your channel and there are no videos of Raphael Rabello or Yamandu Costa. A sin.
economy of movement
I didn’t know seth rogan played guitar!
مرصی ❤❤
With all due respect...he obviously doesn't know the first thing about basketball! But that OK, point still understood.
what is the first thing about basketball taht he got wrong?
His advice on left thumb positoning is complete nonsense, very limiting and creates execess tension, its sad to see people still teach like that.
Agreed, but the "students" lap it up, and worship the big ego know-it-all approach without question every time.
What is your advice, then?
@@ZRJZZZZZ it's not only my advice, the last joint of the thumb(where the nail is)should generally be straight, and usually around the middle of the neck with the thumb in a natural position ,most importantly there should be minimal tension on the thumb, and almost of all the pressure on the strings comes from the weight of the arm and a bit from the back muscles, that's why with good technique you should be able to easily use the thumb as a 5th left hand finger.
You could be right, but I would never argue with a Romero about anything that has to do with the guitar. You are talking about six individuals who have been performing publicly on the instrument for over 100 years all over the world and teaching it wherever they go.
@@ZRJZZZZZ No one is god, He may be an incredible artist, but as teachers we also have a responsibility to always keep learning to not hinder our students, and he clearly stopped, bad thumb positioning with excess tension has no artistic merit.