Rob
Yes I knew I would receive this message. That is why I have never
mentioned it before; but I was careful to say it has nothing to do
with strength, but everything to do with suppleness, and control. It
seems to make the joints more flexible. I have naturally very
unsupple fingers, which I find hard to bend back. Again it may depend
on each person's hand structure.
I notice that it is used by marksmen to control their trigger finger,
surely not for additional strength but for control (slow controlled
movement).there is also this curious change to the end of the fingers
after using it.
I have hesitated between using it and not using it, but finally
always seem to find an improvement after using it for a short time.
Apart from anything else, it certainly seemed to have cured the
inflamed index finger.
I also said that it does not replace any of the lute exercises,
scales or whatever, and most younger players, probably do not need it.
Le 26 févr. 08 à 13:21, Rob MacKillop a écrit :
In my experience, students tend to use ten times the amount of
pressure and
energy than required, so when I see talk of finger strengtheners I get
worried. The great classical guitarist, David Russell, taught me an
invaluable lesson in this regard. Put your left hand index finger
on any
note, say for example the fifth fret of the first string. Don't
press it
down yet, just touch it with the fingertip. Start continuously
plucking the
string. Obviously you get a muted note. Now slowly start adding
pressure as
you move the string towards the fingerboard. Soon the note will
sound well.
At that point, start decreasing the pressure back to where you
started. You
are teaching your muscles to apply the minimum pressure needed to
fret a
note. My bet it is that it is a LOT less pressure than you are used to
applying. Now try it with other fingers. Then try playing a scale
without
open strings with this same technique. Go up and down the scale a
few times
from zero pressure to just enough and back again. Do this at the
start of
every practice session. Worked for me.
Your fingers are more than strong enough.
Rob
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