Hello, lutelisters, in this context (staff and/or tablature), I would like to share with you a procedure that is helping me in overcome certain vices which have to do with a build up of bad reflexes, ie, the relation between:
- the visual information tablature offers, - and the finger postures on the left hand. I mean with this the following: after some years I have achieved a certain degree of dexterity (now it would be better to say: lefterity :-) ), and the time has arrived of refining the automatisms (=reflexes), for instance, going with the tip exactly to the fret, instead of letting a gap. Of course, strictly speaking it is better to express it this way: changing the bad reflexes for good ones. Or: improving your tecnique. In this regard I have found very helpful to 'translate' the music from tablature to staff notation. When playing that very well known music from staff, suddenly the automatisms disappear nearly completely, and I become more conscious of what I am doing. Saying it with other words: changing from tablature to staff notation is like changing the stimulus, the input, and so the response changes too! You must build it up from scratch! Besides there are 2 more benefits in doing this, of course: 1. I learn where the notes are (know better the fretboard), 2. and have another view of the music. An advice for fellow beginners: try first 2 voices music (for instance: Christ ist erstanden, by Judenkunig). And play very, very, very, very, very, very, very sloooowwwwlyyyy...... I hope I have explained myself correctly. Saludos from Barcelona, Manolo Laguillo -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
