Lesson: Right Hand Position & Technique for Classical Guitar 

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Superb! Very clear and with lots of emphasis and repetition on vital points. Thank you. Brilliant teacher!

You're a remarkable teacher and a generous person, thank you for helping so many people. I appreciate you!

Great! For me until now the best tutorial I´ve seen about the right hand position!

Thank you so much for the over the shoulder view. Many instructors have shown close-ups but not like this. Coming from plectrum-centric electric playing to classical has been challenging and this is exactly what I needed to see!

Now this is the difference between a sole player and a teacher. You are the best!

oh man...i'm 57 ...i need the Basics Just Like this ...Thanks so very much for posting this and Congratulations on this Fab Vedeo !! 100% Great Job !!

I keep coming back to these basic videos even though I'm intermediate. I always find something not right with my fundamentals.

What a wonderful and important lesson. Thank you :)

Super helpful and extremely thorough. Thank you

I'd been trying to get to a correct guitar playing position ever since I began to play guitar until I came across you on youtube. You have a very good style of teaching which make the subject easy to understand. I'll be following your other lessons. Thank you very much for sharing your great skills. Many regards

Awesome teacher!! Very knowledgeable, appreciate your obvious concern that your students progress and the best way to accomplish some success each week!

very clear demonstration! Thank you!

Wow! Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is thorough, easy to understand, and ideal for all learners. The student view towards the end was the best part. Thank you for showing the technique from that perspective. I play a steel string but I prefer to learn classical techniques to aid me when finger picking.

Very well presented. Too often instructional books and videos don't take the time and effort to go over all the tiny details. I've played around with finger picking techniques a little, but you showed me where and why I was facing obstacles. Many thanks!

Thank you so much, that was really helpful. The view from above was particularly useful

Most helpful lesson. Thank You!

Very clear and good demonstration!

Thank you soo much. Been playing classical guitar for years and give a lot of exams but i missed a lot of these important tips which has brought down my growth. Thank you again.

You are such a great teacher! Thank you for the details.

Thank you so much! I'm starting to learn classical guitar on my own and it was so hard to find a clear video on right hand technique that explains why.. but this makes a lot of sense. I just really didn't want to learn the wrong way and end up hurting myself or having to unlearn something

Very useful. Thank you.

Best lessons to understand the basics of basic, many teach you basics of playing classical guitar, but these lessons are really basics of those basics.

Finaly a video that shows how the basics shoud be preformed. Thanks you and I will be watching.

you're the best teacher. period.

That was very helpful thanks

thank you brad. good to go back and review to keep from bad habits for us beginners. you are meticulous in your lessons. grand!

A very detailed and good demonstration.

Thank you so much!!! I was having a lot of trouble with my right hand technique. My thumb was parallel to the strings and I was not able to play the bass notes properly. The position was possibly a result of watching RU-vid videos with a view from the front of the player. Your camera angle looking from the point of view of the player made me realize my mistake. Very useful!!!! Thanks again!!!

Awesome video

Thanks for the video! I got lessons from a Segovia student a long time ago and so was my right hand position, now working on correcting.

Great help video!!

Very helpful. Thank you

Best videoI have seen on this subject as it shows how things should look from the player’s perspective, not an observers.

thx man, this helps me heaps.

Thanks for the video!

Great lesson, thanks!

I'm a composer relatively new to writing for classical guitar: I take "knowing" the instrument very seriously and this channel has been so helpful in my research. Thank you.

A brilliant lesson, so helpful, thank you

Was very helpful.

Thanks!

You're perfect.Thank you so much

Excellent, T hank y ou, I. Really no eeded this video,

What a fantastic video! Thought I was playing ok, but never watched the video on proper sitting and holding guitar. Last night I viewed that video, tried to absorb your instruction, and tonight watched this "right hand" video. Wow! I took in-person lessons almost two years ago for a couple of months, but was not thrilled when instructor asked me what I wanted to learn. I really enjoy your structure (I'm nearing completion of Book 2 materials). My in-person teacher never questioned or corrected my posture or right hand position. "Left hand" video tomorrow night! You are providing a superb service to players. I've bought five of your books so far, and hope to support you by contributing to your channel (after holiday presents are purchased ;) )!

Great lesson thank you so much

This helped out a lot thank you

many thanks

This is definitely helpful

Excellent 👍🏼

great video

Thanks for this and other videos. I wonder if you could discuss 'anchoring.' I like to put my ring-finger/right hand on the guitar top, because I Travis-picked for so many years. It gives me more power when I play, I think. But I"m new to CG and everybody keeps saying you should NEVER have your ring-finger anchoring on the top. I do us A (PIMA) when appropriate, depending on the song. But sometimes, I like to really have that power that comes from grounding my hand on the top. I'd like to hear your comments on this. Thanks!!!

Wow thanks for the video I’m 55 just started playing

probably the most important lesson in classical guitar

Just have a look at John Williams' right hand. It's the gold standard and leaves your technique in the dust though yours is not too bad. Your arch could be greater and the knuckles should be parallel to the strings. I watched videos of Williams when I was learning and practised it in front of a mirror religiously. Served me well. Still serves me well.

Very nice, detailed presentation. Using different camera angles and positions really helps to get your information across. Thanks! (It looks like you use your fingernails for strumming and picking.)

this is a good video i leand a lot !, i still got a problem with my a finger if i play an Arpeggios ima with cords my a finger miss the string often when i got my attention on the cords shift but also in general do you have any advice or thought for that thank you in advance

Excellent video! I'm sending a lot of my students to check out your stuff as a supplemental teaching tool!

Hello teacher, thanks for another great class!! I had read your article before watching the video and it really is very complete! 👏 Congratulations on all the work done on your website, it is really of great quality and care!! I really liked this class, I am always paying attention to all your observations and making constant adjustments, remembering your teachings. Today I started printing your book! (volume 1). I'm following the videos you left there in the form of a list. I haven't started practicing with your book yet. I intend to start. For now I'm practically doing other exercises for beginners too... One thing I would like to ask you... I saw that you have several books, with progressive learning, correct? Is your method more or less similar to what students learn when they study at the music conservatory? Or have you adapted the teachings for those who want to practice as a hobby? I was quite curious. Until later! Gratitude

thx man

Thank you so much for these videos! Started out trying to hold my guitar as the online instructor in a course did, felt all thumbs. It's taken me a while to really get that a classical guitar is a different thing to a simple acoustic guitar. All the things you point in this video, has been giving me trouble, especially when it comes picking and hitting more than one string. So very grateful for someone finally doing an over the shoulder view, very much needed this and it's easier to emulate and adjust. Seriously, big big thanks for putting all the effort into making these videos. Be safe. Cheers.

Many thanks. I am following all your videos. I have the free book one and will buy the rest. You are excellent value for money as others are asking big sums to learn. You keep it manageable and are very encouraging to us who cannot afford teachers but strive to learn it properly. With the book one I take it all right hand picking is without the " rest stroke"? Picardo? Thank you again for your excellent tutorials. Pete

Is there a proper technique to the actual plucking in relation to active finger joints? I have heard that there is some relationship between flexing the last two joints and flexing the very small tender muscles above the elbow (top corner forearm area) ultimately resulting in ring finger crippling and malformation? In other words ought one only pivot the fingers from the top knuckle?-thus keeping all the other joints loose and limp?

What about turning the forearm to obtain better tone. So the nails strike at a softer angle with the finger and nail?

Thank you very much... this and the previous video really helped me before these videos my back was hurting...You earned another sub

I need exercise : how can i find the strings in right hand without see the strings ? Thanks

Thank you so much for your lessons! I just started practicing using the method book and noticed my left hand finger will not go i m i m, sometimes I'd just go double i or random with instinct. I wonder if it matters? Or it's best to use practice using alternate finger picking? Thanks again for your lesson

I've purchased many of your lesson books. You're and excellent teacher. I've been playing classical guitar off and on for some time. I have such great difficult control my left hand 4th finer, especial when play the bass 6th string G and 2nd string D at the same time. Many of your music scores have this combination. I just have such difficulty positioning those two fingers at the right time and place. Any suggestions?

If play many notes in one string then should I used one finger or two finger alternately on that string?....Plz reply.

A) your amazing. B) You totally remind me of the star of Ant Man.

Thank you for the video. My thumb keeps wanting to move up every time a play a higher note with my other fingers for some reason. I noticed your thumb stays exactly in the same place? Any idea what's causing this?

What is this little rubber(or some other material) line under your forearm? Ive seen it in Marcins asturias video as well and want myself one as well. I am now struggling with forrarm pain while playing, buying strap and support under guitar but also this thing is indeed in my wishlist. What is this called?

Hi! At 12:40, you recommend to play with a slight angle. I do really like to play like this, because I feel it's quite confortable. It makes me "hit" the strings with the left side of my nails (with release to the right side) However, my guitar teacher would like me to try to be more perpendicular to the string in order to produce a better tone, more in a "Segovia" way of playing (trying to hit the strings with the right side of the nails and release with the left side). I try to put this in practice, but I find it quite hard. What's on your take on the subject or guidance? Thanks a lot for your help!

Are the recommendation the same for steel string guitar? If I play finger style instead of strumming.

Do you offer what fingers play (PIMA/position) major and minor scales?

any ideas as to why when i strike the string with my m finger, the string kind of gets stuck under my nail for a split second. I feel like it slows me down

Thank you for this! I'm self-taught since I was 11 and am now trying to get rid of the old pinky anchor at the young age of 62 :) I do have a question: do you find your forearm moving across the edge when you do a chromatic scale on all 6 strings, or does it stay in place because you swing your arm in an arc? I hope that makes sense. I'm also having trouble not allowing that forearm contact point to act as a fulcrum and have my hand bounce up and down when I pick faster. The old cause and effect taking place without my pinky anchor.

Hello there, great video! I have 2 questions to ask if I may. 1, you know how the fingers are angled slightly towards each other. How do I keep them from not going into each other when plucking the strings? Refering to the i m a fingers on RH. 2, is the ring finger supposed to be able to move completely independent? When I move it I also move my middle finger. Thanks

Hello, thank you for your video. How to explain that Tarrega and his successors advised to twist the right wrist? See the picture of Tarrega p.76 of Escuela razonada de la guitara, E. Pujol. Also, the fact that there are still guitar players using this wrist position calls for a further discussion on this point. But this is out of the video's intention, which is intended to beginners, I understand.

A little question: the thumb rest on the 6th string or on the string just over the string we are playing? Thanks a lot for your answer.

For some reason that picking technique "towards the palm" seems elusive to me. My right hand fingers tend to go outward instead.

I use a thumb pick..is that okay ?

Bro, you look like paul rudd and sound like john mulaney. nicely eplained video too

Question: is it okay if the right hand pinky sticks out a bit? I've suffered injuries to my hand over the years and my pinky never wants to conform, even when totally relaxed.

Part of what makes you a good teacher is the fact that your "bad" examples are hilarious. I keep laughing 8D

A question. I noticed that I press the guitar with the right arm helping the left hand to press easier the strings. Is it ok? I found out that this adds movements to the guitar.

Can you do theory lessons and a plan for teaching us as on an academic level , thanks

Not sure if you still respond to comments on this channel, but I was wondering if it's ok to play with your right hand over the bottom of the neck/fretboard. I've been playing guitar for a while and I've picked up the habit of doing that when I do fingerpicking, but I wanted to know if that would translate well to learning classical guitar.

what’s that thing on the back top of your guitar called?

I’m trying to play with a regular guitar is it ok to hold my guitar flat instead of at 45degrees

Do you do Skype lessons? I live a bit in the middle of nowhere and would love to pay for some lessons from you. Thank you for all the great videos.

Hi, @3:49 right arm position another teacher on RU-vid says to prevent future nerve damage the right forearm should lie flat on the guitar lower bout. Re: Elite Guitarist - Contraversal Right Hand placement.

do I change my right hand position for rest strokes

Hendrix played the guitar behind his head. Is that an ok guitar position?

Do you use Low or hard tension strings???

When I do restrokes and play with the middle finger, my wrist naturally arches more is that okay?

Im about to finish the Sagreras method after spending years on it. I did every single lesson. Is there some method that would be a natural "extension" that Sagreras students could move on to. It sounds weird but Sagreras almost became a comforting security blanket for me and Im feeling a bit lost without it.

what a hardcore action hahaha just kidding, awesome video

Relax position is so important. Flamenco guitarists like Paco de Lucia played guitar neck almost vertical (maybe 15 degree angle). He anchor his elbow differently. But of course with foot stool it goes higher. Basics are basic and it is always good to know them. Are there good exercises for right hand fingers independency ? a-finger is weak.

02:00

Which sitting position would you prefer for acoustic fingerstyle guitarists ?