New Technique for Playing Classical Guitar (I)

Abstract
Joint application of the two techniques of “Lip” and “Nose” could be effectively applied for hearing and playing far-away intervals, by the Classical Guitar. Before this, a Classical Guitar player had to waive playing intervals not possible with the left hand, and had to replace or eliminate some notes, making it possible to play such intervals; specifically the capability of the left hand of the musician, was also a factor in such a selection. These methods are hereby illustrated by photographs and a video-file, in order to provide optimum comprehension of applying these methods, invented by the author; specifically the “Lip” technique, which is considered to be a more significant technique, emphasized by the author.

Introduction
In this paper, based on published arrangements of Classical Guitar masterpieces, invention of new techniques by the author, for escalating musical capabilities of the Classical Guitar in playing classic pieces is introduced for the first time. There have always been restrictions for arranging pieces of other instruments for the Classical Guitar, which have notes with far-away intervals. This paper is a new impression of playing Classical Guitar, which may improve competence of this instrument for those interested in listening classic music.

Necessity of Applying a New Technique for Playing the Classical Guitar
Any professional player of Classical Guitar or those with adequate understanding of playing this instrument know, for playing different chords and melodies, there should be proper placement of fingers and selecting the correct position by the left hand. However, all considerations for the left hand, finally requires suitable sounding by fingers of the right hand.
A practical example may assist comprehension, before going into the main issue; while you have gotten a chord on the tenth position (X) and simultaneously take a bass note on the 4th position of the 6th string; do you have any solution how to play this? Consider this situation for even further-apart intervals and while preserving chord of the 10th position try to play F# (F-sharp) note on the 2th position of the 6th string; what could we do then?
Experience answers these questions: “it is possible to play notes which such wide-apart intervals without re-tuning the instrument”. Accepting this issue, the necessity for new techniques for playing the Classical Guitar is the objective of this manuscript.
Development of these techniques by the author, began by working on arrangements and masterpieces of Ronald Dyens, which should be considered a contemporary pioneer in Classical Guitar, recognizing much potential of the Classical Guitar by rich and coherent harmonies in his plays; you can recognize in many cases the complicity of harmonies in pieces for the closed mode for positions, and this actually his talent. But if the interval between voice types would be too much wide-apart (referring to the aforementioned question), and tries to prevent this and fulfill the audience within that closed position, by applying a rich harmony. The second artist, generating the idea of these new techniques, is the great artist of Classical Guitar Kazuhito Yamashita.
This manuscript is not trying to review characteristics and thoughts of artists, but it should be mentioned how they led the author to develop these techniques; about two years ago while the author was reviewing arrangements of Yamashita for “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, he realized its unusual character in compare to all other arrangements for Classical Guitar. Positions and finger-placements were very difficult, or as musicians say “uneasy to fingering”, applying vocal colors and various techniques in each page of this arrangement, and the further you go over this arrangement, you will face a combination of all elements a Classical Guitar player avoids. These conditions raised the question in the mind of the author: is this arrangement with all these details and complications playable for all musicians?
With no doubt the idea of Yamashita was not providing an arrangement to be playable for all musicians; but who could play such an arrangement?!! It seems this did not care for Yamashita, because the major concept among all musicians “that the standard interval between the fingers of the left hand” are neglected in this arrangement. However, even if you have sympathy with Yamashita, even with the most flexible and powerful hand, it would not be possible to get and interval more than 6 or 7 fret on the head of the guitar.

The Lip Technique

By this technique of playing a Classical Guitar your could get a half position at the 10th position on the 6th string of the guitar near the headstock, and get the note with your upper lip (you should get the note completely hard and strike in order to prevent a buzz-sound). This note should be played with the outer part of your upper lip in a while your upper lip is supported by pressing your upper teeth behind your upper lip.
The Lip Technique
This is the first approach for listening improper wide-apart intervals, which was not possible to play with a guitar, without this technique. However, for playing any technique, intended daily exercise is necessary, which the author provides his personal experience as follows, in order to be as a guideline and basis for development of this technique:
1- Before getting the notes with the upper lip for applying this technique, it is necessary to inspect the upper part of the fret on the fingerboard of the guitar not to have any sharpness or rough edges, by gently rubbing the hand on these surfaces, in order to ensure its safety for the lips. Unfortunately some guitars do have such problems.
2- Continuous application of this technique needs care to prevent contact of the inner side of the lips with the string; a soggy string with saliva gives an unpleasant feeling to the musician, also from the health and neatness point of view is not acceptable (as illustrated in the picture, the upper lip is curved into the mouth to prevent contact of the inner side of the upper lip with the string).
3- Sudden moves of the neck towards the fingerboard of the guitar, is a significant point to care about. While the author was busy with working on “Prelude in C# minor [Op.3 No.2]” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, it was needed to have sudden moves of the neck on the positions on the guitar. If such movements would needed to be used continuously, physical exercise and warm-up for the neck and upper parts of the body is suggested in order to prevent spasm of muscles, because this could be the worst condition to occur for the neck of a musician.
4- In the case of having dry skin of lips or shucks on the surface of the lips, it is suggested no to apply this technique.
5- Finally, exercises such as playing scales (chromatic scale and diatonic scale), playing intervals and adding different rhythm patterns is suggested, in order to preserve readiness of your upper lip to play notes with different shapes and values. However, it is recommended to exercise on the 6th string.

Post a Comment

Required fields are marked *
*
*
Your email is never shared.

Celebrating 20 Years of Harmony Talk’s Journey: Resilience, Evolution, Honoring the Legacy and Navigating Future Growth

In a momentous celebration of two decades, the “Arasbaran Cultural Center” was the stage for the 20th anniversary of “Harmony Talk”, an online journal that has become a cornerstone in the music community. Sadjad Pourghanad, the editor-in-chief, delivered a speech that resonated with gratitude and vision.

HarmonyTalk Journal’s Twentieth Anniversary Celebration

On the 10th of Khordad, 1403 (equivalent to May 30, 2024), the twentieth anniversary celebration of the online journal “HarmonyTalk” took place at the Ersbārān Cultural Center. The event garnered such interest from enthusiasts that the venue was completely filled.

From Past Days…

The Structure of Kurdistan Daf (V)

ehrouz Mohammadi, “Daf and its feasts in Ghaderieh’s Tekyeh” mentions that the outer thickness of arch where studs are located, [is] between one to one and a half centimeters (Mohammadi, 2001: 12). The thickness of arch should be gradually reduced from the installation place of rings to skin (Avazeh of Daf) to create a high volume, clear sound from Daf; also, the connection of arch to skin should not be less than one millimeter, because in this case the skin will be torn due to the sharpness of the wood (Mogharab Samadi, 2009: 79-78). The thickness of wood on the skin side is about two to three millimeters (Tohidi, 2002: 79).

Illusion or Ingenuity?

Mohsen Renani in the preface of his book entitled “The Political Economy of nuclear conflict; an introduction to traversing the civilizations” writes:

Ruggero Chiesa’s Legacy

Written by Peyman Shirali Translated by Mahta Mottaghi Since many years ago, I had the intention of writing an article on the Italian maestro Ruggero Chiesa and his musical life; but his ingenuity and the immense legacy, which is impressive for not only me, but also almost everyone who knows him properly, made it hard for me…
Read More »

Homayoun Rahimian & Iran’s National Orchestra

The Roudaki Foundation presented the permanent conductor of the National Orchestra (Orchestr Melli), Homayoun Rahimian, in a ceremony, and finally, after four years, the national orchestra found a permanent conductor. Homayoun Rahimian is the fourth permanent conductor of this orchestra after Farhad Fakhreddini, Bardia Kiaras, and Fereidoun Shahbaziyan. He, who has previously had experience of conducting concerts besides being Meister’s concert of this orchestra, performed the concert “Autumns” on the 20th of Tir, performing works by Rouhollah Khaleqi, Javad Ma’roufi, and Hossein Dehlavi.

Harmony in the Iranian Music (II)

One of his works was the translation of Harmony, which was carried out with the help of Mozayyan al-Dowleh, and included a pamphlet based on which he used to teach the subject to the students of the school of music; the pamphlet was never published. It was, in fact, a kind of simple harmony for the piano with no quadriads, it rather featured the engagement of both the right hand and the left hand which was being taught at the music school for the first time. Salar-Mo’azez also composed military marches and hymns for schools, which he harmonized to be performed and piano. Likewise, he used to compose for military orchestras.

Harmony in the Iranian Music (I)

Translated by Mahboube Khalvati The article you are about to read was written by Rouhollah Khaleqi (1906-1965), composer, and conductor of Golha Orchestra (established in 1956). Khaleqi was one of the most prominent promoters of polyphony for the Iranian music and is one of the best representatives of the school of Ali Naghi Vaziri. In…
Read More »

Developments in Iranian Music Since Qajar Era (I)

At the end of the Qajar era and as Iran entered the power transition period, known as the constitutional era, the Iranian music went through a lot of changes. These changes gained momentum as the students and followers of Ali Naqi Vaziri’s entered the musical scene. These changes greatly influenced designs of instruments, playing methods, singing, composing, etc.

Principles of Violin Playing (VII)

4.3.1.3 Regarding the great linear distance and the unusual distance between the first and forth fingers, the first finger while playing the doubles of ninth and tenth interval, can be twisted in the knuckle area and the point mentioned in 3.1.2.5 paragraph in relation to the way first finger is placed indicating that the first joint of this finger in back of hand must be in line with the direction of forearm and left hand is not true here.

New Technique for Playing Classical Guitar (I)

Joint application of the two techniques of “Lip” and “Nose” could be effectively applied for hearing and playing far-away intervals, by the Classical Guitar. Before this, a Classical Guitar player had to waive playing intervals not possible with the left hand, and had to replace or eliminate some notes, making it possible to play such intervals; specifically the capability of the left hand of the musician, was also a factor in such a selection. These methods are hereby illustrated by photographs and a video-file, in order to provide optimum comprehension of applying these methods, invented by the author; specifically the “Lip” technique, which is considered to be a more significant technique, emphasized by the author.

Interview with the Makers of the New Qeychak (I)

On occasion of the 8th anniversary of launching HarmonyTalk Online Journal on 6 April 2012, Reza Ziaei, master luthier and researcher on classical music instruments (violin family), announced that the first phase of the project to improve Qeychak has borne fruit. The new instrument would feature a bowl of ribs and the material used for the surface would be wooden. Carrying out the second phase of the project took more than 7 years engaging the new members of Reza Ziaei’s Workshop. In this phase, new researches were conducted from different aspects on the Qeychak and the modern versions of the instrument which were introduced previously by other instrument makers. The available versions of the instrument were studied in terms of their weak and strong technical features.