Maximum results for minimum effort! (Left Hand technique basics)

[@stephenmichalski2643]

Having taught myself.....always wondered if my technique was ok/right......guess I just did/do what worked .....came naturally....felt ok......or was easy. Will check how I compare to what you show here. Again.....thank you soooo much for your work and sharing.....it really matters and helps.....will become a patreon asap. I just closed the tailgate on my van and the lock/latch popped out with a bunch of crumbling rust....lol.....life.....if its not one thing....it's another. For the most part I've learned to at least try to laugh at adversity. Thanks again.....love and best wishes to you and yours.

[@MerceFont]

Thank you very much to you Stephen! I'm very happy my content helps you! Whenever you join as Patron you'll see in the Forum how many articles we have already that might help you a lot for practicing as well (I wish I could make a video out of everything but the content of the Forum is much too dense to bring it all in the channel... :D). I wish you all the best to you too and hopefully good times are awaiting for you in the very near future! 🤗

[@nickrobinson2023]

“The devil is in the detail” seemingly unimportant things have a huge effect on playing. Furthermore, having these concepts in mind will help one guitar player to be more dexterous than another who does not practice in this way. Each of your videos is a golden nugget with a vast amount of technical information inside. I am very grateful for all these lessons. You do a great job. I consider you the best of the teachers on the KZbin network, and the one who cares most about mechanics and technique, stressing the importance of these vital concepts to forward one's playing. Moltes gràcies.

[@JamesHoustonWhite]

love the subtle details you point out.

[@gabejohnson97]

Also a self-taught guitarist; definitely guilty of moving my inactive fingers too far out of the way whilst playing. I always wondered how the pros made it look so easy to float around the fretboard, and I think this simple concept is one of the fundamental building blocks I was missing in my fret technique. Thanks for sharing. Maximum results for minimum effort is so well-put!

[@ronanmurray9530]

Thank you Merce for these free videos from your Academy of teaching. You are helping to correct my self-taught bad habits of left hand techniques. Much appreciated.

[@golfpoetry]

I am focused on learning to play jazz standards fingerstyle. Your explanations of left and right hand fundamentals (along with exercises) are of greater help than any I've found among the fingerstyle jazz instructors on KZbin. Thank you so much.

[@MerceFont]

Thanks for your comment Leon! Glad to read I could help you a bit! keep up the good practice! 🙌🏻

[@linotti58]

Danke!

[@MerceFont]

Thank you dear! 🙏🏻

[@oscarcasusol5312]

Bravo Merce! Your technique and tips are always of great help.

[@MerceFont]

Thank you! 😃 Glad to hear that!

[@davidhill8163]

Thank you so much for breaking this down into a plan people can follow. Much appreciated.

[@BarryFence]

Wow! Excellent lesson! I've been playing a long time without a teacher so I needed this.

[@RoxiVazz]

What a great teacher.

[@buzzstankos8532]

Merce, Thank you very much for the time and energy you put into helping us all. Brava!

[@MerceFont]

Thanks Buzz! I appreciate that!

[@alby5658]

Thank you ❤🎉

[@GuitarAdventure146]

Really helpful. Thanks

[@fokyuikangmirror7142]

Thank you teacher, I hope it can solve my problem of using fingers for many years

[@gergmac]

Many thanks, very clear presentation

[@Lutemann]

I'm glad you are teaching this.

[@rajibborbhuyan7949]

One of the best guitar finger excercise to improve tone ...

[@ScorpIron58]

That's so well explained and filmed....thankyou so much. I will be trying this !

[@PavanKUmar-zm4nc]

Hello Merce, Thank you 🙏🏻 again, for your valuable insights and guidance. Have a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead. Best Wishes!!

[@MerceFont]

You are so welcome Pavan :) Makes me happy to read is the videos are helpful to you guys! Enjoy the Sunday!

[@khaledhafiz]

Very impressive. Thanks

[@cammophatz1357]

Great lesson. Merci Merce!

[@everyoung1114]

You are WONDERFULL! ❤ Thank you for this video!

[@smallfaucet]

What an angel!

[@alvarocatanzano4467]

Excellent Teacher, very precise and with an impeccable way to explain technics, your English is awesome, very clear and you are a beautiful teacher as well (that make me loose focus very often)...with respect. Thanks a lot for this whole of beauty that you share with us, Salud Muchacha!

[@swaynno]

Good style of instruction Thankyou

[@mattotten]

Very nice, thank you. I'm going to send this to a student.

[@MerceFont]

Wonderful!

[@WCGP]

Excellent lesson, as always. Best wishes, Will

[@MerceFont]

Glad you enjoyed it Will! best wishes to you too!

[@albertmontes11]

Very helpful on finger positioning! Thanks! Hope you give more lessons

[@MerceFont]

Thanks, will do!

[@gheniband6033]

Great tips I might be checking out that book tomorrow. I’m looking forward to working on pumping some nylon

[@mattprovo6150]

Thank you

[@ropehitch]

Espero que todos nosotros sepamos que tremendo regalo tenemos aquí. Simple, y tremendo. ¡Muchas gracias, Merce! Seguro que vale la pena desarrollar las técnicas fundamentales. Soy amateur, y no puedo practicar todo el díá, pero cuando me aplico a la pasatiempo...me valen las lecciones fundamentales. Perdona el español torpe...es otra pasatiempo mío aprender español :)

[@loutrotechaud2598]

Thank you so much!

[@pulkitbarwal5075]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. This helped a lot

[@MerceFont]

I'm so glad!

[@beelogee]

Thank you this I greatly appreciate it info.

[@toosmoothtomoove3510]

Very informative 👍 many thanks❤

[@FandomTOBY]

I'm happy that you went straight to the point but in a slow manner and didn't just play super fast on your guitar like in so many other video's ive watched today seeing people play an easy (to them) exercise is cool and all but if that's all they do to try and explain something it only really confuses me to a point of not wanting to watch the video anymore *Your video is the first I've watched all the way to the end AND tried out the tips right after!* my pinky is still really weak but the tip with the thumb position already helped so much with it ^^

[@MerceFont]

That's so nice!!! happy it's working! 😊

[@johnjomp]

Estoy estudiando la guitarra classic. Este video me ayudo mucho. Tengo problems con mi dedo indice.

[@luisgonzales7730]

Voy a practicar esto.

[@yogxoth1959]

Very good video lesson, thank you!

[@MerceFont]

Thank you very much! :)

[@oneherenow622]

Thank you for reading...I wasn't familiar with this book. Though Neville is frequently monotopical in his lectures, I find it nourishing to listen to his words. ENFP here...my best to your baby.

[@abdulhishama]

Brilliant exercise! Thanks, Merce.

[@klaasdanieldijkstra6897]

Thank you Merce ,its so helpful.🌹

[@MerceFont]

I'm so glad!

[@HuskyButterMan]

Thank you!

[@MerceFont]

You are very welcome!!! :)

[@pauljohnligas5688]

Thank you, 😇

[@MerceFont]

Any time!

[@udayanmustafi3963]

Thanks for this tutorial.. 🎸

[@MerceFont]

Welcome!

[@massimomerlo81]

It's easy to translate from italian to english...:-) complimenti per il tuo canale!

[@MerceFont]

grazie mille Massimo!

[@RobertoMartinez-kv5tp]

Buenos consejos ✔

[@streamofconsciousness5826]

You would make a Great Painting. 🍁

[@joeykupss1188]

I like your accent I like your teaching and your also very pretty. Thank you so much for your knowledge and talent. Thank you again

[@MerceFont]

🙏🏻

[@raulrodriguezdiaz3205]

Great advises.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@MerceFont]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MANISHSHAH9]

Very different way very nice

[@MerceFont]

Thanks a lot!

[@GraciaBelievesthatJesusSaves]

♥️🖐️💪🎸🪕Thank you for sharing this knowledge and youre insigts 👂

[@lahormigatrovador]

Hi i'm colombiano, you are great thanks so much, you lessons are awesome

[@MerceFont]

Muchas gracias!! me alegro que te ayuden!! te deseo buena semana y buena practica!

Very useful video, I am going to share it with my students and colleagues.

[@MerceFont]

Awesome, thank you!!!! 😊

[@thierrynakache]

So, the fingers not completely right on the cords, to avoid stress, yes ?

[@robertocachoCRkayak]

Lo que usted diga bella!!!

[@starflake47]

I have seen instructors who say, when playing the chromatic scale in first position, that all strings should be played on the absolute fingertips to avoid muting the next higher string. I find this most difficult to do on the 5th and especially, 6th string. Trying to play vertically on my fingertips on the 6th string causes my wrist to arch quite a bit. In your video, you seem not to be playing the 6th string vertically on your fingertips, but rather towards the pads of your fingers. Is this what I should be trying to do? Thanks, Richard

[@difand1]

Such a nice teacher and pretty lady! Thanks!

[@vancesnyder2426]

I an older beginner and I had the misfortune of hurting my fret hand with a bone spur due to bad technique. Now I am focusing on how to play with less stress and enjoying the journey.

[@lucashep]

Hope ur still playing

[@vancesnyder2426]

@@lucashep Thank you. I had the bone spur removed and while my hand is inflamed a bit I am able to play.

[@vancesnyder2426]

@@TOMTOM-zj5xj Thanks. I am following what is called the Alexander Technique for guitarists.

[@nebeskoplavetnilo9738]

3:42

[@jamesthorley4442]

About your suggestions question Merce, a guide to quick barre chord changes would be great i.e. Bminor Fmajor etc? Exercises etc to change to these chords quickly from general open position chords 👍

[@MerceFont]

Great suggestion! I'll work on that :) Thanks James! Wish you a great weekend!

[@jamesthorley4442]

@@MerceFont that would be great, have a good weekend yourself Merce. Don't practice too hard 😋😓

[@MerceFont]

@@jamesthorley4442 :)

[@SassuWunnuOn]

"Pumping Nylon" haha, great Arnie's documentary hint/pun XD

[@MARLONdaman]

I watched Jamie Andreas’s GUITAR PRINCIPLES KZbin VIDEOS AND TOOK HER CLASS. She hit dead on about these issues.👈🏿😲

[@vgfjr505]

For me, the thumb feels better under the middle finger as you mentioned.

[@mughalshahbaz2674]

Looking So much beautiful

[@prontera09]

subscribed

[@mauriceee1434]

I am 3 years senior beginner. Not classical but starting to like this style. You did the spider lifting each finger, is it also good to practice keeping 3 fingers down and moving one at a time or no?

[@pulidomi]

Eres de ESPAÑA ?

[@josemiletrodriguezborbon4139]

Merce, thanks for sharing all your knowledge. Wondering if you can comment on the position of the wrist. In particular Straight vs bent and the positions in between. When to use straight wrist ? Bent ?

[@MerceFont]

hi Jose! I just made a video on your question! Hope that helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXrIgINvYrGYg6s

[@josemiletrodriguezborbon4139]

@@MerceFont Merce, I saw it a few times already. Your comments make the roads of the new guitarist easier. Thanks.

[@EG-fd9sg]

Thank you so much. Can someone please explain to me how this transfers to western guitar position. It’s link my little pink don’t want to be straight but like a weird bent. Do I need to force it on the fretboard and hold it to build muscle memory ?

[@violetlight8138]

I'm glad to get these techniques from a woman like myself, so I know it's not impossible for me to play classical guitar well. Sometimes, it's hard to think I can do it because my hands are smaller than a man's.

[@ui4287]

Merce...I play regular and flamenco guitar with emphasis on regular...do I have to commit to on, or can I develop both using you left hand lesson? Is there a lesson or technique to help spread fingers? Thank you Merce!

[@mughalshahbaz2674]

So Nice

[@MerceFont]

Many many thanks

[@djangobass7753]

Thank you, rhis is very helpful. Have you any tips for stopping the pinky from flying up in the air. I seem to have very little control over it when fretting with my middle and ring finger

[@burtmantooth8913]

Your lessons are wonderful and I love your free PDFs. I love the Scott Tennant book. You’re an amazing musician.

[@DerWegzumStrassenmusiker]

I struggle with my second and third fingers; they always stick together. It takes a lot of effort to separate them right now. Is there a way to practice overcoming this?

[@cactus4223]

recently got a guitar and couldnt figure out what to do with my left hand, at least now I know how to have them XD although I feel like my fingers are just too short, so it kind of hurts no matter how I hold it, or maybe my hold is just off XD

[@Rich-can-do]

I have wondered about the left hand as I have seen many people play the guitar really well for most of them. The thing is it looks like it could become very painful later on. These people play the acoustic guitar, the thin neck guitar with steel strings. The classical guitar seems to be wider and played differently. I wonder if the classical guitar is kinder to the left hand in the way its played?

[@sdmatso]

How much would this apply to non-classical players?

[@SassuWunnuOn]

One question - does the thumb placement (right in front of middle finger) applies itself also to playing barre chords? In other words - when holding a barre chord, is it better to have a thumb right in front of middle fingers (as you show on the video) or is it maybe better to position the thumb in front of an index finger (and thus making it easier to press it against all 6 strings, creating a bar).

[@vreergc]

HI, I wonder what the differences are with a steel string guitar. As the bais posture is even different, strings closer,to each other but somewhat harder to manipulate .. Any advise (of your won or others) for 'pumping steel'? As always happy with your precise explanations. learned playin h classical ages ago when still an adolescent. As I only recently picked up the guitar(s) again, some readjustment tips always work :)

[@claudiafrers8923]

Its a great question. This particular video is about training mindfulness on using the least amont of pressure needed to get quality sound. Experiment explore but above all relax and take it super slow. Not easy to implement. When you use steel strings, you will need stronger fingers that is all. I have had to drop playing my steel acoustics due to wrist injury from failing to do warmups. If you do jazz or classic and have not learned to relax while you practice you are at risk. I love that she puts so much care into explaining these concepts that are skipped by other utubers. But the better quality guitars are easier to play so some steel string guitars can actually be easier on your body than a cheap classic. I no longer play on guitars with high action or thick strings. It would pain my body not to mention my delicate ears.

[@LUIZS87]

What are the best guitar workouts for your fingers for beginners to learn to do?

[@pablofigueroa97]

Hehe you’re pretty and you’re a good teacher

[@trngfr]

Hey I was reading the Pumping Nylon PDF, and I wanted to know your opinion on the fretting fingers never touching? When you play do your fretting fingers sometimes touch each other?

[@MerceFont]

Hi Alec, they might touch eventually during some passages, when one needs to contract the hand or do a specific movement necessary for playing the passage well. What I mean in the video is to never get started with the fingers all sticking together with tension and odd positioning. Let the fingers start off from your relaxed and natural position (I explained a bit of this concepts in my previous tutorial: right hand essentials, some concepts can easily be translated for left hand)

[@sonoiio4606]

Thanks :o)

[@adhimat526]

Thank you your tutorial..(ind)

[@gardnep]

So what happens if you have short fingers. The C chord causes the fingers to bend to an uncomfortable position and my wrist to ache.

[@lenavoyles526]

So... what if your ring finger and little finger are nowhere near a fret in that position?

[@josemarcosribeiro4658]

Meu inglês é muito fraquinho, mas entendi muita coisa, mas poderia ter a tradução direta em português!!!

[@ganggadharchandraray6566]

Can I learn proper techniques on the classical guitar with just the help of a method book ? (e.g. Christopher Parkening Guitar Method Book)

[@MerceFont]

you can learn a lot from books, but they won't tell you where you are going wrong so I'd say you can improve a lot but having somebody to check that you are doing it and understanding things the right way is even better :)

[@Friedrich2012]

❤

[@Keith-tz2jy]

I can barely get my fingers that spread that far apart without pain

[@annship8766]

Почему мне всегда было проще играть соло чем медиатором. ТК я начинала с классика, а техника почти одна. Да и гитара первая не легла в руку - мучения были

[@raamkrishnaraamkrishna1977]

Gteat dear

[@Dakenna1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKnRho2njqx6Y5o Here is Charlie Byrd fretting the strings with his left hand *Fingernails*. A Brazilian technique. And I hope I am offering you something new! Douglas McKenna

[@MARLONdaman]

I would not start off a beginner on the first position of the guitar because they have not learned to release the tension in their shoulders, arms, and hands. They have not also developed the finger dexterity yet for larger frets. ALL THEY ARE GOING TO DEVELOP IS TENSION IN THEIR BODY AND BAD GUITAR PLAYING HABITS WHICH LEAD TO INJURY.

[@АндрейОвчинников-ч3е]

👍👌👋👏🙌🙏

[@leahcimolrac1477]

Some women are worth simping over

[@addis8320]

I hate it!