If you don't care a hoot, I won't be hurt... :)
Anyway, I was sitting there, playing my guitar and I realized that I have unconsciously started doing something when I play.
I started out with a couple of classical pieces before moving onto some "fiddle" pieces written by my friend Andy Kenway; you've heard about him before and will hear about him again, like as not. ;) (I plug Andy's music any chance I get.)
I think I may have said this before on my blog (I know I've said it elsewhere), that playing fast, fiddle-style tunes (reels and the like really are more fiddle music than finger-picking guitar music; notice if you listen to old dance tunes [like this one], that the fiddle speaks and the guitar [and percussion] is used only to give some extra rhythm back of it)...let me start over here, so you get what I'm trying to say a little better! When playing fast, fiddle-style music (like reels), it requires, for the finger-picking guitarist, a little "sloppiness" (in comparison with the more 'precise' noting of a classical guitarist). Sure, there are fast classical pieces too...but somehow it's different (I cannot explain it at the moment). When I say "sloppiness" I do not mean careless finger placement (though I certainly sound that way sometimes! :D), but a less precise, looser, playing with the pad at times, rather than the tip, of the finger. Perhaps that makes sense...
Anyway, one of the things I do while playing reels/dance music, it to essentially barre when changing strings (which I never used to do purposely). For instance, if I'm in second position and the notes go C#-A , I'll flatten my finger into a barre position, barely lift the tip, and slide my whole finger up, before tightening the pad down over the A. (I also use this in the opposite direction.) I have found that this technique speeds me up when playing reels finger-picking style. (It's another animal when I play with someone fiddling...then I end up trying to remember how to play 6/8 time decently! (If I remember to play it as if it were 3/4, I do okay...))
Anyway, I have started using this "sloppy" technique while playing classical...It does depend some on the piece of music, speed, and feel I'm going for--but yes, I do use it.
I guess that is what you get when you play two or three different styles of music; elements of one get mixed into another!
Anyway, I was sitting there, playing my guitar and I realized that I have unconsciously started doing something when I play.
I started out with a couple of classical pieces before moving onto some "fiddle" pieces written by my friend Andy Kenway; you've heard about him before and will hear about him again, like as not. ;) (I plug Andy's music any chance I get.)
I think I may have said this before on my blog (I know I've said it elsewhere), that playing fast, fiddle-style tunes (reels and the like really are more fiddle music than finger-picking guitar music; notice if you listen to old dance tunes [like this one], that the fiddle speaks and the guitar [and percussion] is used only to give some extra rhythm back of it)...let me start over here, so you get what I'm trying to say a little better! When playing fast, fiddle-style music (like reels), it requires, for the finger-picking guitarist, a little "sloppiness" (in comparison with the more 'precise' noting of a classical guitarist). Sure, there are fast classical pieces too...but somehow it's different (I cannot explain it at the moment). When I say "sloppiness" I do not mean careless finger placement (though I certainly sound that way sometimes! :D), but a less precise, looser, playing with the pad at times, rather than the tip, of the finger. Perhaps that makes sense...
Anyway, one of the things I do while playing reels/dance music, it to essentially barre when changing strings (which I never used to do purposely). For instance, if I'm in second position and the notes go C#-A , I'll flatten my finger into a barre position, barely lift the tip, and slide my whole finger up, before tightening the pad down over the A. (I also use this in the opposite direction.) I have found that this technique speeds me up when playing reels finger-picking style. (It's another animal when I play with someone fiddling...then I end up trying to remember how to play 6/8 time decently! (If I remember to play it as if it were 3/4, I do okay...))
Anyway, I have started using this "sloppy" technique while playing classical...It does depend some on the piece of music, speed, and feel I'm going for--but yes, I do use it.
I guess that is what you get when you play two or three different styles of music; elements of one get mixed into another!
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