BASIC OF CLASSIC GUITAR (THE RIGHT HAND)

The right hand should be assumed on a comfortable position over the center of the sound hole or near the right edge. In the play, if the right hand operating far to the left, softer quality of the sound produced. Playing close to the bridge produces a thinner sound, the metallic sound. The thumb is extended slightly to the left. The wrist should be slightly elevated. Vibrating strings created by the action of the right hand fingers, use a fingernail to some extent, and also by using the thumb.

The fingers and the thumb can make two different types of the stroke. The free stroke is executed by curving the fingers slightly. After the string is touched, the finger (or thumb) passes by adjacent string in a follow-through motion. The free stroke is used in playing chords, arpeggios and similar passages.

The rest stroke is executed by holding the fingers rather straight, which necessitate moving the whole hand into a slightly different position. After the finger of thumb has touched the string, it comes to rest on the adjacent string. The principal use of the rest stroke is in the playing of scales of fragments of scale, and accented noted in the melody. The manner in which the right hand fingers are indicated is as follows:

p =  thumb (from Spanish “pulgar”)

i = index finger (1^st finger)

m = middle finger (2^nd finger)

a = ring finger (3^rd finger) ( from Spanish “anular”)

In general, the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd fingers are used principally on the three nylon strings, called the “treble” strings, and the thumb on the three wound strings, called the “bass” strings. However, there are frequent exceptions to this.

The following exercise (on open strings) should be played several times to get understand of the positioning and action of the right hand.