Carlevaro - Technique

Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise, think right now maybe I'm still trying to adjust my left hand but I find myself applying too much pressure with my right arm.

Barney I got some photos, six to be more exact. They are a bit big to put in our discussion thread so I put them in a PDF. I hope you can get a good idea about how Guitarfift works. I think is possible to maintain a good position with the guitar, according to the SoG. The first photo is without the guitar, to see the chair height. About the Guitarlift: I like it, but sometimes I think it would be good to try another one. I'm living in Portugal and I couldn't find the Sagework in the European stores, just a similar one called ErgoPlay. If you have some questions about Guitarlift, be my guest!

Moyses Lopes The photos are great and very helpful, thanks!!  Much appreciated!

Is yours the full size GuitarLift? (Which model?)    How tall are you?  

or is this the Half one?

Thanks!!

Barney My Guitarlift is full size. I'm 1.70 m and haver never tried and half size Guitarlift. Best!

Moyses Lopes Okay, thanks Moyses!

Blaise Laflamme I only ordered one directly from them to ship to Italy and I ended up paying additional 44 euros for the custom. So may have to take that into consideration. 

don Good to know... It is possible that I would have the same problem. Thanks, Don!

don , you said: "I'm still trying to adjust my left hand but I find myself applying too much pressure with my right arm." You're adjusting your left hand but as an exercise, correct? Or you are thinking to play with the left thumb out of the guitar arm? Sorry for the question but I'm a bit confused about the goal of that. Thanks!

Moyses Lopes I was trying to use what I learn from Alfredo's livestream and the book to relax my left hand. I was exaggerating by removing my left thumb out in the video. 

But I realize for me to play freely on my left hand, I tensed up more with my right arm (to keep the guitar in position). Does this make sense? Thanks!

don I did this video trying to explain my point of view. I guess it's not against the Carlevaro theory, maybe Dale Needles  can clarify this for us. I hope it can be useful.

Moyses Lopes Excellent explanation of Carlevaro's sitting position in relation to the three points of contact in order to stabilize the guitar.  I have only a couple of things to add and clarify.  The right side of the body plays only a "neutral and passive role."  Additionally, "placing the left side of the chest against the guitar must be considered defective." Finally, as Moyes pointed out, the LH becomes a stabilizing point in certain situations when the right arm needs to lift off the guitar.  

Thank you Dale Needles  and Blaise Laflamme , your contribution fills my gaps!
don : All of these about vectors, forces, and compensation is for thinking WHY you are pressing unnecessarily the right arm against the guitar body. I have two hypotheses:
First: you are putting much pressure on the fingerboard with your left hand. As a result, by the lever theory, you have an opposite force in the guitar body and compensate for this by pressing more your right arm.
Second: You're pressing for another reason, like stress,  for example.
Using your own words: Does this make sense? Thank you!!

Moyses Lopes Thank you so much! It is really helpful.  Really appreciate it.  I think I managed to identified some issues. Yes, I think I was definitely over pressing with my left hand hence compensating with my right arm. 

First my guitar was a bit more to the left so any left hand pressure on the fretboard will require a bit more force on the right to compensate. I realized I needed less effort to press a note with the left hand when I shifted my guitar a bit more to the right. 

Second, I think I was too conscious of playing without the thumb rather than using it as a guide which caused the over pressing of the left probably cos of unfamiliarity. 

I shifted the guitar a bit to the right and rather not use the left hand thumb, i use it lightly as guide. Everything feels much more relax and stable now. 

Blaise Laflamme Dale Needles thank you for taking time to share your knowledge.

don One small suggestion on the barre, try to angle your left elbow a little more towards the left side of your body so that the LH index finger of the barre is pressing down more on its left side.  Alfredo demonstrates this in his last Tonebase workshop.  

don have you taken a look at the Alfredo videos? There are 4 about sitting and 1 about placing the right arm. Maybe can be useful to help you to adjust your posture. The link is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS0PMnzYpZKF6mTZJytg3PLq-RlKzB1Zi

Moyses Lopes Thanks I've not seen those. Will look at it. 

Dale Needles Thanks! This is really helpful.