Group 2
Increase Legato Playing in Both Hands in Two Weeks with TY!
Every instrument has its limitations and weaknesses. Playing legato is one of the hardest things to master on the guitar. Every note is so fragile: if your right hand accidentally touches the string or your left hand leaves the string in-between notes, the note will be stopped. Let’s explore and discuss the techniques and experiences on the details of how to maintain the notes with your left hand clean shifting, shifting motion, fingertip motion, exercises, and right hand training processes of free strokes for perfect legato playing.
Fellow Participants in Group 2:
TY Legato Group 2
Tom Reed
Robert
Nick
David Levin
Jim
Marilyn Blodget
Stefano
Jerry
Martha Kreipke
Tony Gunia
Michael
Assignments:
Share a video where you demonstrate the three exercises as presented by TY. As a bonus, add measures 1-10 by Carcassi op.60 no.1
- Release the String, don't pluck it!
- Spider Exercise!
- Left Hand Shifting / Change Fret Exercises
- Carcassi Op.60 No.1 Measure 1-10
Watch TY's Lesson on Carcassi op.60 no.1 here!
How to get the most out of this course
Zoom Check-In: Sunday, July 24th 3pm EST / 12 noon PST
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TY asked be to share his recording of the Zoom Call with all of you!
By the way, how is everybody doing?
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martin oh, great that this Zoom call is shared, thank you so much!
Regarding your question: I am doing fine
, it is fun and it gives a good feeling to do these exercises. -
martin This has been another great learning experience for me. Left Hand muting is new to me. I am working on the etude VERY SLOWLY and it is becoming more comfortable. TY has done a good job.
I am going to try to post another video in the next day or so.
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martin I missed the zoom meeting but have been doing pretty well with the exercises and the piece. These 2 week intensives are currently my favorite thing about tonebase. I actually love all of it but am making the most progress in the intensives.
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Robert Brilliant!! TY Zhang is the best, I love his commitment to your progress!
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Nick So happy to hear that, we definitely want to continue with this format!
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Martha Kreipke Fantastic, glad that you are improving with TY Zhang s guidance!
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Martha Kreipke Thank you for the feedback Dear Martha!!!
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Nick Thank you Nick! Martin has posted the Zoom video on the comment!
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TY Legato Group 2
New Assignment by TY!
Hi Everybody! This is TY! Since most of you are DONE with the easy exercises I asked for last week, let’s do this for this week: Please choose a short section of your current repertoire that you feel is challenging to achieve legato, practice and record the music, upload the video to the discussion section! Please allow everyone and me to share some of our thoughts and feedback! Wishing you all enjoy the fun of improvement and practice!
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Thanks! "Zoom Check-In: Friday, June 24th"???
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Stefano Hi Stefano! That must be July 25th, I will correct that!
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Stefano oh Martin and I scheduled for 24th Sunday 12pst!
sorry for the confusion
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My nails felt really weird with the 1st exercise. They were getting stuck on the string. So I filed the underside of my nails which seemed to help. But I'm not really sure how my nail shape should be.
This is great. I wish I could see your thumb movement during the shifting exercise. I'm pretty sure I'm messing that up
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Nick nail is important, would you take some pictures of your nails please? And the thumb always against the middle finger, behind the guitar neck. I move the thumb with my 1,2,3 fingers together (same time when I playing the 4 finger.
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TY Zhang
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Nick Let me try to record a video for you! about how I file my nails to make it smooth in playing I M A fingers
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TY Zhang https://youtu.be/zfkX8bN7DS8 Video on "How I file ima nails!"
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TY Zhang thank you for that. I think I have to let my nails grow in a little before I try
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Greetings everyone! I will keep up with the discussion with all of you! Looking forward!
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Will update soon! Zoom Check-In: Sunday, July 24th 3pm EST / 12 noon PST
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Hi TY, hi all,
TY, thanks for that excellent video(s).
Here is my first video (Exercises 1-3).
For me, it was challenging to focus all the time on the mechanics and also listening on tone quality and to avoid bad habits (if there are any...). Good thing, I am happy: I was suprised that in particular the up-shifting produced almost no squeaking sound on the string. :-)
While watching myself I realized that in particular with the left pinky I tend to "stretch" the string a bit downwards, and I also heard that a bit since the tone was going high a bit.
I like the spider exercise, and for me it is also good for LH finger movement, independency etc. I did not record it along all string combinations...
Cheers,
Robert-
Robert I'm still unsure when to release and plant my thumb on the descent of the shifting exercise. It appears to me that you are planting and playing the pinky and then releasing and planting the thumb. Then playing the ring finger. Is that correct?
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Nick Hi Nick, I had to think about what I am exactly doing.
And then I grabbed my guitar again and observed my left hand and what the hand is doing automatically without thinking. Indeed, it is like you said: I move the pinky while the thumb is still in its former position, and then after the pinky is positioned at the new fret, I release the thumb and hand and bring it to the lower tones and set the thumb (and hand) in its new position.
However, now - being more aware of what I was or am doing - I tried it in a different way with moving thumb/hand at the same time of the pinky movement. It also works. I think, it was just a "natural" habit before. Both ways work. So my question is: is there a recommendation? What is "better", or are there severe pros and cons for this or that way? -
Nick I shift the thumb on downwards shifting exercise after I placed the 4th finger, the pinky, one of the options!
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