Week 4: "Samba Strings Showcase"

Eric Phillips Great performance Eric! 

The main thing I hear that may be improved are the sweaks from bass strings chord changes in the arpeggio section.  It may help by lifting off the strings  (by using the arm)for these chord changes.  It would be a good idea to get some expertise on this from Dale. Please help Dale??Dale Needles

Barney Eric Phillips Excellent performance and great progress, Eric.  The A Section is superb, and you play it very relaxed and musical.  Since Barney invoked my name, I will humbly offer a couple of suggestions for the B Section.  First of all, you play it very well and your right-hand arpeggio is very impressive.  Barney pointed that one area of improvement would be to try to reduce the left-hand squeaks.  I know this are very difficult to do and squeaks are generally accepted as part of playing the guitar.  However, I do believe, as Carlevaro taught, that these squeaks can be reduced greatly and even eliminated entirely with the appropriate left hand/arm technique.  Barney is correct that using the left arm to lift off the strings is a major part of reducing string noise.  Carlevaro taught that the left arm is the primary muscle used in playing a barre (not the thumb and fingers), The strength of the left arm enables a player to hold the barre in place with much less tension and then just prior to a shifting position, the left arm moves ever so slightly forward, lifting the fingers off the strings and then the shift takes place.  Alfredo Escande did an excellent demonstration and explanation of this technique in his second Tonebase live stream.  I would also suggest practicing this technique with block chords and very slowly until the arm and fingers are trained.  I hope this helps, but please note you already are playing this difficult prelude superbly.  

Dale Needles Eric Phillips Thanks Dale for explaining this technique so much better than I can.  Much appreciated!

Eric Phillips Bravo Eric!  You’ve really come a long way on this!  When I run into a brick wall, I change direction for awhile, rest the challenge, and then return to my old friend at a later time.  You now know this piece.  I think it’s interesting that we usually love what we know.  And that love fires us up for a new attempt at the challenge.  The A section is beautiful, as is the B section minus the squeaks.  I second or third what others have said about lessening them.  Just two more ideas—old strings, and soaking your fingertips in hot water (a Christopher Parkening solution).

Eric Phillips Eric, if you can play without squeaks in a slow tempo, I am convinced you can do it when you speed up.  In my opinion, it is only a matter of developing the muscle memory which takes place over time.  If I remember correctly Alfredo speaks about left hand shifts in both live streams and specifically talks about barres in the second.  If I got the time, I will try to revisit them to see if I can find more specifics for you.  In any case, you made great progress on this beautiful prelude during the challenge, and I am impressed with your dedication to it.  It may just be one of those pieces that continues to mature over time like a fine wine.  

Eric Phillips Really impressive. Eric. You play this Prelude beautifully. I think you will settle into it over time which will allow you to be even more relaxed in the B section. At least that has been my experience with my cross string trills.

Eric Phillips I think it is already very nice. Not sure where I read it but sometimes your body has improved but your brain hasn't register that improvement yet. So it is good once in a while to give it a couple of days rest in between and sometimes you might just surprise yourself with the improvements. 

Eric Phillips This really sounds amazing Eric! Congratulations on the incredible progress you've made. If this is what "hitting a brick wall" looks and sounds like, I will gladly crash into it! Bravo! 

Eric Phillips This is awesome, played cleanly, and with feeling. I havent posted due to holidays and othere stuff, it may have to be added to unfinished business for now and concentrate on whatever I can bring to the party into the future.