![](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/media.forumbee.com/avatar/accd0ae87f28f35ab3f514934e65003a-1605042331257/h/40.jpg)
Group 2
![](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/media.forumbee.com/i/af5ee399-2bb5-4162-991f-296fb70de268/h/547.png)
Unlock the secret to mastering your right-hand arpeggios in this two-week intensive course with renowned guitarist Arturo Castro Nogueras. Designed for guitarists of all levels, this course focuses on essential techniques to relax your right-hand thumb, enhancing your fluidity and control.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn techniques to ease thumb tension while playing arpeggios.
- Improve fluidity and control in your arpeggio patterns.
- Understand the impact of thumb relaxation on overall arpeggio execution.
- Practice a series of arpeggio-focused exercises and etudes.
- Develop a balanced and efficient right-hand position for arpeggios.
- Apply thumb relaxation techniques to various arpeggio patterns and musical excerpts.
Throughout the course, Arturo will provide detailed lessons and hands-on practice to help you refine your arpeggio technique and elevate your playing. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills or achieve a more balanced right-hand position, this course offers the tools and insights you need to succeed.
TIMELINE:
- Sign-Up : May 29th - June 2nd
- Course Period: June 3rd - June 14th
- Optional check-In via Zoom: June 10th, 10 am PST
ASSINGMENTS WEEK 1
Arpeggio Exercise
- Instructions: Position your fingers on the first four strings.
- Pattern: Perform a simple P-I-M-A arpeggio.
- Detail: Immediately after playing with your thumb (P), take an extra moment to relax.
- Steps:
- Play with thumb (P)
- Relax
- Play with index (I)
- Play with middle (M)
- Play with ring (A)
Leo Brouwer's Estudio Sencillo No. 6
- Instructions: Position your thumb (P) and ring finger (a) into playing position.
- Detail: After playing with your thumb (P), immediately relax.
- Focus: Ensure relaxation after each thumb stroke to maintain fluidity.
Triple Thumb Exercise
- Instructions: Place your thumb (P) on the sixth string.
- Pattern: Play the last three strings in reverse order: 6th, 5th, and 4th, relaxing after playing each string.
- Steps:
- Play the 6th string with thumb (P) and relax
- Play the 5th string with thumb (P) and relax
- Play the 4th string with thumb (P) and relax
Exercise Instructions:
1. Arpeggio A Major
- Position your fretting hand to play an A major chord.
- Place your thumb (right hand) on the 5th string.
- Strum the 5th string with your thumb and relax your hand.
- Perform a hammer-on with your pinky on the 4th fret of the 5th string.
- Quickly place your thumb again on the 4th string.
- Strum the remaining strings of the chord.
- Focus on maintaining a relaxed posture and fluid motion throughout the exercise.
2. Carcassi Etude No. 25 (First Bar)
- Apply the same principles as the Arpeggio A Major exercise.
- Position your fretting hand according to the notation for the first bar of Carcassi Etude No. 25.
- Start with your thumb on the designated string.
- Play the notes as indicated in the etude, focusing on relaxation and precision.
- Emphasize the hammer-on technique if required by the notation.
3. Maintaining Right Hand Stillness and Relaxation
- Practice playing the thumb strokes of various exercises or pieces slowly.
- Focus on keeping the rest of your hand relaxed and still while playing the thumb.
- Avoid unnecessary tension in your hand and fingers.
- Gradually increase speed while maintaining relaxation and stillness.
4. Bonus Practice: Tremolo with Relaxation
- Position your hand for tremolo technique, typically with the thumb playing bass notes and fingers playing rapid repetitions on higher strings.
- Start slowly to ensure each finger movement is relaxed and controlled.
- Concentrate on keeping each finger relaxed as it alternates with the thumb.
- Increase speed gradually while maintaining relaxation and precision.
- Focus on a consistent, even tone with each finger stroke.
1. Villa-Lobos Etude No. 2 E7 Arpeggio in Bar 23, using the Triple Thumb Exercise:
- Start by reviewing the triple thumb exercise demonstrated in the first video.
- Familiarize yourself with the E7 arpeggio in Villa-Lobos Etude No. 2.
- Apply the triple thumb technique to the E7 arpeggio. Use your thumb consecutively on different bass strings to play the 6th, 5th, and 4th string of the E7 arpeggio.
- Practice slowly at first, ensuring accuracy and clarity of each note.
- Gradually increase speed while maintaining control and precision.
- Focus on smooth transitions between strings and consistent thumb technique throughout.
2. Luigi Legnani Caprice No. 29 F sharp minor using the Triple Thumb Exercise:
- Review the triple thumb exercise to ensure familiarity.
- Study the F sharp minor arpeggio in Legnani Caprice 29 Bar 1.
- Apply the triple thumb technique to the F sharp minor arpeggio, using your thumb on consecutive bass strings to play the relevant chord tones.
- Practice slowly and methodically, paying attention to finger placement and coordination.
- Increase speed gradually, maintaining accuracy and control.
- Concentrate on achieving smooth transitions between notes and strings.
3. Tremolo Practice with Relaxation After Each Finger:
- Begin by practicing a basic tremolo pattern (p-a-m-i) on a single string.
- Focus on relaxing your fingers after each stroke, allowing them to return to a neutral position.
- Pay attention to the quality of sound produced by each finger and strive for consistency.
- Practice at a comfortable tempo initially, gradually increasing speed as you become more comfortable.
- Take short breaks between practice sessions to avoid fatigue and tension buildup.
4. Breaking Down Big Arpeggio Sections into Smaller Ones:
- Identify large arpeggio sections in the pieces you're working on.
- Divide these sections into smaller, manageable segments based on patterns or hand positions.
- Practice each smaller segment individually, focusing on precision and fluidity.
- Gradually integrate these segments back together, ensuring smooth transitions between each part.
- Repeat this process as needed until you can perform the entire arpeggio section seamlessly.
- Use a metronome to maintain steady progress and monitor your improvement over time.
-
Hi there! Mucho gusto en conocerte, M°Castro Nogueras! My name is Ariel Elijovich. I'm a Conservatory teacher in Buenos Aires. I've been teaching for 30+ years now (since i was 15) and i'm always looking for new tips to add to my teaching and playing. So, thank you in advance!
As a comment to your video, i always suggest my students to keep their left arm and hand hanging by the side and try to comunicate the sensation of "not doing a not even a thing" from the left to the right after each movement. I find that having the right hand copying the left's sensation of "nothingness" is a very fast way to teach the thumb (and ima) about how they should feel after they "do their thing".
I also find that the placement (and pressure on the string) of the thumb creates tension so i teach my students these series of movements to place the thumb in their 3rd or 4th lesson (in the video attached in the answer to this comment) I find these work really fine to teach the thumb to "play nice".
Looking forward to working on your suggestions!!
Ariel.
-
My name is Mark de Beer. I live in The Netherlands. I am 60 now and only in the past 2 years or so have I picked up the guitar again, having had some teachers when I was in my twenties. I joined Tonebase a year ago. I find it very helpful and inspiring, and at the same time somewhat humbling, because I see and hear a lot of excellent guitar playing that is far beyond what I can manage. This is my first time signing up for a course on Tonebase, so that I can find out if that is suitable for me, being a not so sophisticated player. I look forward to participating in the coming two weeks!