No doubt my knowledge is lacking, but here is an example of what I meant: if I imagine where the nut/first fret of a guitar would be located in space, put my hand there, palm open, and then turn it counter-clockwise (as if turning a doorknob), it becomes uncomfortable to turn it more than about 30 degrees beyond vertical. By "turning over" my hand, I mean holding it out palm horizontal, as if doing the "Macarena", for example. The main result, at least when I was toying with an electric bass, is that it's difficult to get my pinky onto the fretboard when fretting a low-pitched string with my first finger (esp near the nut). Hopefully this is a problem I'll be able to work out.
On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 1:27 PM, howard posner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Sep 18, 2008, at 10:59 AM, Ed Durbrow wrote: > >> When you say it is difficult for you to turn your left hand >> completely over, I don't understand what you mean, > > Nor I, but it reminds me of The Exorcist. > >> but if you mean it is difficult to reach around and touch the >> frets, you are probably doing something not quite right. You >> shouldn't have to bend the wrist excessively. I think you would do >> well to get some lessons in the beginning stage when habits are >> formed. > > No lie. But in the meantime, relax your left arm and let it drop. > Then raise it to about shoulder height so you're looking at your palm > and the fingers are in a relaxed curve. The second knuckles of the > fourth, third and second fingers should describe something like a > rising diagonal line. When the neck of the instrument is between > your thumb and fingers, it should be roughly at that height and > roughly parallel with that line. Keep your left thumb low enough on > the back of the neck so your palm doesn't touch the neck > > > -- > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >
