Problem: LH Finger Interference

[DWPC]

When practicing Giuliani exercises, I have a terrible time with LH fingers damping or buzzing adjacent strings, especially the middle finger on A-string killing the D-string. When I play pieces, I don't have the problem, but I think that's because I'm a novice (year 2) and not yet playing pieces with many chord positions. When I consciously adjust my fingertip position to compensate, I'm off my callous "groove" and the string is very close to my nail. (I do play on my LH finger tips and my fingers aren't particularly thick either.) Is this a common problem with students? This is really frustrating my progress with the Guliani exercises; my teacher's principal tool; and any suggestions will be welcomed. My teacher simply isn't very technique-oriented.

[WillBee]

Well I can't be sure, but it sounds like your LH fingers are approaching the strings at too much of an angle. You should endeavor to have your fingers fairly perpendicular to the fret board. Proper hand and left arm position can make this easier if it seems hard.

1 - Make sure you're not gripping the neck of the guitar like Jimmy Page (imagine the thumb creeping over onto fretboard, even fretting notes from time to time) Instead, the thumb should rest pretty much in the middle of the back of the neck, if not perhaps even a little bit on lower side (behind the treble strings)

2 - If it's hard to get your fingers around, try dropping your left elbow so that it lies directly underneath the neck of the guitar. If your left elbow is "behind" the plane of the guitar neck, you may have tension that prevents getting your fingers around.

Of course, you have to experiment and find what works for you, if anything I suggest makes your body feel weird, then immediately discontinue

I would also say, if your teacher is unwilling/unable to help you correct buzzing on something as straightforward as the 120 Arpeggios, then to me that is a very strong indicator that it is time to find a new teacher

[GSI Fan]

DWPC...

Sound advice WillBee offers. If it doesn't work, just cut the pesky finger off so it doesn't get in the way. You'll still have plenty. :roll: :wink: :twisted:

[DWPC]

Well I can't be sure, but it sounds like your LH fingers are approaching the strings at too much of an angle. You should endeavor to have your fingers fairly perpendicular to the fret board. Proper hand and left arm position can make this easier if it seems hard.

1 - Make sure you're not gripping the neck of the guitar like Jimmy Page (imagine the thumb creeping over onto fretboard, even fretting notes from time to time) Instead, the thumb should rest pretty much in the middle of the back of the neck, if not perhaps even a little bit on lower side (behind the treble strings)

2 - If it's hard to get your fingers around, try dropping your left elbow so that it lies directly underneath the neck of the guitar. If your left elbow is "behind" the plane of the guitar neck, you may have tension that prevents getting your fingers around.

Of course, you have to experiment and find what works for you, if anything I suggest makes your body feel weird, then immediately discontinue

I would also say, if your teacher is unwilling/unable to help you correct buzzing on something as straightforward as the 120 Arpeggios, then to me that is a very strong indicator that it is time to find a new teacher
Thanks for the input. My hand position is, I think, pretty good and dropping my elbow is part of the correction i make, but it seems a very uncomfortable position to hold and if anything adds tension. Could I need more curl in my left wrist?

My teacher's focus is notation, music theory and RH fingering; he hardly ever makes a comment about mechanics of technique.

[WillBee]

Well, a couple of things could be going on here

If you are fairly new to your studies, your teacher may be focusing on making your free and rest strokes solid before moving to the other hand. There are as many ways to teach as there are teachers so I'm not going to contradict his method

If you think your hand technique/position is good, it could just be that you're a little sloppy in your execution. Don't feel bad about that, all of us are from time to time (except a certain forum member who will remain unnamed :evil: ). You have to learn to hate buzzes; when you're practicing, especially something as rote as the Guiliani studies, whenever you hear a buzz, stop, adjust your hand position so you can cleanly sound the note, and continue with the study. If you do this diligently, over time your hand should start to naturally go directly to correct position

More curl to the hand? Less or more elbow drop? These things are all unique to each player, just try to find what works for you, maybe keep a journal of adjustments you make and how they work. Sometimes recording our thought process about learning the guitar can help focus thoughts in our minds

Good luck

Will