Primeros pasos

Guitar Parts and Proper Holding Technique

Introduction

Hi, guys! Today's lesson is going to be about the parts of the guitar and how to correctly and comfortably hold it. Understanding the individual components of the guitar is essential, and many people struggle with positioning.

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Parts of the Guitar

Let's go through the individual parts of the guitar:

• Body: This general area, whether you have an acoustic or an electric guitar, is known as the body.

• Scratch Plate: This little part here is the scratch plate. You may or may not have one of these.

• Bridge: The bridge is a very good place for our right hand to reside. We'll discuss this later.

• Bridge Pins: On an acoustic guitar, we have pins known as bridge pins, which keep the strings in place.

• Strings: The guitar obviously has strings.

• Pickup: On electric guitars, you may have one or more pickups.

• Volume and Tone Controls: If you have an electric guitar, you may also have some volume and tone controls for your individual pickups.

• Fretboard: The long area along here is the fretboard, with the metal bars known as the frets.

• Neck: The back of the fretboard is called the neck.

• Headstock: The entire area here is known as the headstock.

• Tuning Pegs: As mentioned in the previous lesson, we have the tuning pegs to tune the guitar.

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How to Hold the Guitar

Positioning the Guitar

You can see that the shape of the underside of the guitar fits comfortably over one of your legs. You can experiment with which leg you place the guitar on, there's no right or wrong way; it's personal preference.

• Right Leg: I prefer to have it on my right leg, which is generally popular among right-handed players.

• Left Leg: Many classical players prefer their guitar on the left leg.

Guitar Angle

If you're a right-handed player, ensure the neck of the guitar is parallel to the floor or slightly angled upward.

• Avoid pointing the guitar down towards the floor, as this limits the reach of your left hand and can harm your posture.

Right Hand Position

• The right shoulder and arm should sit over the shoulder of the guitar.

• A great position for your right hand, for 99% of your playing, is on the bridge. We will explore specific points on this later.

Left Hand Position

• Avoid resting your left hand on your leg as it pulls the guitar down.

• Keep your left hand, your fretting hand, off your leg and ensure your elbow is relaxed at your side. Many learners tend to pull their elbow too close, which restricts hand movement.

• Thumb Position: Your thumb should be fairly straight on the back of the neck, as if attempting to leave a thumbprint in the middle or upper part.

• Maintain a gap under your fretting hand to avoid restricting movement.

Finger Positioning

For your left hand, we label the fingers as follows:

• 1: Index

• 2: Middle

• 3: Ring

• 4: Little

• The thumb is simply known as T.

For your right hand (for fingerstyle playing):

• P: Thumb

• I: Index

• M: Middle

• A: Ring

• C: Little

So, we abbreviate this as P, I, M, A, C (pimac).

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Using a Pick

If you're using a plectrum, hold it with your left hand.

• Grip: Place your thumb at the back of the pick, so the tip points towards the bottom of your thumb, and grip it with your first finger, curling it slightly.

• You don't need to hold it too tightly; just enough to avoid dropping it. Adjust how much tip is shown based on the application, more for strumming, less for accuracy.

Choosing a Pick

When choosing a pick, consider these factors:

• Variety: Go to a store and grab a variety of picks, as they come in different shapes, sizes, and gauges (thickness).

• Gauge: Thicker picks have less give, while thinner picks are more flexible. Players often settle on a pick that works for the majority of their playing.

• Experimentation: Start with medium gauge picks; try out a few different types and see which ones you like the best.

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Conclusion

When starting out on guitar, it's crucial to have a comfortable grip, posture, and understanding of the instrument. Keep experimenting with different picks and hand positions to find what works best for you! Happy playing!