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Posted on October 1st, 2007.
This post was written by Jad Azkoul.
What is a rest stroke? I always ask new students this, and the answers show that the concept is not very clear to them. But there is one aspect that is always present: the finger lands on the adjacent string. Therefore, of course, the fingers cannot perform a rest stroke on the 6th string, just as the thumb cannot do so on the 1st string!
What happens after that? I then ask. Here there is less consensus. “Nothing”, “The finger then relaxes”, “The finger lifts up”, “I don’t know”, “It depends”, and so on.
When does the finger return to its starting place? “When we need to use it again!”, “A little bit after the stroke”, “Quite quickly”, “Who cares?” There seems to be no concept or idea about what would be the best mechanical condition, the one that can enhance musical performance.
Why does the finger land on the adjacent string? “For a better sound?”, “Because I was taught like that”, “Otherwise it would be a free stroke”, “Why not?”. We can’t define a stroke by what happens after it has produced the sound, but rather by how it is prepared and how it is meant to end. Differences here can produce remarkably different results.
What about making the same beautiful sound when playing chords and arpeggios? Now we are getting into deep territory. And is the free stroke the necessary alternative to the rest stroke? We need to know that there are more than two strokes in classical guitar playing. As the motorcycle ad goes: “different strokes for different folks”.
This is going to be the subject of my new book. If some readers may be surprised when I say that I do not use the rest stroke, most will certainly be shocked to learn that I do not use the free stroke either!
Posted on June 19th, 2007.
This post was written by Jad Azkoul.
Let’s consider the controversial subject of the “rest stroke”. This is a stroke that some people use every time the opportunity permits, and that others avoid like the plague.
Here is an email I got from a guitarist:
I have this problem which I needed to share it with you hoping that you can somehow assist me with. For about a year my ability of using my right hand third finger decreased gradually. There is no pain only when I push so hard hopelessly. There is no numbness or tingling but it’s weak.
I had a very steady bright rest stroke and fairly fast but not anymore I am using the i & a instead of i & m. I was told that this problem with the middle finger is common among the classical guitarist but what I don’t know how to restore my finger speed and strength back again?
How can you help me? Is there any particular exercise that I can follow or some sort of physiotherapy?
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Here was my reply:
I am sorry to hear that you are having a problem with your right hand. It is a rather common one for classical guitarists who use the rest stroke and free stroke in the traditional manner. It is difficult to help you by email, but I will give you some thoughts about it.
The rest stroke is usually made by striking the string rather strongly and using the neighboring string as the way to stop the finger. When this is done repeatedly over many years, the equally important mechanism in the hand for stopping the finger’s movement is almost never used. Each finger, in fact each articulation (wrist, arm, etc) has a flexing and an extending tendon. Most guitarists use the rest stroke in the most simplistic way, i.e. by using only the contacting tendon, and rarely the flexing tendon. You are a victim of the repeated strain injury (RSI) which comes from repeated movement of the same element. It can be fixed, but it takes “re-educating” the finger and the hand. You have to approach guitar playing in a different, and perhaps a totally new way for the right hand. If you are lucky, the situation may not get worse, but it will probably not improve either. Some guitarists have had to give up playing altogether.
I hope this advice is useful.