Monthly Archives: October 2020

Internet Day

Today is the 15th Anniversary of #InternetDay.

The day was set up to celebrate the anniversary of the first internet transmission. It’s also a chance to celebrate the many people whose remarkable achievements helped build the monster that is the internet of today.

But, let’s not forget how life was before the internet; writing or typing letters, sending faxes if it was urgent; paying bills with cash or cheques; buying books or going to a library when you needed reference material. The list goes on and on.

Why not join us on Facebook and share your favourite pre-internet memory?

Flexibility

With all that’s been going on at the moment it’s all too easy to let your practice regime slip. But not practicing doesn’t just make you a bit rusty, it can also decrease your fingerboard (fb) flexibility. So today’s #WednesdayWisdom will help you regain, and improve fb flexibility.

The following applies to your fingerboard (fb) hand whether you are a guitarist or bowed instrument player and regardless of whether you are left or right handed.

One of the hallmarks of any good fb hand is that the main movement of the fingers is from the base knuckle joints. You should avoid getting in the habit of dropping and raising the fingers partly with a movement of the hand, rather than moving from the base joints.

The fb hand should be loose. To fight tension you must have a sense that air can pass through your hand; it should feel open. Be careful using extensions as they can freeze the hand. Make sure you release the tension caused by stretching the hand. Once a note has sounded try stopping the pressure on the string.

Your hands are already soft and pliable before you pick up the instrument; keep them like that as you go to pick it up; then keep them soft and pliable as you move your fingers around the fingerboard. Before you play any note, release the hand and fingers and keep them soft, balanced and free of any sort of pressing or counter-pressing.

To extend your flexibility use the fingers of one hand between two of the other hand to gently spread them apart. When you get to the point of resistance stretch a little bit further and hold for a count of 20. Once you’ve stretched each set of fingers, repeat. Add this at the beginning of your daily practice and you’ll find your reach range will increase.