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GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Your Personal Guitar Lesson |
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| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" It contains many of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
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Suggestion for the website?
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We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
"The Old Kleenex Trick”
The title is an allusion to the old television sitcom comedy Get Smart. Secret agent Maxwell
Smart often used the catchphrase, “The old_____trick—second time I’ve fallen for it this month
(or week).”
One of my personal favorites:
"The old Professor Peter Peckinpah all purpose anti-personnel Peckinpah pocket pistol under
the toupee trick. Second time I’ve fallen for it this month."
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Here is a very simple way to check how you are playing individual
voices in a piece.
When you work on a piece that contains two or more distinct parts, especially one in
counterpoint, it can be difficult to hear how well you are playing a subsidiary part. We tend to
focus on what we are familiar with. Here is a very simple way to check how you are playing
individual voices in a piece.
A brief explanation:
Let’s look at the Bourrée (or Bourée) from Lute Suite No. 1 (BWV 996). Incidentally, BWV is an
abbreviation for Bach Werke Verzeichnis which means Bach Works Index. It is an index that
numbers the complete works of Bach.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
When playing the Bourrée, most players tend to focus on the upper voice and don’t really
listen closely to the lower voice. After all, we know how the upper voice goes and can probably
sing it from memory.
But what about the lower voice? Can you sing it from memory? Do you really know how it
goes? Probably not. Even if you look at the music, you may not be able to sing it. Or if you play
through the piece, can you sing the lower voice as you play both parts? Many people can't,
and that is a real problem.
If you can't sing the lower voice, you probably aren't really listening to it when you practice.
You probably have little idea as to how well or poorly you are playing it. Are you playing it
smoothly? Are you connecting the notes or chopping them up? Are you allowing notes to ring
together that should be muted? This is a voice, a bass line. Therefore only one note should be
allowed to ring at a time.
It is in these types of situations that "The Old Kleenex Trick" comes in handy.
HOW TO DO "THE OLD KLEENEX TRICK"
First, to get a better idea of what you are trying to accomplish,
Watch stunning video clip #1 (Surely worthy of an Oscar nomination):
To really hear how you are playing the lower voice, try this. Fold a piece of Kleenex (I use the
term generically, you can use any brand) several times and then insert it under the treble
strings around the 15th to 19th fret to mute them. Play the Bourrée normally, fingering and
plucking both voices. Because the Kleenex is muting the treble strings, you will hear only the
lower voice, and you will hear it with crystal-clear clarity.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Watch this breathtaking demonstration (video clip #2). I said breathtaking not yawn-inducing.
You can reverse the procedure, stuffing the Kleenex under the bass strings in order to clearly
hear the upper voice.
Watch me demonstrate in video clip #3. Hold onto your seats for this one folks.
If you haven't nodded off yet, watch as I use the Kleenex trick to isolate the parts in Fernando
Sor’s Study No. 2(video clip #4):
The trick works with varying degrees of success depending on how the parts divide themselves
among the strings. And you might have to adjust the Kleenex to cover different sets of strings
for different sections or measures of the same piece. Nevertheless, it is a very practical and
helpful way to clearly hear exactly how you are playing the individual parts or voices of a piece.
Very LOW-tech, but it works!
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
The title is an allusion to the old television sitcom comedy Get Smart. Secret agent Maxwell
Smart often used the catchphrase, “The old_____trick—second time I’ve fallen for it this month
(or week).”
One of my personal favorites:
"The old Professor Peter Peckinpah all purpose anti-personnel Peckinpah pocket pistol under
the toupee trick. Second time I’ve fallen for it this month."
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Here is a very simple way to check how you are playing individual
voices in a piece.
When you work on a piece that contains two or more distinct parts, especially one in
counterpoint, it can be difficult to hear how well you are playing a subsidiary part. We tend to
focus on what we are familiar with. Here is a very simple way to check how you are playing
individual voices in a piece.
A brief explanation:
- The term "voices" (also called "lines") means the parts of the song. It comes from choir
terminology: the upper voice (highest in overall pitch range) is the soprano voice or
soprano part (often the melody, therefore also referred to as the melody line or upper
voice); the lowest voice is the bass voice or bass part (the bass line or lower voice).
If a piece has more than two parts, the part directly below the sopranos is the alto voice
or alto part or alto line (in choirs it is sung by females). The part directly above the
basses is the tenor voice or tenor part or tenor line (in choirs it is sung by males).
Therefore, a choir piece with the assignation SATB means it is for four voices--in
descending order: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
In guitar notation, the stems of the noteheads of the soprano and alto usually go up and
those of the tenors and basses go down so you can tell which part a note belongs to.
Let’s look at the Bourrée (or Bourée) from Lute Suite No. 1 (BWV 996). Incidentally, BWV is an
abbreviation for Bach Werke Verzeichnis which means Bach Works Index. It is an index that
numbers the complete works of Bach.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
When playing the Bourrée, most players tend to focus on the upper voice and don’t really
listen closely to the lower voice. After all, we know how the upper voice goes and can probably
sing it from memory.
But what about the lower voice? Can you sing it from memory? Do you really know how it
goes? Probably not. Even if you look at the music, you may not be able to sing it. Or if you play
through the piece, can you sing the lower voice as you play both parts? Many people can't,
and that is a real problem.
If you can't sing the lower voice, you probably aren't really listening to it when you practice.
You probably have little idea as to how well or poorly you are playing it. Are you playing it
smoothly? Are you connecting the notes or chopping them up? Are you allowing notes to ring
together that should be muted? This is a voice, a bass line. Therefore only one note should be
allowed to ring at a time.
It is in these types of situations that "The Old Kleenex Trick" comes in handy.
HOW TO DO "THE OLD KLEENEX TRICK"
First, to get a better idea of what you are trying to accomplish,
Watch stunning video clip #1 (Surely worthy of an Oscar nomination):
To really hear how you are playing the lower voice, try this. Fold a piece of Kleenex (I use the
term generically, you can use any brand) several times and then insert it under the treble
strings around the 15th to 19th fret to mute them. Play the Bourrée normally, fingering and
plucking both voices. Because the Kleenex is muting the treble strings, you will hear only the
lower voice, and you will hear it with crystal-clear clarity.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Watch this breathtaking demonstration (video clip #2). I said breathtaking not yawn-inducing.
You can reverse the procedure, stuffing the Kleenex under the bass strings in order to clearly
hear the upper voice.
Watch me demonstrate in video clip #3. Hold onto your seats for this one folks.
If you haven't nodded off yet, watch as I use the Kleenex trick to isolate the parts in Fernando
Sor’s Study No. 2(video clip #4):
The trick works with varying degrees of success depending on how the parts divide themselves
among the strings. And you might have to adjust the Kleenex to cover different sets of strings
for different sections or measures of the same piece. Nevertheless, it is a very practical and
helpful way to clearly hear exactly how you are playing the individual parts or voices of a piece.
Very LOW-tech, but it works!
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
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| These are my very detailed, in-depth articles and high-def videos on how to play the classical guitar. It's like getting your own private guitar lesson every month. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Looking for easy Christmas guitar arrangements? Chances are, I have covered it, or will soon. The tips are by subscription only. |
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Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on
the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written
tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and
the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on
the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written
tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and
the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.