Angles On Playing The Guitar: Beginner Guitar Lessons

Teaching angles for beginner guitar lessons is not just about holding the guitar at the correct "angle". Nevertheless, it's more than just placing the neck in relation to the floor.

Angles to be aware of are:

The wrist in relation to the neck.The knuckles in relation to the fret board.The thumb and finger holding the pickThe angle of the pick between the thumb and finger.The angle of the pick against the stringsThe wrist angles for picking and strummingThe plucking finger anglesThe angles of both elbowsThe general tilt of the guitar bodyThe neck in relation to the floor.

To go over each angle in detail and to mention some others that keep cropping up can take weeks of lessons. Therefore the teacher should be aware of all the different degrees of angling that take place in beginner guitar lessons. Many good or bad habits will be formed because of this.

The best way to deal with angling is to show the student how one angle may vary in one player to the next, or even one position to the next.

No two players have the exact size and shape physical characteristics. Position wise, the same scale passage an octave higher will most definitely require a different angle placement of the elbow, wrist and knuckles. Sometimes the angle of the neck is even re-angled in order to accommodate a more adaptable position.

At his point in the early stages of beginning guitar lessons, it must be stressed that there is not one universal angle workable for everyone.
This is why when the student after being told how to position the hand at a particular angle, will fail to produce a clear sound.

Keep in mind fluidity of motion. Of course, we have basic positions, but let the student know that the positions are like guide posts that are aimed for and then moved away from. Fluid motion needs to be stressed or else one may end up being a very stiff and limited player.

To start the student off it would be wise to give only three major angles:
1. The Back and Spinal column at 90 degrees to the floor
2. Awareness of the angle of the wrist with the knuckles placed away from the frets
3. The angle of the pick against the strings.

It may be debatable since there does not seem to be much study on this subject, however, these are the most crucial angles in beginner guitar lessons. Keep watch over these angles as the student progresses and then correct the others as the student moves on to more advanced guitar lessons. Compliment angle instruction with guitar finger stretching exercises and the fluidity of motion should become apparent soon.

Gene Petty

You can learn guitar finger stretching exercises at Gene's site: http://www.onlineguitarlessonsforfree.com/.
Gene also has a few articles and beginner guitar lessons at http://downloadguitarlessonsfree.com/

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