Classical Guitar Technique on a Steel String Guitar

Subject: Re: Nylon Strings vs. Steel Strings
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 15:31:17 -0600

Hello,
Thank you for replying so quickly, I figured it would take a week or two to hear from you. It was a pleasant surprise to get next day service. I just have one follow up question. You said you had revised classical works to your steel string. I am wondering why they would be different? Is it possible to just take the tablature meant for a classical work and play it as is on your steel string? I recently ordered a book which has 50 classical guitar works in tab. I've not received it yet but what I was planning on doing is playing it on my steel string like it was a classical. Anyway that's my question, thank you so much for your help. God Bless!

Glad to assist you further on this...

There are two types of strokes within classical guitar technique:
1. the free stroke
2. the rest stroke

The above strokes are played with the index, middle or ring fingers...when applying traditional classical techniques to steel string, there are compromises that have to be made...especially to adapt to the response and tension of steel strings. For instance, when you hear a steel string fingerstylist, you usually will never hear a rest stroke being executed. A rest stroke requires the finger to pick the string and come to rest on the adjacent string above the string being picked. It essentially pulls the string being picked...if playing with fingernails on a steel string, this can be quite hard on the fingernail...and, with fingerpicks, a rest stroke is impossible. A rest stroke on nylon strings poses no problem whatsoever. The upshot is that you'll want to adapt your own approach to playing traditional classical pieces on a steel string...since, the formal classical approach does not work well with a steel string.

Yes, you can adapt any classical piece to steel string medium...only, keep in mind, you'll want to adapt to the characteristic of the steel string.

At your disposal, Mickey

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