SECRET OF A RICH TONE for classical guitarists

Рет қаралды 17,620

Күн бұрын

#howtoplaytheguitar #guitarlesson #guitartechnique
In this video I'm talking about how to produce a warm, rich sound on the classical guitar. I'll cover:
- how to shape your nails
- picking technique
- strings
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Time code:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Nails in general
1:12 Angles of the nail
3:37 Shaping bonus tip
4:08 Surface of the nail
6:39 Super important info
7:19 Picking technique
8:12 Position of your hand
8:32 Please support this channel!
8:56 Strings

Пікірлер: 85

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

What strings do you use now? Let me know under this comment! ⬇ Also, please consider supporting me on patreon! www.patreon.com/beatrixguitar

@blahdiblah2169 2 жыл бұрын

I'm using SAVAREZ 500AJ - My guitar luthier said it's a good string for the model I have, and then I noticed my teacher used same brand of string, so I like the bright fluorocarbon. But if you are very early beginner these strings are too unforgiving.

@vladislavsolodyankin209 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Beatrix! Always i used to play on D'addario EJ 45 but i really want to try different strings. Now i am using Aquilla Sugar and like their sound more than D'addario. Their trebles are just brilliant for me but basses are not so impressive though they're not so bad. Like it. It's already time to change strings. Maybe you can recommend some strings for me to try? I will be glad for your answer)

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

@@blahdiblah2169 I tried that one several times on my spruce top Sakurai-Kohno and it was buzzing always :( But I changed guitar since then, maybe I should give it a try again. What kind of guitar do you use?

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

@@vladislavsolodyankin209 For me d'addario always have amore rough sound than I'd like, but this is just very personal. And they are pretty expensive for how long they stay good. I recommend Galli genius titanium trebles, aquila rubino basses and full set of augustinestrings regal and imperial series, especially the normal tensions.

@vladislavsolodyankin209 2 жыл бұрын

@@beatrixguitar Thank you very much for advice, i appreciate it a lot! If i can find this strings in my country i will definately give them a try.

@HatefYaminiOnline 10 ай бұрын

Outstanding nail overview. Best I’ve seen yet.

@beatrixguitar 10 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@GreenRose242 26 күн бұрын

Your videos are always so helpful Beatrix, thankyou my dear ❤

@elbestione7010 Ай бұрын

I use Savarez Hard Tension, for me a great choice with brilliant and strong tone

@Mohammad_j4fari 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. That shining part made so difference❤️

@felixmarinjr.66 Жыл бұрын

This is the best explained nail for classical guitar video I have watched. Thank you very much.

@evetdelarue8003 Ай бұрын

So helpful ty

@billthomson7468 7 ай бұрын

Really helpful views. Particularly about the finish of the nail being so important, as well as the shape. Seems so basic , but it is so fundamental . I’ll also check your others as I try hard to avoid tension in my hand with arpeggio playing. Many thanks

@vladislavsolodyankin209 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you Beatrix!

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it, thanks!

@StefanWester 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for this very informative video! I recently wrote an (unpublished) article on the topic for my students that has many of the ideas you are talking about in the video.

@archivedandgone 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips!

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Your welcome, feel free to check out my other videos too 😁

@oliverf.rupert5408 Жыл бұрын

picked up new hobby. thank you liked the video. 👍x2

@steveb9325 Жыл бұрын

I've tried a lot of strings. Always come back to Daddario J45 normal tension though I like Hannabauch too. Love your playing btw❤🙏❤

@atomic432 6 ай бұрын

Thanks. This topic is really important.

@beatrixguitar 6 ай бұрын

Glad you think so!

@andrewcleggguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video - just subscribed 👍🏻😀

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad, thank you!

@billbraunstein9304 Жыл бұрын

I found and a remakable set of strings for my guitar. It’s a Knobloch product . The label is Erithacus( a canary is pictured on the pkg). They are nylon, medium tension, and really enhance the tone of my instrument. They come in different strengths, but I prefer the following: QZ Nylon-EDQ 33.5. My Fleta is old and I was struggling with tone. They can be had at Strings by Mail on line. Try them! S

@alaljote5869 2 жыл бұрын

I laughed so hard at the "help you make a better decision... or a good decision... or a decision" xD great video as always!

@paulhennessey51 2 ай бұрын

I switched from D’Addario to Hannabach a while ago and find them warmer with longer sustain.

@newgunguy4176 2 ай бұрын

How to fix hooked nails that grow downward?

@lucadigiambattista1614 2 ай бұрын

Knobloch string for my flamenco guitar.

@AndSendMe Жыл бұрын

(a) You are delightful. (b) You had me at sausage fingers--I've been thinking about this lately after being amazed at Andrew Lee's tone on a Santos Hernandez in a GSI video. (c) Great information, clearly presented. (d) Lovely photography with the sun dappled effect.

@Folkstone1957 6 ай бұрын

I use DOGAL Blue Titanium trebles & OPTIMA GOLD wound bass strings with wound third to record/perform or D’Addario wound basses to practice, also wound third, HT. I have a GODIN guitar.

@JoshParker-Music 6 ай бұрын

I currently use the LaBella Professional series on my classical guitar. I have a 7 string, so it can be tricky to find full packs that include a 7th string. I have used LaBella strings on my jazz archtop guitar for a very long time so I figured I'd give them a shot. I really like them much better than the D'addario and Savarez strings I've tried. I have only tried the carbon Augustine strings, and I really like them as well. Will have to give their nylons a try too!

@vgfjr505 11 ай бұрын

That’s pretty much how I shape my nails. I even use the same tools to shape my nails. I use the Augustine Reds.

@leonardopoerio4007 7 ай бұрын

Hello Beatrice! I play a G. Giussani guitar as you, mine is made by spruce(top) and maple wood, your is palisander and spruce(top) I presume. My best combination is Augustine Regals for treble and Hannabach black Medium Tension for bass but to avoid to waste part of the full set I ended up with the full set of Hannabach Black Medium Tension, it's a good compromise.

@livindadrm 2 жыл бұрын

I think string choice can vary for an individual guitar. I use Normal tension Savarez HT Alliance on my spruce top and Normal tension Savarez Cantiga Creation on my Cedar top. The latter set is interesting... nylon e/b and carbon g.

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you! I was using savarez strings on my Sakurai guitar but I don't like them on my Giussanni. That's why I said I share some personal favorites 😉

@stu3845 2 жыл бұрын

I'm also using the Augustine regal reds, best balance I've found so far, though I'd would like a warmer bass

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Yes and the sound is very easy to control! For warmer bass check out the aquila rubino I was mentioning

@stu3845 2 жыл бұрын

@@beatrixguitar Wow, wow, wow! Early days but these Rubino's sound great! There's an odd feeling to the trebbles, but the sound is so good! and beautiful in red :) Thank you so much!

@VictorTarela 2 жыл бұрын

I will experiment more with my technique and strings then. Amazing video, I just found curious that the feeling you had with the carbon strings is the same I had with nylon. I will explore the possibilities of both and see if I can make a good choice :)

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Really? Yeah, string choice and tone preference is different to everyone, for this I found this video one of the hardest topic to make so far. I can't say enough how these are my personal experiences, I hope people understand that different is good

@VictorTarela 2 жыл бұрын

@@beatrixguitar yeah! When I first started taking seriously my sound, I hated the thickness and absence of low end that I was getting out of the guitar, so I made a lot of trial and error choices that led me to polish my nails in a near flat way (pretty much as advised by William Kanengiser in his instructional video) and also to try a wide variety of strings, and I ended up with the daddario high tension carbon ones. Next year I will apply to the Music College and I expect a lot of improvement in my playing which will probably lead me to more changes in my nail polishing and strings, but I don't know... I guess it's a matter of so many elements that the only thing one can do is listen to other people and share their experienxes, as you have done here. I can't stress enough how needed those conversations are, because since the guitar is such an evolving instrument we can not set our mind to only one way of thinking. Thank you for answering and for all the content you make, I discovered your channel recently and watched every video of yours I could since then. Keep them coming! :)

@keejoseph3145 2 жыл бұрын

Beatrix, thanks. Do you use high tension or medium tension string?

@nigelthomson9287 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks again, Beatrice. I have tried mixing D'Addario nylons with a same brand carbon G string. The D'Addario nylon G string is terrible and sounds like a dull thud. The carbon is thinner and brighter but the trade off is a rough surface, scratcher sound and extra wear on the nails (a general problem as strings age anyway, I guess).

@nigelthomson9287 2 жыл бұрын

Forgot to say I use ej45s

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

yeah I also experimented with mixed sets like this. Carbon for me always wears out more quickly so I had to change it waaay too often. Glad you liked the video and thanks for sharing your view!

@dhrupadloveandcats9042 11 ай бұрын

Hi Beatrix, thanks for this great video! Have you tried Aquila Perla strings? They are supposed to be much warmer than the Rubino.

@beatrixguitar 11 ай бұрын

No I haven’t! I settled down with daddario and I’m really happy with their XT series

@javierdiazsantana 2 жыл бұрын

Have you tried buying on internet the half sets of strings? D'Addario Titanium trebles will be pretty much the same to the Galli Titanio since it's a patented material and it doesn't have discrepancies between brands, and the Aquila bass you might be able to get it separate or at least avoid buying the bass on the titanium strings... Hope this helps

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Hey hey, i just looked it up and I realized that I'm not familiar with d'addario's recent projects and strings at all. Last time I played d'addario strings was 6 yars ago and I played strings called EXP series. Turned out they aren't even exist anymore :D Their titanium strings and the XT series seems very interesting for me, thanks for the recommendation! I'm so happy that running this channel also gives me so much info and feedback, thanks for your valuable insight!

@javierdiazsantana 2 жыл бұрын

@@beatrixguitar Yeah, EXP's are great but got discontinued...Greetings from Mexico Beatrix, take care

@CWRobinsonMusic 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely hard to maintain. One day when I’m an old frail man (assuming I get that lucky) I’ll have plenty of front porch picking to do instead of messing up the nails on other stuff.

@robosing225 2 жыл бұрын

So I have these weird bulbous finger tips which means the point where the playing edge of the nail meets the flesh at a very narrow point. to counter this I have to pluck the strings almost parallel using loong finger nails. Kind of like David Russell's angel since he too has big fingertips. If I try to to perpendicular I get a very thin, tinny weak sound with no projection or life to it. Should I just shave them down and glue fake guitar player nails and shape those instead?

@blahdiblah2169 2 жыл бұрын

For those of you living in Central Europe - I have found it very difficult to find nail buffer blocks here. So I recommend you get micromesh from a hobby shop. They're used by people who make model toys. For me personally I use a combination of a regular cheap glass nail file for rough shaping, then I'm using ordinary sand paper too for rough shaping, fine grit, more like water paper (it's cheap, and very effective and you can buy it from any hardware store), then for finer adjustments I use micromesh and also a soundfile which I got imported from America. All in all you don't need anything too expensive, mainly the sandpaper, a cheap glass nail file, and at least a 12k micromesh sheet, because these are the ones I use the most.

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

It's the opposite here haha, it's impossible to get micro mesh 😂 but thanks for the heads up!

@blahdiblah2169 2 жыл бұрын

@@beatrixguitar Hi Beatrix, thank you for the great content, your videos always teach me a lot. Even today your diagrams of nail shape gave me some fresh ideas to try :)

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

@@blahdiblah2169 ah thanks, so happy to hear that!

@Koga-Ed 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great video ! I have two things: 1. Using the stuff speed skaters use to polish their speedskates would be a great alternative too. 2. @beatrixguitar could you do a topic on tips how to let fresh strings settle faster on your guitar ? Because I’ve experienced they get out of tune very fast in the beginning. They tend to settle (and stay in tune better) only at the moment they almost need to be replaced again 😅

@a.bloke2.0alwayslearning.23 Жыл бұрын

Love the Vid, love you. You had me at "sausage fingers", a term that I thought up to be MY term for MY Fingers invented exclusively for ME ! Regarding "Warm Tones" which as why I tuned in, the Tone is what you want to make it. Sometimes I pick, sometimes I strum, sometimes I thrash it ( but NEVER abuse it !), and the 'Tone' is how my Fat Sausage Fingers strike, pluck or leave the String. One thing that I, as a bloke, can say about your nails though. They look just the business for scraping bugs of one's Motorcycle Helmet. Take care, Flower Child. 🎸 🎼 Plink !, PlonK, pliNK. . . . , TWANG !!! Superb ! . .

@m.d.1862 Жыл бұрын

As an owner of sausage fingers, i see hope!

@roywhiston5658 6 ай бұрын

Currently using Savarez 500CJ, but noticing that the G string doesn’t “sing” as I feel it should. So looking for an alternative.

@roywhiston5658 6 ай бұрын

PS: I have a flamenco Admira F4. I love its overall sound and playability.

@shiroumxm2052 2 жыл бұрын

i see your three fingernails , I,M, A, have the same shape.. in my case the nail of the ring finger is filed on the outside, that is to say the opposite of the other two. Would you say that it is something that I should correct?

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Only change that if you are not satisfied with your tone. My nail shape is more symmetrical than the usual guitarist nail shape and I don't say you should follow it, but if you start experimenting with the little tests I mentioned in the video and your nails are not comfortable, you should change the shape. Try to pick slowly and try to feel the contact point and where the string leaves your nail, try to feel little bumps or anything where the string stucks and gradually adjust your nails to that.

@shiroumxm2052 2 жыл бұрын

@@beatrixguitar thank you very much Beatrix. That finger is the only one i just dont get the right shape.. cause sometimes I have to move my hand and change the angle to play for example tremolo and the rest are ok but the A finger feel weird.. i gues I have to find a shape that allows me to play at least not so incomfortable in every position of my hand. Thnaks again for your advices and excuse my bad English jajaj Greetings from México

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

@@shiroumxm2052 My teacher always told me to shape my nails to my picking technique, and not to build my technique to my nails. You should find your suitable right hand posture first and you need to find a nail shape which soulds good without moving your hand. The more extra movement you do, the less stable your technique is. I hope this helps, sorry for the late reply!

@galeburgess5309 10 ай бұрын

D'Addario light tension.

@vishnuvijayan4805 2 жыл бұрын

Oh! Im early.

@beatrixguitar 2 жыл бұрын

hey, thanks for watching!

@louisverrone2341 6 ай бұрын

Why do you use fake nails? Do you have trouble growing healthy nails for playing? I have trouble and I'm looking for tips how to get strong nails. Diet perhaps? I like your videos very much. Thank you

@halfabee 7 ай бұрын

The Guitar was developed in the days when people would entertain themselves in a sitting room/parlor. A very internment experience. With electronic pickups available to be installed on Classical Guitars, There is no reason not to amplify the classical guitar sound.

@Guitariuga 11 ай бұрын

I really like the sound of a classical guitar, but I just can't stand long nails on my fingers... I would rather play with flesh parts of my fingers, just like Tarrega....

@hadeseye2297 10 ай бұрын

Kiełbasa fingers. xD

@yanr.rivero9129 Жыл бұрын

i don't use my tails to play

@Benbenforever 11 ай бұрын

Very good presentation except you are not using the rest stroke at all as far as I can see. Getting a really warm deep sound on melody lines is very difficult with just free strokes. If you look at Julian Bream, master of the guitar sound, you will see that most melody lines are played with a rest stroke. Furthermore, you will also see the rotation of the right hand leaving the nails at almost 45 degree angle to the strings. Free strokes are only used when test strokes are not possible. I have watched dozens of younger guitarists now who never seem to use the rest stroke and that is why they sound, thin, brittle and as if being 'picked' which is what is happening. The classical guitar is caressed', not 'picked'.