Keira-WitherKay
if you a fingerstyle acoustic player like me...you'll know that your fingers have to get in to quite extended positions if you want to play more than one part simultaneously.... most of us fingerstyle players do the who bass line/chords/and melody or improv simultaneously ....and believe me the stretch's can be extreme ...
but i was watching dvd's by martin taylor the jazz solo fingerstyle guitarist and also the outrageously brilliant fingerpicker doyle dykes..... who both use custom short scale guitars to make more intricate parts possible.... Doyle had Taylor design a short scale guitar which is now his signiture model ... and martin taylor has a luthier in scotland Vanden guitars make all his..... even chet atkins played on a short scale gretch ...
so if all the major fingerstlye players like short scales there must be something to it ...well thats my thinking
then i watch a lot of flamenco guitarist on video too .... like paco di lucia and Vincente amigo both ridiculously fast and agile players ...who i often see in live dvd's using a capo on the 1st fret on their flamenco guitars.....
so i got to thinking that they detuning to Eb and the capo on the 1st fret returns it to concert pitch .....
i questioned why they do it??????
then i realised and tried it for myself....... they get a softer string tention by detuning meaning a lower action and softer touch and the capo on the 1st fret .... effectively shortens the scale ... and quite significantly so and the capo returns it to concert pitch so you have no problems working with ensembles or having to relearn memorised pieces...
i have now used it for a weeks worth of gigs.... and it really makes playing so much easier for all that "tricky pickin" as doyle dykes calls it......and the difference in feel is HUGE .........
also it saves your hands from extended stretch's and we older musicians ...well middle aged will know we want to play into our 60's and beyond and abusing or over using ones hands does affect the longterm health of ones hands.....
so a simple solution to get a lower action and shorten the scale, protects ones hands .
..and all it takes is detuning and a capo.... and you can still play everything you learnt in same keys .... although it felt a bit wierd initially i am so enjoying it.....
peace and light
Keira WitherKay
ps anyone into acoustic fingerstyle playing in jhb contact me please love to meet and exchange idea's
MikeM
Interesting ? Will try it out sometime. Thanks!
AlanRatcliffe
Just one small point - the strings Flamenco players use are generally super high tension (helps with the percussiveness), so a bit of downtuning or a shorter scale will work pretty well, but otherwise, you might find quite a tonal difference. Don't forget that most of the fingerstyle players you mention are steel pickers, which is also a comparatively high tension. IIRC, Tommy Emmanuel plays a 25.5" scale.
Getting used to the stretching is all part of learning to play. That said, I often cheat by using my thumb, Hendrix style or by tapping with my right hand. ? Works great on a modern classical neck (slightly thinner) but not so great on a full concert neck (2" wide at the nut).
Keira-WitherKay
hey Alan , i am using this detune and capo technique at my gigs.... ( just nylon fingerstyle acoustic and voice and percussion) and so far it has been working out great...
i use pro arte normal tension strings now detuned to Eb .... but i will keep you posted.... on how it goes....
i guess i could use high tension strings and just detune too.... but i like the soft or low tension feel.... but remember i am a world /jazz musician ... who plays flamenco and classical style but i'm not a purist ...except in the fact that i don't use effects or loops....
so to me if it makes the playing easier.... i'm quite up for it...again i say it's my taste.... as i could never play the high action on some concert classicals... mine is as flat as an electric and not a single buzz.... even detuned.... thanks to the luthier sergio from CT who set up my guitar ... and bridge....so i guess it's all personal....
however i will watch for a difference in the tone.... and report back....
btw this is a great site and really enjoying it .... well done to the admin...
peace and light
Keira
