It's a manual, a simple guide to achieving virtuosity.
I have always wanted a book that would explain clearly the key principles of good technique, a technique book that is more about the "how" than the "what." It would be a manual of sorts, a kind of "Art of War for the Classical Guitar."
You might call it a compilation of all the tricks I've learned in my years of playing the guitar
It was not my intention to write another book of finger exercises. I have always believed that good playing is more about approach than about physical ability. So the focus here is on principles and concepts of good playing rather than on technical exercises.
No, the book is very specific in laying out the key principles essential to virtuosity.
It's totally based on practicalities. I've never been one for mere wishy-washy philosophizing. This is a practical book and the lessons it teaches are real practical lessons that you can apply to the guitar or anything else.
One of the qualities of a good left hand is fluidity. Watch a good player such as John Williams. He doesn't move in quick, jerking actions. His left hand is always smooth and flowing, even in fast pieces. How does he do it? Through anticipation.
Yet few teachers will teach you the technique of anticipation. And you can practice all the exercises you want and still not be able to achieve fluidity if you do not make anticipation a part of your playing. Once you develop a habit of moving early, you will find that your left hand will automatically become fluid and smooth.
Without giving away the plot of the book too much, here's how it works.
Most people do not anticipate when they move from chord to chord or fingering to fingering. They wait till the last moment before they move to the next fingering. But at that point, it is usually too late. Because they have so little time to make the shift, they have to move very quickly, in quick sudden actions.
But if you anticipate and start moving early, you'll find you have all the time you need to make the shift and the result will be a smooth graceful transition and a fluid left hand.
But here's the beauty of the concept. You get an additional benefit from anticipation because it actually increases your accuracy. When you have more time to find the next chord, you'll be able to place your fingers there more accurately.
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