Summa Kitharolgica, Volume 1 The Physiology of Guitar Playing
PREFACE 6
CHAPTER 1 9
Section 1. Musculoskeletal Framework 10
Nourishment 12
Control Systems 13
Types of Muscle Contraction 17
Section 2. Limb Joints Anatomy and Movements [video clips 1-1 to 1-5] 18
Planes of Motion 19
Joint Movements 19
Arm Muscle Location 20
The Shoulder Girdle 21
The Shoulder Joint 22
The Elbow, Forearm and Wrist Joints 24
Digit Joints 27
Finger Movements 29
Thumb Movements 31
Forearm Muscles and Functions Extrinsic Muscles 32
Hand Muscles and Functions Intrinsic Muscles 32
Summary of Basic Anatomical Terms and Abbreviations Related to the Hand 33
Further Exploration of the Physiomechanics of Digital Movement 34
Anatomical Constraints to Digital Movement 41
Section 3. Motor Function, Proprioception and Muscle Metabolism 44
Muscular Innervation 45
Types of Muscular Fiber 46
Muscle Spindle 46
The Body’s ‘Sixth Sense’: Proprioception and Kinesthesia 46
Muscle Metabolism 47
Leverage 48
Section 4. General Pedagogical Considerations 50
Tension and the Experience of Mastery 50
Sitting Down to Play the Guitar 52
Static Effort and Dynamic Work When Using the Footstool 52
Anthropometrics and Guitar Playing 53
Nails 53
Leverage Conditions in Holding the Guitar 55
A Kinesiological Approach to Motor Training on the Guitar 56
Somatic Training 58
The Pathology of Guitar Playing 60
Training for Virtuosity 64
CHAPTER 2 65
Section 1. Physiomechanical Aspects of Right-Hand Technique 66
Arm Support and Stroke Type 67
Physiomechanics of Right-Hand Fingerwork 68
Section 2. A Positional Framing Approach to Right-Hand Fingerwork [video clips 2-1, 2-2] 82
Theory of Positional Framing 83
Positional and Framing Charts 97
Section 3. Mobility [video clip 2-3] 101
Shifting: Arm-Wrist-Finger Interaction 102
Physiomechanics of Arm Shifting: Leverage 103
Various Approaches to Right-Hand Technique 105
Angle of Inclination of the Guitar and its Effect on Right-Hand Approach 105
Section 4. Compendium: The Talented Hand Positional Framing Analysis [video clip 2-4] 107
Carcassi: Etude Op. 60, No. 1. Positional Framing in Scalar Passages 107
Arpeggio to Scales 109
Arpeggio to Repeated Notes 110
Interpositional Arpeggios 110
Well-known Arpeggio Formulas 111
CHAPTER 3 114
Section 1. Physiomechanical Aspects of Left-Hand Technique [video clip 3-1] 115
The Poised Limb 117
Fingerboard Slant and Weight-Release 118
Redefining ‘Shifting’ 118
Form and Function 120
Section 2. Towards a Typology of Shifting [video clips 3-1 to 3-6] 122
Interpositional Shifts 122
Intrapositional Shifts 122
Compound Shifting 142
Shifts through Extensions and Contractions 145
Agility Issues 148
Fingering: Player’s Choice 153
A Technical Analysis of Left-hand Mobility in Fernando Sor’s Study Op. 6, No. 8 153
Section 3. Compendium: Limits to the Possible 154
Acknowledging the Limits I: Right-Hand Coordination Constraints 154
Acknowledging the Limits II: Tempo Constraints 156
Pushing the Limits I: Maximum Speed Shifting 157
Pushing the Limits II: Extreme Demands for Combined Finger Dexterity and Arm Agility 158
SOURCES 160
INDEX 166
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 170