Classical guitar right-hand technique uses the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, called P, I, M, and A, to pluck the strings, with two strokes: the rest stroke, where the finger comes to rest on the next string, and the free stroke, where the finger plucks and moves freely. The nails are shaped and the hand is held at an angle, so the strings are plucked cleanly.
What is classical guitar right-hand technique?
Classical guitar right-hand technique uses the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, called P, I, M, and A, to pluck the strings, with two strokes: the rest stroke, where the finger comes to rest on the next string, and the free stroke, where the finger plucks and moves freely. The nails are shaped and the hand is held at an angle, so the strings are plucked cleanly, and the sound is clear and bright, with each note ringing. The classical guitar is played with the fingers, not with a pick, and the right hand is the voice of the guitar, because it makes the sound. The right hand is held at an angle to the strings, with the wrist straight and the fingers curved, so the fingers pluck the strings with the flesh and the nail, pulling the string towards the palm, and the string vibrates, and the note rings. The thumb, P, plays the bass strings, the 6th, 5th and 4th, and the index, I, plays the 3rd string, the middle, M, plays the 2nd, and the ring, A, plays the 1st, and each finger has its own string, so the fingers do not get in each other's way. The C major guitar chord and the G major guitar chord are the chords most players first learn classical technique on, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How classical right-hand technique works
The rest stroke, called apoyando in Spanish, works by plucking the string and letting the finger come to rest on the next string, so the finger stops on the string below, and the note is loud and clear, with a strong attack. The rest stroke is used for the melody, because the melody must be heard, and the rest stroke gives it the volume and the clarity it needs. The free stroke, called tirando in Spanish, works by plucking the string and letting the finger move freely, without resting on the next string, so the finger moves through the air, and the note is softer and lighter, with a gentle attack. The free stroke is used for the accompaniment, because the accompaniment must be soft, and the free stroke gives it the lightness it needs. The nails are shaped into a rounded curve, following the fingertip, so the string slides along the nail, from the flesh to the tip, and then off the tip, and the string vibrates cleanly, and the note is clear and bright. The hand is held at an angle, with the wrist straight, so the fingers meet the strings at an angle, and the nails pluck the strings cleanly, without catching. The D major guitar chord and the A major guitar chord are the chords the technique is built on.
Worked example — rest stroke and free stroke on C major. Hold a C major chord, and play the melody note, E, on the 1st string, with the ring finger, using a rest stroke, so the finger plucks the string and comes to rest on the 2nd string, and the note is loud and clear, with a strong attack. Now play the accompaniment, C, G, B, on the 5th, 3rd and 2nd strings, with the thumb, index and middle fingers, using free strokes, so the fingers pluck and move freely, and the notes are softer and lighter, with a gentle attack. The melody is loud, because it is the rest stroke, and the accompaniment is soft, because it is the free stroke, and the two together make the classical sound, with the melody singing over the accompaniment. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to practise the strokes with.
How to practise classical right-hand technique
Practise classical right-hand technique slowly, learning the rest stroke and the free stroke separately, and then together, so the melody and the accompaniment are balanced.
- Practise the rest stroke on the 1st string, with the ring finger, plucking the string and coming to rest on the 2nd string, and listen for the note to be loud and clear.
- Practise the free stroke on the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings, with the index, middle and ring fingers, plucking and moving freely, and listen for the notes to be soft and light.
- Practise the P-I-M-A pattern on a C major chord, with the thumb playing the bass with a free stroke, and the fingers playing the treble with free strokes, and listen for the arpeggio to flow.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with classical technique, using rest strokes for the melody and free strokes for the accompaniment.
- Practise with the metronome at 60 beats per minute, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute when the strokes are steady at the current tempo.
Common mistakes
- Using the rest stroke for everything — The rest stroke is loud and clear, and using it for everything will make the accompaniment too loud, and the melody will not stand out. Use the rest stroke for the melody, and the free stroke for the accompaniment, so the two are balanced.
- Holding the hand flat — A hand held flat to the strings will pluck them with the flesh, not with the nail, and the notes will be soft and dull, not clear and bright. Hold the hand at an angle, with the wrist straight, so the nails pluck the strings cleanly.
- Letting the nails get too long — A nail that is too long will catch on the strings, and the note will be harsh, and the nail will break. Keep the nails 1 to 2 millimetres past the fingertip, filed into a rounded shape, so they pluck cleanly and do not break.
Quick reference
This table compares the rest stroke and the free stroke side by side, so you can see the differences at a glance. The rest stroke is loud and clear, and it is used for the melody, while the free stroke is soft and light, and it is used for the accompaniment, and the two together make the classical sound.
| Stroke | How it works | Sound | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest stroke (apoyando) | Finger rests on the next string | Loud and clear | Melody |
| Free stroke (tirando) | Finger moves freely | Soft and light | Accompaniment |
Use the table to check your strokes: is your melody played with rest strokes, loud and clear, and is your accompaniment played with free strokes, soft and light, and are the two balanced, so the melody sings over the accompaniment. When you can answer yes to all three, your classical technique is right, and the sound will be classical.
Frequently asked questions
What is classical guitar right-hand technique?
Classical guitar right-hand technique uses the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, called P, I, M, and A, to pluck the strings, with two strokes: the rest stroke, where the finger comes to rest on the next string, and the free stroke, where the finger plucks and moves freely.
What is the difference between a rest stroke and a free stroke?
A rest stroke plucks the string and comes to rest on the next string, so the note is loud and clear, with a strong attack, while a free stroke plucks the string and moves freely, so the note is softer and lighter, with a gentle attack.
When should I use a rest stroke?
For the melody, because the melody must be heard, and the rest stroke gives it the volume and the clarity it needs. The accompaniment should be played with free strokes, so it is soft and the melody stands out.
When should I use a free stroke?
For the accompaniment, because the accompaniment must be soft, and the free stroke gives it the lightness it needs. The melody should be played with rest strokes, so it is loud and the accompaniment does not drown it.
Do I need nails for classical guitar?
Yes, nails give a clearer, brighter sound than flesh alone, and classical guitarists shape their nails carefully, into a rounded curve, so the string slides off the nail cleanly. The nails should be 1 to 2 millimetres past the fingertip.