Economy in Playing
Do you ever venerate a great master when he performs effortlessly? Then as you try to duplicate the maestro; do you tire and slow your performance, phrasing the piece poorly to compensate for your fatigue? Do you practice the necessary hours, but still remain at a skill level that is sufficient when you strive for the exceptional?

The

Relaxation Response

The line on the bottom represents zero tension or a state of complete relaxation. Each of the curved lines represents the rise and fall of energy in the right hand as a note is struck. The solid line represents a typical note of average volume (between 6 and 7 as shown by the numbers on the left). Note that the rise in tension in the hand is gradual so that the area between the zero tension line and the solid curved line encompasses an area large enough to place several pennies. This area represents the amount of energy expended to execute that note.

The dashed line represents the masterful execution of the same note. Notice that the hand tension doesn’t start to rise early as in our typical note, but rather just as the sound begins. As a result the area between the zero tension line and the dashed line is small (only about two pennies worth). Our master has achieved a volume greater than 8 with less than half the energy investment. This is a great savings and can be spent on other notes yet to come.

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Your relaxation response between notes is as important as the notes you play.

The striking of the note is the focal point of pressure but the relaxation response is just as important. Masters achieve the extremes of both tension and relaxation. Their hands work like their heart, resting between the notes so they can play all night!

It appears that we have mastered a passage, but we have actually mastered "the between of the notes". You can also preserve energy by isolating the part of your hand that is being used to execute your sound, and concentrating all your energy on only that part of your hand. Or you could think of it as isolating the parts of your hand that are not used, relaxing the unused portions and cutting them off from your energy source. I call this energy discrimination.

Energy Discrimination

Above is a graph showing energy used by the three right hand fingers as the middle finger (m) strikes a note. The area inside each box represents the amount of effort used by each finger. If you add the area inside box a to the area in box i you will notice that their combined energy is about the same as that used by m (the finger creating the sound). That means that the guitarist has used twice as much energy as is required. This method works fine for using hand tools or jobs requiring brute strength. But for the guitarist there is a better way! Energy Discrimination Below is a similar graph showing a note struck with m. Notice that the striking volume has increased to 8 while the unused fingers are relaxed. Energy discrimination has given us more volume with less effort. By using the relaxation response and the energy discrimination techniques you will guarantee a fluent technique. Use scales, modes, piccado exercises, or just strike one single note changing right fingers with each new strike. Use your mind to direct your energy as you practice. It is your concentration that elevates you to practice with the masters. Use short but consistent practice times. Your mind will tire, but your hand will not!