The Rest Stroke
Up to now, most of what we have covered could be played with a pick, but we will
be studying arpeggios that are much easier to play with the fingers. For the single-note
melodies that follow, a pick could be used, but now is a good moment to learn the
principal stroke used for melody lines on the finger-style and classical guitar,
known as the rest stroke.
The rest stroke is the technique that produces the fullest sound from a single
note. It is played by plucking the string in such a way that, when the movement
is completed, the fingertip comes to rest on the adjacent string—hence the name.
Here are the steps:
- The fingertip is placed on the string in preparation.
- As the nail passes the string it catches and sounds the note.
- The fingertip ends the movement on the next string.
- It is most important to keep the finger slightly curved—do not let the joint
yield as the nail plays the note, because this will weaken your attack.
![The rest stroke](images/1/index.23.gif)
The rest stroke
The rest stroke is quite a subtle movement, because small adjustments can mean
a considerable improvement in tone quality. It is fun to experiment with this, and
good habits developed at this stage will ensure maximum progress. Take a look at
it now from another angle. This picture shows the nail sliding off the string at
a slight angle, with the finger slanted so as to engage the string with less-than-maximum
nail. This change in axis from a head-on approach softens the attack of the finger
to produce a more delicate sound.
![The finger is angled to engage less of the nail.](images/1/index.24.gif)
The finger is angled to engage less of the nail.
Try these movements out now to see if you can produce a full and beautiful sound.
Remember that the state of the nail is important since rough areas will catch and
produce a grating sound.
Here are the main points to remember:
- Prepare to play by positioning the finger on the fingertip with the nail
projecting over the string.
- Press the string down slightly before playing.
- For a strong attack, play with more nail, i.e., with the center of the nail.
- For a subtler sound angle the nail and the stroke.
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