The Choreography of Tension and Relaxation
By Daniel Nistico
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The mechanics of playing an instrument have a lot to do with the interplay of tension and relaxation, however there are often a lot of details missing when people talk about tension and relaxation.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that relaxation is an inactive impulse - that somehow by just thinking “I’m relaxed now” or “I’ll play it slower” is enough to produce systematically relaxed playing.
Just like tension, relaxation is an active impulse and requires the same amount of energy, thought and intent as it does to produce tension.
Tension is a necessary part of playing any instrument. On the guitar, tension is required for these two actions:
Pressing down frets with the left hand (including barring, slurring, etc.)
Plucking strings with the right hand (including strumming, rolling, etc.)
So any action other apart from these is an opportunity for relaxation.
There is a special sequence of movements that, when followed, produce the most efficient system for controlling tension and relaxation. This sequence is the choreography of tension and relaxation.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that relaxation is an inactive impulse - that somehow by just thinking “I’m relaxed now” or “I’ll play it slower” is enough to produce systematically relaxed playing.
Just like tension, relaxation is an active impulse and requires the same amount of energy, thought and intent as it does to produce tension.
Tension is a necessary part of playing any instrument. On the guitar, tension is required for these two actions:
Pressing down frets with the left hand (including barring, slurring, etc.)
Plucking strings with the right hand (including strumming, rolling, etc.)
So any action other apart from these is an opportunity for relaxation.
There is a special sequence of movements that, when followed, produce the most efficient system for controlling tension and relaxation. This sequence is the choreography of tension and relaxation.
Let’s begin exploring the dynamic relationship between tension and relaxation with a basic musical example.
It’s very easy to play these notes and hold tension in both hands from the first note to the last. So we need to choreograph very intentional and deliberate movements of relaxation into the mix.
The eighth note rest is obviously too much time to take when playing music in “real time” - i.e. our playing will not be legato. But in normal playing we still have a split second where we can employ these movements. Practice this very slowly so that you have time to think about each movement very intentionally. This is one occasion where slow practice can be extremely valuable (slow practice does not always equal good practice!).
Dividing the hand
When we want to command tension and relaxation, it can help to divide the hand up into different sections. This makes those commands a lot less vague and a lot more specific.
You can divide the hand up into five sections (in no particular order):
1) Your thumb
2) Your fingers
3) Your palm
4) The side underneath your pinky
5) The base of your thumb
When we want to command tension and relaxation, it can help to divide the hand up into different sections. This makes those commands a lot less vague and a lot more specific.
You can divide the hand up into five sections (in no particular order):
1) Your thumb
2) Your fingers
3) Your palm
4) The side underneath your pinky
5) The base of your thumb
When you command tension: Make the command very specific
If you just need to pluck with your thumb, then make that as specific as possible (i.e. only section 1 is tense)
For the musical example above, when you pluck the first note the command for tension will only apply to the finger that plucks that note
When you command relaxation: Make the command very general
Command all five sections to relax at every possible moment you have to relax
For the musical example above, the command for relaxation at the eighth note rests will apply to all five sections
If you just need to pluck with your thumb, then make that as specific as possible (i.e. only section 1 is tense)
For the musical example above, when you pluck the first note the command for tension will only apply to the finger that plucks that note
When you command relaxation: Make the command very general
Command all five sections to relax at every possible moment you have to relax
For the musical example above, the command for relaxation at the eighth note rests will apply to all five sections
Practicing more advanced materials
The choreography of tension and relaxation can apply to any piece or technical exercise.
To demonstrate something that is a step above the first musical example on page 1, you can try applying the tension and relaxation choreography to triads.
The choreography of tension and relaxation can apply to any piece or technical exercise.
To demonstrate something that is a step above the first musical example on page 1, you can try applying the tension and relaxation choreography to triads.
Summary
Tension is only required for these two actions and any action other apart from these is an opportunity for relaxation:
Pressing down frets with the left hand (including barring, slurring, etc.)
Plucking strings with the right hand (including strumming, rolling, etc.)
The choreography of tension and relaxation is as follows:
Left hand presses the fret/s (tension)
Right hand plucks and immediately relaxes
3) Right hand prepares on the next note/string, left hand relaxes and shifts towards the next note
You can divide the hand into five sections:
When you command tension, command it at the specific section of the hand where it’s needed
When you command relaxation, command it at all sections of the hand even if they weren’t tensed
Can you apply these ideas to the exercises, pieces, studies, etc. you're working on? Submit your thoughts and requests to me and I'll get back to you!
Tension is only required for these two actions and any action other apart from these is an opportunity for relaxation:
Pressing down frets with the left hand (including barring, slurring, etc.)
Plucking strings with the right hand (including strumming, rolling, etc.)
The choreography of tension and relaxation is as follows:
Left hand presses the fret/s (tension)
Right hand plucks and immediately relaxes
3) Right hand prepares on the next note/string, left hand relaxes and shifts towards the next note
You can divide the hand into five sections:
When you command tension, command it at the specific section of the hand where it’s needed
When you command relaxation, command it at all sections of the hand even if they weren’t tensed
Can you apply these ideas to the exercises, pieces, studies, etc. you're working on? Submit your thoughts and requests to me and I'll get back to you!
| the_choregraphy_of_tension_and_relaxation.pdf |
For more similar ideas and exercises check out my online warm up course:
Skype Lessons:
Tired of wasting time when you practice? I can form a routine for you that will ensure you make every minute as productive as possible.
You can also learn how to see music as a language, helping you understand and read it way more effectively.
All you need is a laptop, tablet, or smartphone and a Skype account (free to create).
Contact me and we can set up a free consultation to get you started on your journey to realizing your full potential on the guitar.
"I will certainly be recommending you to anyone wanting guitar lessons. You are so organised and thorough. I was quite skeptical about having lessons via Skype but you certainly have proven that they can work really well. The lesson recap videos are awesome. Thank you!!"
--- Olalla
"Daniel's thorough knowledge of the guitar is evident and you can tell straight away that he has many years of experience under his sleeve."
--- Alejandro
"Daniel was the first teacher I had that showed me how to become a true musician."
--- Collin
"Daniel's more than a guitar teacher he's a technician, under his guidance my tone, time, technique and more have improved so, so very much."
--- Jeremy
Tired of wasting time when you practice? I can form a routine for you that will ensure you make every minute as productive as possible.
You can also learn how to see music as a language, helping you understand and read it way more effectively.
All you need is a laptop, tablet, or smartphone and a Skype account (free to create).
Contact me and we can set up a free consultation to get you started on your journey to realizing your full potential on the guitar.
"I will certainly be recommending you to anyone wanting guitar lessons. You are so organised and thorough. I was quite skeptical about having lessons via Skype but you certainly have proven that they can work really well. The lesson recap videos are awesome. Thank you!!"
--- Olalla
"Daniel's thorough knowledge of the guitar is evident and you can tell straight away that he has many years of experience under his sleeve."
--- Alejandro
"Daniel was the first teacher I had that showed me how to become a true musician."
--- Collin
"Daniel's more than a guitar teacher he's a technician, under his guidance my tone, time, technique and more have improved so, so very much."
--- Jeremy