How to sit?

[randalljazz]

Originally Posted by TommyD

'We" is the people living in the 21st century, but I guess you already knew that. I don't think that Fernando Sor was an expert in physiology. I may be wrong, but I think Sor, like so many earlier-century masters, was being rigid and pedantic. I really can't see that moving a hand up and down the frets is more efficient than developing all four fingers. When I encounter a lick that's difficult because of having to use the pinky a lot, I just shed it for a while; it soon becomes easy(ier). and I'm just thinking of all the great players who use a four-fingered approach - Pass, Raney (both), Farlow, Joe Cohn, Bauer, Galbraith, Bruno,and on and on. I want to emulate them. And no, I never get to talk to Wes Montgomery.
I'm not trying to pick a fight here. There's enough hate in the world already. I'm just expressing my (apparently) lonely opinion. Sorry if I offended.

Tommy/

really?

familiarity with sor and his music and methods would reveal that neither 'rigid' nor 'pedantic' are particularly applicable to this gentle genius. having played much of his music, let me assure you that it requires facility with all digits of the left hand.

emulate whomever you like...'shed till you're gray, but the little finger will never equal the index for strength or dexterity (the point of sor's maxim).

with regard to moving up and down...sor's third maxim is "to be sparing of the operations called barring and shifting" (emphasis mine)...so you have arrived at at least one conclusion in common!

[bass2man]

As Hyman Rothman would say, IF he pajyed guitar....."I'd give two million dollars just to play an Em7b5 chord without it hurting"...