Classical RH Technique

[H-D-A]

Joe Pass was curiously omitted from the recommended listening? Some good shouts otherwise (Taylor, Towner, Breau et al). His always minimal but hugely effective (and always swinging) RH fingers & thumb were wonderfully highlighted on the Virtuoso series. Stylistic divisions not always useful, Chet Atkins played the Django hot club songbook finger (& thumbpick) style long before his Nashville days (check out his early stuff).

Classical RH can be restraining as well as liberating, so be wary of all that didactic nonsense by Giuliani et al - unless its allied to a musical direction you'll end up sending the goldfish to sleep..... The secret to a good RH is as much about breaking rules as slavishly following them (check out Merle Travis playing Cannonball Rag with one-finger-and-one-thumb and ask yourself if Giuliani could play like that after a year of p-i-m-a-m-i etc..).