Planting Techniques

1. Full plant p i m a

Planting, where the fingers are placed on the strings in advance of playing, is one of the most useful techniques available to the guitarist, and helps develop 1) hand stability, 2) finger independence, 3) accuracy, 4) tone, 5) articulation, 6) speed. The full plant (for ascending arpeggios): The fingers that are to play are planted on the strings as if to play a chord. From this position each finger peels off one after the other to play its own string, and remains off the string until the pattern is repeated. Generally, the i m a fingers are planted simultaneously at the moment the thumb starts to play the bass string.
2. Thumb plays 3. Index finger plays 4. Middle finger plays 5. Ring finger plays

p i m a Sequential This is used mostly for descending arpeggios, the idea being to a m(for i pdescending m i p arpeggios): a Plant: plant a a m m etc. i i p a m i a m i Play: p plant the next finger after (or even while) playing the previous string. While less in performance the common to than p full plant, the sequential plant is an excellent exercise for training the fingers to stay close the strings. p p a m i p a m i p Plant: etc. Play: p a m i p a m i a m a m i a m i
i m a
1 4 1 1 3 2 2 3 3 1 4 1 1 3 2 2 1 3 3 1 4 1 3 2 2 3 3 1 1 4 1 3 2 2

The above exercises are from Giulianis 120 Right-Hand Studies. For more of these useful exercises visit www.guitaracademy.co.uk/resources .

Combining full and sequential planting: In an arpeggio that ascends and descends, full planting is used on the ascending part of the arpeggio, and sequential planting on the part that descends.

p
i m
1 3

m a

i m

p i

Developing planting skills: With practice you will become more adept at controlling the precise moment of planting. Sometimes, in legato playing, where the notes need to last for their full value, planting must be left to the very last moment, or else the notes will be cut short. At other times planting is inappropriate because chords and arpeggios need to be sustained. The musical context will always need to be considered. In general, however, your playing will benefit greatly by some degree of planting.
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