Finger Pressures

Various finger pressures can be used to alter the timbre of a note. They also form parts of the technical basis of Multiphonics and Harmonics. There are three basic pressures:

• Normal
• Light (string still on finger board) - this will give a slightly more complex sound with a slightly muted fundamental.
  
• Light (string off fingerboard) - a much more complex and distorted sound which produces multiphonics. 

​It is possible to vary finger pressures to alter the timbre of a pitch or, as in the case of transformative multiphonics, change the nature of the pitch altogether. 


Dynamic Range: pp-ff
Difficulty: 2-3
Special Notes: Lighter finger pressures very effective in lowest registers of each string. A lighter finger pressure will shorten the sustain potential of a pizzicato note. 

Barry Guy Statements II (1972)

Related Techniques
Multiphonics, Harmonics

Repertoire
Barry Guy Statements II

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