Fingering Problems--Classical Guitar Piece

by Jennifer Disini
(Manila, Philippines)

Hi, I have a piece that I'm learning called Minuet in E by Anonymous. There's a passage there where my ring finger is on the 6th string and my pinkie has to hold down the 1st string (this is on the left hand) simultaneously.

i have been practicing for 3 weeks, but somehow:
1)it sounds too soft
2)the 1st string note isn't able to ring out. it's quite muffled.

I feel that my pinkie is too cramped into a ball and it hits the fret at an awkward angle that i can't make a good sound. I am slowly going crazy trying to overcome this problem.

Any input would help.

ANSWER

Hi, Jennifer--

That fingering sounds almost impossible! Our fingers don't work that way. The only thing I can suggest, without knowing what other notes are being played, is that you experiment with different fingerings.

One possibility is to move your thumb to play the note on the 6th string. Players often use this technique for difficult fingerings.

Another possibility is to leave out the note that is the least important.

You have to consider the possibility that some amateur composers may not be adept at composing pieces that can actually be played. (Anonymous?)
Or maybe he had hands the size of a giant.

Let me know if this helps or if you need to supply more information.

Best Wishes,
Lynne