Re-examining rest stroke and free stroke gripping action.
Having had considerable experience with both rest and free stroke, it is a good time for the student to re-appraise one of the most important and intricate techniques, that being right hand finger action and gripping or placement between flesh and nail for both strokes.
It can be observed that both strokes are essentially the same for 1, 2 and 3 and the only major difference occurs at 4. Also that the string is set in motion by the nail only after having used the junction of the flesh and nail as a reference point.
With the right hand correctly positioned :
It will be found that by allowing the finger to relax, it will return to 1. ready to pluck again. Obviously, the degree of "string grip" when playing single notes, chords or alternating is dependent upon the speed required or musical taste (refer "Legato and Staccato" pg. 169).