Sympathetic Motion
Arpeggios are often played using a special right-hand technique called sympathetic motion which allows your fingers to move quickly and powerfully. Sympathetic motion means having all fingers in front of the strings and flexing them together, but with a slight delay between fingers. Typically, i begins and then “pulls” on the rest of the fingers to follow. You’ll learn sympathetic motion in two steps.
Step 1
As p plays (4), release all fingers, placing i on (3) and m on (2).
- p should now be resting lightly against i.
- Play (3)-(2) with i-m, following through with all fingers into the hand. At the same time, prepare p back on (4).
- Repeat the pattern, watching your hand until you feel secure.
Step 2
- As p plays (4), release all fingers, placing i on (3) and m on (2). p is now resting lightly against i.
- Play (3) with i (shown below). As i begins to follow through, play (2) with m and follow through with all the fingers. This is the sympathetic motion!
- As you play m, prepare p back on (4).
- Repeat the pattern, watching your hand until you feel secure.
Left-hand considerations
At measure 8 there is a downward slur (or pull-off) indicated by a curved line from the C to the B. To slur, play the C, then pull your left-hand finger (1) off the string. The effect of pulling 1 off the string, sounds the B.
In addition, there are notes in the higher fingerboard position that should be studied before playing. Looking at the diagram to the left, notice F and G on (4) and B and C on (3). These are played in the bass from measures 16-24.
Practice playing/saying the upper-position notes while watching your left-hand fingers, guiding them to their frets:
Pre-Reading and Visualizing
When you feel secure with the sympathetic motion, you can apply it to Daybreak. Work slowly and carefully, perhaps one line, or 8-measures at a time. It’s always best if you approach learning music mindfully in a series of steps.
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