Original source: Paul Davids
This video from Paul Davids covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 8 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
Master the two essential nylon-string techniques to fundamentally change your guitar's tone, from delicate and traditional to powerful and modern.
Dominic Miller Details 'Apoyando' and 'Tirando' Nylon-String Techniques for Tonal Control
Guitarist Dominic Miller explained the two fundamental right-hand techniques for nylon-string guitar: 'tirando' and 'apoyando'. 'Tirando' is a lighter, more traditional fingerpicking style where the player pulls the string. In contrast, 'apoyando', which translates to 'leaning', involves pushing through one string and coming to rest on the next, a technique that produces a markedly different sound.
What Paul Davids loves about this distinction is how 'apoyando' creates a much 'beefier' and more impactful tone, very similar to how a bass player attacks the strings. Mastering this gives players a crucial tool for controlling the dynamics and sonic weight of their playing, moving between delicate and powerful tones with just a shift in right-hand approach.
"Apoyando means literally leaning into the string. It's the same technique that a bass player would use, so it's like going into the string. It gives more beef to the sound."
Dominic Miller Plays Nylon-String With Flesh, Not Nails, Due to His 'Day Job' With Sting
Dominic Miller revealed that he plays nylon-string guitar primarily with the flesh of his fingertips, a departure from traditional classical technique that often relies on fingernails. This was not an aesthetic choice but a practical one born from his 'day job' playing a Fender Stratocaster with Sting, which consistently trashed his nails.
This necessity forced Miller to develop a new, more resilient technique by building up calluses, similar to a bass player. It's a fantastic example of how a musician's diverse work can forge a unique and practical personal style that gives them a signature sound.
"I was playing the Strat so much, it was just trashing my nails. So, I had to relearn how to play without nails."
Dominic Miller Champions the Sound of Old, 'Dead' Guitar Strings
Contrary to the common wisdom of frequently changing strings for a bright tone, Dominic Miller advocates for the beauty of old strings. He notes that in Latin American music, players like the famed Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell rarely changed their strings, cultivating what Miller describes as a 'dead' but beautiful sound.
While he acknowledges that intonation can suffer temporarily as strings age, he finds the tone eventually 'comes back' with a unique warmth. This preference for a mellow, less sparkly sound offers a compelling alternative perspective on guitar maintenance and sonic goals.
"In Brazilian music or Latin American music, they hardly ever change strings... the sound is sort of so dead. It's so beautiful."
Dominic Miller Details Writing 'Shape of My Heart' and Its Pop Music Integration
Dominic Miller recounted writing the famous riff for 'Shape of My Heart' for himself, not initially for Sting, though he was inspired by the sound of Sting's song 'Fragile'. Sting immediately recognised the riff's potential and developed it into the full song. This highlights the natural affinity the nylon-string guitar has for pop music.
The instrument's tone provides a perfect accompaniment for singers to write melodies and lyrics over. What's fantastic is how easily it finds its way into the pop genre, making it an excellent tool for crafting memorable, medium-tempo songs.
"Nylon string guitar finds its way into pop really, really easily. And for writing songs, it's great."
Miller and Sting Clarify Authorship of 'Shape of My Heart' and 'Fragile' Riffs
Dominic Miller addressed a common point of confusion among fans, confirming that Sting wrote the iconic nylon-string riff for 'Fragile'. Conversely, he clarified that he wrote the riff for 'Shape of My Heart,' which many people had mistakenly attributed to Sting for years.
These crossed attributions highlight the deeply collaborative nature of their work and the powerful role the nylon-string guitar played in defining the sound of pop music. It's a great example of how a signature sound becomes associated with an artist, regardless of who played the specific part.
"A lot of people think that I played that riff ['Fragile']. By the same token, for many years a lot of people thought that he wrote and played 'Shape of My Heart'."
Dominic Miller Reveals 'Shape of My Heart' Was Originally Written in a Different Key
Dominic Miller explained that his iconic riff for Sting's 'Shape of My Heart' was originally composed in the key of E, played higher up the neck. When Sting began singing over the part, he requested that Miller move it to a higher register to better suit his vocal range, forcing a complete re-fingering of the part.
This change required practical adjustments, like using a cutaway guitar, and later a new fingering on the middle strings to ensure proper intonation for live shows. It’s a classic example of how a song evolves from its initial conception to its final form through collaboration and practical performance needs.
"That's where it was originally, but then when Sting heard it, he wanted me to go higher... I realized that the intonation was not going to be good enough, so then I re-fingered it."
Dominic Miller Arranges Beatles Songs as 'Small Orchestral Pieces' for Solo Guitar
To pass the time in hotel rooms, Dominic Miller undertakes the complex task of arranging Beatles songs for solo nylon-string guitar. His goal is to create self-contained versions that capture both the instrumental accompaniment and the crucial vocal melody simultaneously, treating them as complete compositions.
What's brilliant about this approach is that he views these arrangements as 'small orchestral pieces,' ensuring every essential part of the song is present. This methodical process transforms well-known pop songs into intricate solo performances, as he demonstrated with his version of 'Blackbird'.
"What I love about classical guitar arrangements is that they are like small orchestral pieces because they're all self-contained. Everything's there."
Why Classical Guitars Often Lack Fret Markers
While trying Dominic Miller's nylon-string guitar, Paul Davids noted the complete absence of fretboard markers. Miller explained this is a long-standing tradition in the classical guitar world, where makers and players often consider fret dots to be 'illegal', viewing them as a crutch.
This design choice forces players to rely entirely on muscle memory and feel. What's interesting is how the instrument's sound can instinctively guide a musician; despite the lack of markers, the guitar's tone prompted Davids to naturally start playing in a romantic, South American style.
"Classical guitarists never put dots on their guitars. They think it's illegal."
Also mentioned in this video
- The segment opens with a montage of various people playing the nylon string… (0:02)
- Dominic Miller, known as 'the nylon guy,' is introduced, and Paul Davids… (0:54)
- Dominic and Paul play a duet, demonstrating how steel and nylon string guitars… (1:57)
- Dominic further clarifies the 'apoyando' technique, explaining it means… (7:29)
- His famous white Yairi nylon string guitar, promising to arrange for Paul to… (8:36)
- His experiences playing guitars with sticky, sandy strings on the beach in… (12:25)
- Dominic demonstrates the South American sound, highlighting syncopation in… (13:36)
- Dominic clarifies that his guitar is a Spanish guitar, not strictly classical,… (24:24)
- The lyrical and quiet nature of the nylon string guitar, ideal for lead playing… (29:10)
Summarised from Paul Davids · 30:37. All credit belongs to the original creators. Streamed.News summarises publicly available video content.
