Two parts to my post. Completely separate things for me but I didn’t want to clutter the message board with multiple posts.
I am just getting to the uchi and hajiki part of Kyle’s online lessons. I am having issues with the hajiki. When I play the note in position 4 with the bachi (video 6 of lesson 2) and then try to perform the hajiki for the note in position 3…I am having issues. My ni no ito has almost zero clearance from the sao so I have to use my finger nail to do the pull…in Kyle’s video it looks more like he is using the “meat” of his finger and not the nail. I am doing/seeing it wrong. Any suggestions?? I don’t have fat fingers or anything…maybe my strings are too close to the neck?
Second part: I am playing, and it sounds good (compared to day 1 of playing)…but I am worried that I am using the bachi incorrectly. I can strike each string without hitting the one(s) below it but sometimes in videos it appears that people are playing (example) the ni no ito and hitting the san ni ito but holding it down so it doesn’t vibrate (and I don’t hear any sound). Which way is correct? I feel like I am using too much of the corner tip.