This paper presents a novel approach for designing the front-end of instrumentation amplifiers for use in dry electrode recording of the human electrocardiogram (ECG). The method relies on information provided by the characterization of the skin-electrode interface and the analysis of low frequency ECG criteria defined by international standards. Marginal measurements of capacitive elements of the skin-electrode interface as small as 0.01 microF, suggest values of input impedance in the order of 1.3 GOmega. However, results in 99% of the data analyzed indicate that a recording amplifier providing an input impedance of 500 MOmega should ensure clear signal sensing without distortion.