Pulgar Technique

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Pulgar Technique

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wandles18

Posts: 4
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

Pulgar Technique

Dear all,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice on thumb technique. Specifically I am having trouble determining how much (if any) of my nail should be contacting the string when playing pulgar runs. I find if I use the flesh, then the stroke is more unpredictable, often catching on the string and causing me to stumble. The nail stroke seems more predictable. I have several flamenco course books that suggest the stroke should be predominantly flesh but......what does predominantly mean here? The Graf Martinez text seems to suggest a combination of almost half/half nail and flesh.

I would very much appreciate any comments.

Cheers,

Andy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2005 10:23:09

duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: Pulgar Technique (in reply to wandles18)

i use flesh/nail stroke. If your nail is catching the strings you might nead a diffrent shape
of the nail.

Henrik

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This is hard stuff!
Don't give up...
And don't make it a race.
Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.

RON

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2005 10:48:32

Guest

RE: Pulgar Technique (in reply to wandles18)

Hi Andy.

I to use a flesh/nail stroke.

IMO, the best you can do is to get a high quality DVD/vhs like Encuentros Gerardo Nuñez. Just by watching, you'll learn a lot, and these things are so difficult to explain with words.

Nice playing

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2005 6:47:02

wandles18

Posts: 4
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Pulgar Technique (in reply to Guest)

Thanks Anders and Henrik,

I'll keep working on it, I think the nail shape may be part of the problem. Does the Nunez DVD show closeups of the thumb? I have one of Herrero's technique videos where he explains the action of the thumb but at no point can you actually see the point of contact of his thumb with the string or see the shape of his nail. I agree this is not something that can be explained well in words. I'll save up for the Nunez DVD.

cheers and thanks again for responding

Andy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2005 8:27:00

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Pulgar Technique (in reply to wandles18)

Andy;

It is best to have a good teacher but even that rule is not an absolute. The following is more than you asked but the topics are related.

The question of thumb position is very important as is nail length and shape. I tried many things and was not satisfied with the results. Coming from a classical background has its good and bad points when it comes to playing flamenco.

The first time I met Carlos Montoya (1961), I asked him about the question of how to use the pulgar in flamenco. His advice was to first strike the string with the fleshy part of the thumb and then the nail. Use the outside of the thumb near the point where the nail ends. Shape the outside of the nail so it does not overhang the flesh. You have to experiment to get the concept down. The nail can hang up or snag on the string if the nail is too long. If the nail is too short you will not get much volume and you can irritate the tip of your thumb.

Here is something else that is important concerning right hand technique. Again this is not an absolute and varies according to the specific technique. This was taught to me by Mariano Cordoba.

Place the right hand over the strings – say over the area between the sound hole and bridge. Extend the thumb as if you are making the hand sign of a hitchhiker. The wrist is in a neutral position. Curl the fingers towards the palm. Place the thumb on the outside of the sixth string. When you have the correct position you should be able to pass a pencil (or similar object) between your thumb and index finger. That is to say that the index finger should not be in front of the thumb.

Trying to express these techniques in words is not an easy task. My advice is to try different approaches and find what works for you.

_____________________________

Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2005 15:12:09

rickm

Posts: 446
Joined: Jan. 23 2004

RE: Pulgar Technique (in reply to wandles18)

questin is the thumb always in front? I can see it for argeggio, picado, but even in ras? My tend to move the hand forward when I do rasquesdo and the index is not quite in front of the thumb but danagerously close. !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2005 17:13:28