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'Resting' thumb in tremolo?   You are logged in as Guest
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britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

'Resting' thumb in tremolo? 
I'm sure this question must have been asked before. But do you really HAVE to rest the thumb playing (4 finger) tremolo?

Despite (many) years of trying I never seem to be able to achieve a really nice smooth tremolo. However, I do find I can play a much cleaner, smoother tremolo with a "free" thumb.

Recently I've been trying to work on my tremolo again ( I get this urge every year or so) and - despite hours of trying - am still finding it very awkward and jerky trying to rest the thumb - so I'm sort of giving up on trying it that way and concentrating on playing with free thumb.

Am I doomed to forever playing poor tremolo using the free thumb? Is it really essential to 'rest' the thumb to play good tremolo?

Love to hear your comments, advice, etc.

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Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 13:21:10
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14833
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
No you don't have to, in fact many players don't. But by giving up, you are missing out on the feeling of it. Allow me to say a small word to describe how to do it.

Hold a chord, like E say. Now do fingers normal fast speed like this, iami, leave your thumb on the 6th string then let it fall down to the A string, sounding the 6th. Hold your thumb there for a second or two, feel the security. Now do this:
iamiP...........again hold the thumb down this time having played the 5th string you are rested on the 4th. Now reset on 6th and do it again:

iamiP............wait and again......iamiP....(reset)....iamiP......iamiP.....iamiP....iamiP...iamiP..iamiP.iamiP etc, slowly closing the gap until there is no gap...unless you want one which is actually ok.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 14:00:45
 
BarkellWH

Posts: 3459
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
In addition to Ricardo's good advice, I would add that it helps to have a strong thumb stroke on the basses. My instructor in Washington, DC, Paco de Malaga, taught me that a strong thumb stroke on the basses automatically makes for a strong tremolo on the trebles. And in my case, it also helps in maintaining a dead-on steady Piami, Piami, Piami.

Cheers,

Bill

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With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 15:22:16
 
Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
I think Jason for instance doesn't rest the thumb on the strings.
So yeah its possible and ok.

But i have also experienced that (after geting used to it), resting the thumb gives me more secure position and feel.

But like you, it was difficult to change the habbit.

For instance i was practicing the tremolo from Paco's Rio de la Miel, and it took me like forever to change the habbit and sound ok at the same time.

But i now i like it

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 15:35:05
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
Barkell´s response makes a lot of sense. When doing rest strokes with the thumb, you have it as a kind of counter force for the other fingers. When doing free stroke thumb, its just out in the air.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 15:40:35
 
tri7/5

 

Posts: 570
Joined: May 5 2012
 

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
Good thread, I actually have no idea what I do since I don't think about it. I can see how resting your thumb would give you better control when hitting a root note.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 16:20:39
 
Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010
 

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
yeah I have the same issue ... Resting thumb tremolo is very annoying to me

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 16:45:14
 
rombsix

Posts: 7815
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to britguy) 
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=170821&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=tremolo%2Crest%2Cstroke&tmode=&smode=&s=#170821

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 15 2012 20:32:19
 
RTC

Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to Ricardo) 
Ricardo:
Can you please post a video of what you are describing, maybe not to fast so some of us can see the proper technic?
Regards,
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 0:14:10
 
britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to Ricardo) 
Gracias, una vez mas, amigo.

I tried your suggestion. Somehow starting with the iami and ending with the P seem to place a different emphasis on the sound and feel of the tremolo. Interesting! It also seems to be somewhat easier to maintain the rythm doing it this way. I think I'll persevere and see where it takes me.

Thanks again. . .

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Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 0:58:24
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14833
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to RTC) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: RTC

Ricardo:
Can you please post a video of what you are describing, maybe not to fast so some of us can see the proper technic?
Regards,

Ok ok. Just a short thing I am just making this up now using E F and G chords. THen I do a bit of solea Am, G, C7, F. Then the tricky pulgar and tremolo that occurs on the same string, in this case the B string.



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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 1:50:02
 
RTC

Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to Ricardo) 
Ricardo:
Thank you very much, very helpful.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 5:07:59
 
El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to Ricardo) 
quote:

Am I doomed to forever playing poor tremolo

Hey thats my job , not playing tremolo , famous for not doing it now in 4 countries...

Ricardo , thank you for that short video clip , so simple yet so useful and it really helps to see what is going on , I have tried amaP before but it still doest help ( me )
now I see that , at least at the begining of the video your hand moves down , quite a bit , for each P stoke ...


Maybe we should have a Crappy tremolo competition for all of us who cant do it and see who can improve the most in one month ,, playing the same thing ,,.like a before and after.....

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 17:24:57
 
rombsix

Posts: 7815
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to El Kiko) 
quote:

Maybe we should have a Crappy tremolo competition for all of us who cant do it and see who can improve the most in one month ,, playing the same thing ,,.like a before and after.....


Better yet, a competition where we see how much worse one can get in a month's time.

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 17:40:21
 
Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: 'Resting' thumb in tremolo? (in reply to RTC) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: RTC

Ricardo:
Can you please post a video of what you are describing, maybe not to fast so some of us can see the proper technic?
Regards,


Here is the fast one
@ 2:15



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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 16 2012 17:53:17
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