Tremolo Technique

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Tremolo Technique

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Stu

Posts: 2553
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

Tremolo Technique

Hi guys and gals!

Just wanted to discuss some tremolo technical exercises/tips.

I'm pretty pleased with my tremolo and for the most part its fairly even but there is something still not quite right with. maybe its nails catching or hand position or something or just that I need to keep practicing it.

anyone have any nice tremolo technical tips or exercises???

Stu

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2009 7:03:43

NormanKliman

Posts: 1143
Joined: Sep. 1 2007

RE: Tremolo Technique (in reply to Stu)

You might already know about this, but one tip is to avoid muting strings that aren't being played at the moment; typically the first string when the melody is on the other trebles. Muting would normally make for cleaner and more refined playing, but the tremolo technique should be developed enough so that muting isn't necessary. Another one of those things that seems less logical at first but pays off in the long run.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2009 8:39:09

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Tremolo Technique (in reply to Stu)

depends what the problem is, what do you think is wrong with it?

if it's eveness, Ricardo has a top tip, search the previous threads....

is it going from 1st to 2nd string?

this was a problem for me as my first teacher taught me tremolo on 1st string only, exaggerating movements, and when i later tried to play on 2nd i couldn't do it with the technique as i had it, and had to relearn it

i developed (that sounds way too grand, it's just that it took me a long time to make it up, but it's really simple) an exercise to even it out.

play on just an open E chord to focus on the right hand, and arpegiate all the lower notes/strings with thumb while tremolo-ing on the 1st string (p plays 6,5,4,3,2,3,4,5, - 8 beats),

then arpegiate all the lower notes/strings with thumb while tremolo-ing on the 2nd string (p plays 6,5,4,3,4,3,4,5, - 8 beats),

then arpegiate all the lower notes/strings with thumb while tremolo-ing on the 3rd string (p plays 6,5,4,5,4,5,4,5, - 8 beats),

then back to 2nd string, which always seems easier after playing on 3rd string....

....and it also means you have practised 2nd string twice and 1st only once, so you are practising more on 2nd string

you can try this with other finger combinations, pamia, pmiam, i have found a bit of practise with these makes piami seem easier and sound more even,

and/or try putting a metronome up really fast and playing one note per click (i can put an accent every 5 beats on my little electric 'nome)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 12 2009 3:54:18

pacodegarcia

Posts: 90
Joined: Apr. 22 2007
From: Australia

RE: Tremolo Technique (in reply to Stu)

This is what Ricardo had to say some time ago.... i liked it so much i saved it for future reference, so here it is.....

"About tremolo. Lots of folks approach tremolo like 5 tuplets. Try thinking of the 4 melody notes as a pick up or grace note to the NEXT bass note. iamiP..........iamiP........iamiP......etc. When you learn the melody, try to couple the melody note to the next bass note rather than the bass-melody like the beaming of the notes implies. So slow tremolo practice involves keeping those 4 notes fast all the time, but leaving space between repetitions like I wrote above. To "speed it up" you dont have to go faster, but simply close that gap there between "P" and "i". Flamenco players stretch the time of the tremolo very much by playing with that gap there".

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 13 2009 19:51:19