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I'd appreciate some feedback on my picado. I play the run with a sponge underneath the strings in one video (recorded about a month ago). I recorded the same bit today without a sponge. Going at 150 bpm. Today, I was able to actually play the run at about 160 bpm, but by the time I recorded it (my PC decided to go crazy, and took about 15 minutes to start recording), I cooled down and wasn't able to get more than 150 again... Oh, and the first video is on my Hohner, and the second is on my Ramirez.
Definately a great accomplishment Romb. Very very good!
You could try flatting your right hand out a bit when doing a run, especially a longer one. That will give you more power.
What jumps out at me is you're playing the other parts of the tune a bit quietly. So its easier to get the picado to jump out.
But when you're playing hard, like in a performance, the picados still have to pop out, and that takes a bit more power. I started to realize that when i see players with good picado flatten the wrist(top of the hand moves in towards the top), its not for speed, its for volume. It gives the right hand fingers more of a downward angle, so the strings are going more into the top.
Ive been having success lately also with extending my thumb up onto the top above the low E, which naturally flattens the hand out.
You're doing amazing Romb, keep up the good work. Its paying off. TK
You are sounding really good Ramzi. I also played with a sponge underneath the strings but that was many years ago. It's a good way to practice sometimes. Keep it up. Ole Paco!
good one romb , what are your nails like , you get good tone in the slower sections , as soon as the picado hits it sounds like you are playing with week thin nails , I would love to have a go at this , is it tabed somewhere lets start a picado challenge , I will submit my flickado attempt .
It sounds and looks pretty good to me. The problem is that you´ll most probably want to play it at some 180bpm and thats a lot faster.
A good picado training that I think you can do (I cant) is Paco´s picado falseta por Fandangos de Huelva. JG7638 made an upload of it a while a go. Its 16th at around 150bpm and finishes with one of these typical Paco runs from 1st to 6th string.
Todd, I assume you mean that the base of the palm, where the forearm connects with the hand, should move in closer to the sound board.
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extending my thumb up onto the top above the low E
You mean like PdL does it? Where the thumb is pointing down towards the ground, parallel to the four other fingers, and perpendicular to the strings?
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You are sounding really good Ramzi
I took your advice about moving away from the bridge towards the "sweet spot" of the string. Much better sound!
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as soon as the picado hits it sounds like you are playing with week thin nails
Nails are short and rounded. I tried the ramping approach for some time, but my nails would take too much time to shape. I might go back to it later...
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Very good doctor
Thanks Flo!
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The problem is that you´ll most probably want to play it at some 180bpm and thats a lot faster
I know! I'm thinking of it as a journey though. I'm using Grisha's extended scale exercise, as well as his tips on speed bursts and left-right hand coordination.
I tried flattening my hand so the base of the palm (where the hand meets the forearm) is closer to the sound-board, and so my thumb is more perpendicular to the strings - hoping for more power. This forces my shoulder into an awkward position though, and it fatigues / cramps faster than my previously-used hand position (not so flat). Any thoughts, Todd?
Credit to Grisha on this endurance-building exercise.
Good tone romb , you could also try putting your metronome at half speed and playing the same speed 32nd notes ta ka de mi ta ka ju na . Just for some more fun
Could you possibly post a link to some of Grisha's tips and exercises? They have been referenced a couple of times in this thread and others...tried using the search engine, but I just can't find them.
Good tone romb , you could also try putting your metronome at half speed and playing the same speed 32nd notes ta ka de mi ta ka ju na . Just for some more fun
You're on a funny streak now aren't ya, Kevin James Shanahan? Your name is AWESOME by the way. Makes me bounce just saying it.
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olé Doctor!
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Could you possibly post a link to some of Grisha's tips and exercises? They have been referenced a couple of times in this thread and others...tried using the search engine, but I just can't find them.
I am actualy being serious . I find fitting more notes between a slow tempo will give your picado more feel and a touch of flexibility . Each rhythm has a sound . A triplet has a diferent sound to a sixteenth obviously . try putting your metronome on 60 bpm , work through your rhythm's first the quarter note , then the eighth note , triplet , sixteenth , 5 notes per beat , 6 , 7 , 8 (32nd notes) . If you can play 8 notes per beat with your metronome at 60 bpm it is the equivelent of playing sixteenth's at 120 bpm . And that is fast .
I am actualy being serious . I find fitting more notes between a slow tempo will give your picado more feel and a touch of flexibility .
Yes, and it means also less of those annoying metronome sounds. Romb that last video was hilarious i dont think i could do such a long thing, my index gets stiff very fast and starts to block at the knuckle joint. Oh well...
Just want to let you know that I thoroughly enjoy your videos. For a newbie like me they are very helpful. Not just the picado vids but also the rumba vids (could have saved me some bucks if I had found these earlier).
What exactly is the benefit of practicing picado with a sponge under the strings?
Just want to let you know that I thoroughly enjoy your videos. For a newbie like me they are very helpful. Not just the picado vids but also the rumba vids (could have saved me some bucks if I had found these earlier).
What exactly is the benefit of practicing picado with a sponge under the strings?
Glad you enjoy them!
Having a sponge under the strings:
1- It's a different feel from NOT having one under the strings, and thus makes for an interesting feel once you try it out for 10 minutes, then go back to WITHOUT a sponge. 2- Strings move less with the sponge under them, and I feel it helps with economy of movement of the right hand fingers. 3- When you're doing those repetitive exercises that can sound annoying to family / neighbors, the sponge makes the guitar's volume softer.
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, I will submit my flickado attempt . 
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