dumb novice question

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davewphx

Posts: 126
Joined: Jul. 11 2011

dumb novice question

Hello, I just got my Yamaha CG172 flamenco guitar one week ago, so I am very green. I have been practicing basic finger picking and want to know if the flamenco tremolo is played where the fingers come to rest on the lower string, or is it free form? I seem to like the p-m-a-m-i .....The web site is great! I have been reading various posts-

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 14 2011 23:20:02

rodrigovalt

Posts: 296
Joined: May 1 2011

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

Congratulations for your new guitar !

Yes, you have to rest your thumb on the string below. Of course you can make exeptions, for example if you want to get a different sound or play a chord a little bit louder instead of a single note. But if you are starting I would recommend to practice it resting your thumb.

This is how you should do it:

---piami---piami---

Hope it helps

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 15 2011 0:26:29

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

quote:

where the fingers come to rest on the lower string

do you mean by lower the below ? or the lower as a music note ?
I take it as you're saying you want to rest the ima on the lower strings .. right ?
no don't do that .... that would make it picado with three fingers not tremelo

just rest the thump using the sequence piami->piami->piami with almost no breaks in between and keep the iami played free stroke

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 15 2011 6:49:42

El Kiko

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

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

OOhh tremolo .....

some people have a really hard time trying to get this right ...
That would be me ....,, famous for not playing tremolo in more than one country....

Some people (even the best ones ) do not play it as even as you may think ,
Some people kind of start off by falling into it ..I mean instead of ..piami.
you might start by trying iamiP...iamiP...iamiP...as if the first iami were grace notes leading to a P .
Find some exercises or just invent some to stop you from getting bored.
Eventually you will have to also get down to the seconed and third string...

there is a lot of stuff about on this site ..( not from Me though ) ..
but have a look at this explanation.....

https://www.lasonanta.eu/https://www.lasonanta.eu/en/guitarras-flamencas/gerundino-fernandez-flamenco-guitar-1987.html

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 15 2011 17:04:48

davewphx

Posts: 126
Joined: Jul. 11 2011

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to Elie)

thanks for the help guys. Yes it sounded like the the tremolo I heard on albums were free stroke, but I wasn't sure. I worked on the p-i-a-m-i this morning. Not sure if I find it as comfortable as the p-m-a-m-i. Seems like most people use the traditional p-i-a-m-i....

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 15 2011 17:06:55

Ricardo

Posts: 14799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

Yeah as mentioned fingers are free, but thumb rests as often as it can. Sometimes you can't rest the thumb. Sometimes the free stroke fingers can hit more than one string at once. Also I agree, depending on the tempo: iamiP....iamiP....is a good way to start, especially with slower palos. Good luck

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 16 2011 18:59:51

gaash

Posts: 74
Joined: Jul. 29 2011

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

Interesting. I surprisingly found P-i-a-m-i to be easier than the i-a-m-iP ... you might also want to start with the 'classical' tremolo which is P-a-m-i .. some people find it easier in the beginning but it still sounds very cool :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 29 2011 17:50:53

davewphx

Posts: 126
Joined: Jul. 11 2011

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

I have decided the traditional P-i-a-m-i is my favorite after all. Practicing slowly on one string is definitely the way to learn.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 29 2011 21:26:37

Ricardo

Posts: 14799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to davewphx)

quote:

ORIGINAL: davewphx

I have decided the traditional P-i-a-m-i is my favorite after all. Practicing slowly on one string is definitely the way to learn.

And you are resting the thumb strokes?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 29 2011 21:30:57

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to Ricardo)

davwphx,

Another thing I learned from my teacher, Paco de Malaga, is for a strong tremolo, it helps to have a strong thumb stroke. The strong thumb stroke seems to automatically cause your iami to be stronger as well. It's probably not automatic, but it works.

Cheers,

Bill

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 29 2011 21:39:59

gaash

Posts: 74
Joined: Jul. 29 2011

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to BarkellWH)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BarkellWH

davwphx,

Another thing I learned from my teacher, Paco de Malaga, is for a strong tremolo, it helps to have a strong thumb stroke. The strong thumb stroke seems to automatically cause your iami to be stronger as well. It's probably not automatic, but it works.

Cheers,

Bill

This is so true. It is also why I find that starting with P is much easier than the iamiP combo that is often (usually?) learned first

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 30 2011 23:25:38

Ricardo

Posts: 14799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: dumb novice question (in reply to gaash)

quote:

ORIGINAL: gaash

quote:

ORIGINAL: BarkellWH

davwphx,

Another thing I learned from my teacher, Paco de Malaga, is for a strong tremolo, it helps to have a strong thumb stroke. The strong thumb stroke seems to automatically cause your iami to be stronger as well. It's probably not automatic, but it works.

Cheers,

Bill

This is so true. It is also why I find that starting with P is much easier than the iamiP combo that is often (usually?) learned first

Easier, but the hard thing is landing the thumb strokes so hence, doing it in reverse as the exercise. Also for learning a new trem slow it is done this way so the finger notes don't get in the way. The left hand needs to make it easy to switch so you don't have breaks between final i stroke and the next bass. Yet it is ok musically to sometimes pause on the thumb stroke. Hope that makes sense.

Ricardo

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www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 31 2011 0:42:44