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After years of trying, I'm still having trouble developing a nice smooth tremolo. Recently I had a 1st E string (Alliance HT) break, and replaced it with an odd lighter tension 1st. E I had lying in the case.
Seemed to improve the tremolo on that string? The other trebles are Alliance high tension. Would I be better off replacing all three trebles with lighter tension?
Is there any evidence that lighter strings make for easier, smoother tremolo, or is it just my lousy playing thats causing the problems.
RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to britguy)
Other way around for me. I have played normal and light tensions for say 4-5 years and 2 months ago I got curious and swiched to High Tensions. It's so much easier to control and the picados and tremolos are cleaner as I have more grip....
RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to britguy)
I won't say that strings don't matter. At the same time, I wouldn't want the sound I'm capable of making on a guitar to be overly dependent on the kind of strings used.
quote:
After years of trying, I'm still having trouble developing a nice smooth tremolo.
What kind of tremolo exercises do you do? E.g. do you practice p-a-m-i on the same string to develop consistency of tone, eventually playing each of the six strings?
RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to britguy)
a good medium tension is the way to go most probably. Too high and fatigue sets in, too low and picado starts to suffer.
The hardest thing for me is tremolo on the B and G string. That takes a ton of control. The motion has to be very quick but also tight to not catch adjacent strings. Drives me nuts.
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RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to Harry)
Quote:"The hardest thing for me is tremolo on the B and G string. That takes a ton of control. The motion has to be very quick but also tight to not catch adjacent strings. Drives me nuts. "
Me too, Harry. Same problem. I'm not too bad just using the 1st string, but as soon as I have to move to the B and G strings etc. I'm playing 2 and 3 strings at once. Guess I just need tp practice more. . .
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RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to britguy)
quote:
I'm not too bad just using the 1st string, but as soon as I have to move to the B and G strings etc. I'm playing 2 and 3 strings at once. Guess I just need tp practice more. . .
It means you need to practise on the 2nd & 3rd strings alone: the fact that you’re hitting other strings shows that the motion is faulty, and if you continue doing it on the 1st string, you’ll just be practising mistakes.
RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to Paul Magnussen)
quote:
It means you need to practise on the 2nd & 3rd strings alone:
O.K. Paul:
What's you advice for developing a good tremolo. Any recent posts, videos, etc. I can check out?
Farmwork means I break nails fairly often, and am forced to play with very short nails most of the time. Would I be better off having longer acrylic nails for tremolo?
RE: Lighter strings for tremolo??? (in reply to britguy)
Hello, I have a great compromise! Try Hannabach Carbon trebles, they only come in medium-high tension. They last very long, sound great on my guitars IMHO, and are very friendly for both picado and tremolo. My teacher turned me on to them
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