Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
Tremolo and nail length?
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login | |
|
britguy
Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada
|
Tremolo and nail length?
|
|
|
In recent years, I find I really enjoy playing tremolo falsetas. And for many more years I've been trying to play a decent, smooth tremolo - consistently. . . Some days it sounds sort of not too bad, but more often than not it sounds @#$$ing awful; ragged, erratic and not very musical. Very frustrating. Frequently I just give up trying. Then I began to wonder if it had something to do with my nails, which constantly get damaged or broken when working on the farm. So I rarely have a consistent nail length for more than a week or so. I was wondering if the fact that I frequently have to repair my nails had something to do with my tremolo problems. In other words, if I could maintain the same nail length consistently, would my tremolo improve. I haven't yet been able to figure out if I'd play a more consistent tremolo with short nails (barely reaching the end of the fingertip) or longer nails, maybe 1/32 inch or more over the fingertip? I seem to play smother arpeggios with shorter nails, but maybe tremolo is something quite different. Are longer nails better for tremolo, or does it not matter?
_____________________________
Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date May 23 2013 22:22:11
|
|
Kevin James Shanahan
Posts: 407
Joined: Oct. 10 2010
From: Wooli, NSW Australia
|
RE: Tremolo and nail length? (in reply to britguy)
|
|
|
Since I have been working for a builder and not gigging , I have taken a few stints with no fingernails . Tremolo has always challenged me also, yet at the moment with no fingernails I feel as though I am getting closer to nailing the technique than ever , my mantra for all technique is that it must be relaxed and enjoyable . This is whats working now . Using konnokol to measure the five notes you have Da di din na gum . Da being the one .I have been working on five note burst but starting at di to get , di din na gum da, finishing on the one , then improvising with the idea anywhere ( I,a,m,i,p) . Any way with no fingernails you get to feel the sensation of the pad of your finger planting and slipping to make even bursts , ending with a thumb rest stroke I remind myself to rest before the next burst . Good luck .
_____________________________
Peace.
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date May 29 2013 10:47:44
|
|
Arash
Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)
|
RE: Tremolo and nail length? (in reply to britguy)
|
|
|
I think nails should be short, mainly because of picado. A good picado sound must be flesh+nail. Plus it is easier for fast scales and the movements can be much more "economical" (less finger movements, just as much as required, not more). The problem is that with short nails, you have to be much more precise generally (and specially with the tremolo) with small but exact movements, otherwise it doesn't sound even and nice and you even miss the strings, etc. at the beginning. If there would be NO picado at all, i would make my nails slightly longer (not very long but for sure a little longer). So it is a compromise after all. You need a nail length and shape which is suitable for all techniques. And i agree that you shouldn't change nail length much, but find the proper length and shape and always keep them that way, so that you can practice with the same conditions and basis and be able to improve the techniques, without having to adapt and adjust again and again.
_____________________________
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date May 29 2013 14:01:27
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.1074219 secs.
|