Practicing tremolo on second string

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jg7238

Posts: 2869
Joined: May 11 2009

Practicing tremolo on second string

Here is a nice exercise from Manuel Granados for tremolo on 2nd string...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 3:57:53

rombsix

Posts: 7813
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

Olé!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 4:49:51

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

From which book is it, please?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 12:28:51

etta

Posts: 342
Joined: Jan. 20 2010

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

jg7238; very nice and difficult tremolo. When I first started with the guitar in l960 for me there was no book, no video, no instructor, only TV glimpses of Montoya or Sabicas. I looked at my hand; both the i and a fingers were the same length; the m was much longer, so without any knowledge or instruction I developed a two finger "tremolo" with i and a fingers. It is not authentic or totally satisfying but the two finger technique allowed me to easily play on inside strings. Wish I had had benefits of better instruction or any instruction; it was just an uniformed kid's attempt to improvise. Anyone else try this?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 14:45:31

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to etta)

I developed chronic tendonitis/osis in my m finger years back while trying to get good at picado. For about a year, I stopped playing with that finger and re-fingered my repertoire with just p,i, and a. I could play 4-note tremolos without practicing, and my ia picado was about as good as my im without ever having worked on that motion, either. Unfortunately, even avoiding m like this did not totally take out the strain, so the finger took a long time to heal.

By the way, sounds great Juan!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 14:50:41

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

how about a study on the G string?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 16:29:40

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to ToddK)

Air on a G string?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 16:53:04

rombsix

Posts: 7813
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to Sr. Martins)

In slang Arabic, "aire" means dick.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 17:02:09

jg7238

Posts: 2869
Joined: May 11 2009

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to ToddK)

quote:

how about a study on the G string?

Sure Todd.. Just came up with this. Not sure if it's much but here it is...

Thanks Miguel, Etta and Ramzi... @bernd: it's from Manuel Granados estudio tecnico de la guitarra flamenca vol.1

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 18:04:25

El Kiko

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

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

thats great ,,, Juan ,, and its the one thing I just cant seem to do

(apart from all the other things)

I seem to have a problem getting the right hand position in place .. and getting some kind of power going too ...
Im still working on it ,,but i dont think its improving .. any advice on right hand/arm position that may help ?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2015 20:58:43

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

quote:

Sure Todd.. Just came up with this. Not sure if it's much but here it is...

Wow, nice man! You make it seem easy. I tried it, and man, that is TOUGH!

Thanks for giving me something to work on. The E string will seem like a breeze
after a week of this craziness!! :)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2015 3:06:15

beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

Olé Juan again. Your technic is really great but the thing I like the best is Your tone. It's really like You're tellings a story the whole time...it has depth, and that's unique

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2015 7:25:40

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

I thought this would be a good moment to start practicing tremolo so I looked up the Granados book but ended up mistaking the pieces and playing the one that comes before this one that Juan plays

https://cld.pt/dl/download/06e873d8-9026-43be-9ab8-fb965581a154/Granademolos.m4a

This sounds cool although I don't know how it ends and how it should sound either, I don't have any sound reference for this.

Maybe you could put this one on video too Juan.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2015 18:20:45

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

I think the 2nd string, classical-style tremolo is a killer. I have an issue playing picado on the 1st string, but tremolo is easy there.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2015 20:01:55

jg7238

Posts: 2869
Joined: May 11 2009

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to ToddK)

quote:

Wow, nice man! You make it seem easy. I tried it, and man, that is TOUGH!

Thanks for giving me something to work on. The E string will seem like a breeze
after a week of this craziness!! :)

Hey Todd.. You make it seem you just picked up a guitar man. You are a pretty amazing guitarist in every known style including Flamenco. Not really geared towards you but I appreciate the support. Thank you beno. I appreciate your comments. I'm trying to be more consistent in that one area though and not just play notes. @Sr. Martins:I'll listen to it and take a look at it. Thanks.

@Sr. Martins: Here it is...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2015 16:49:57

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

Thanks man!

I was just working on that because from my audio file I noticed that the position-shift focus should be on the "tremolo note" of the chord, otherwise I end up with some open B string in there... it sounded nice but only because the exercise is in B

The rhythm on the last chord is that? I was about to put it into Guitar Pro to take a listen..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2015 19:53:49

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

Don't mean to hijack the thread but since it's the same subject, I guess you won't mind..

Any pointers/comments/help regarding my tremolo technique? Don't want to stick to bad habits..

Thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2015 20:18:56

jg7238

Posts: 2869
Joined: May 11 2009

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

The rhythm on the last chord is that? I was about to put it into Guitar Pro to take a listen..

If it's the arpeggiated chord you're referring to then yeah, that's how I have it. The very last chord is not part of it, I just added that chord.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2015 20:21:39

Guest

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Not sure if it's off help and my flamenco tremelo is a focus of my daily practice at present ( my classical pami seems ok )
One thing I noticed, which is similiar to how I first approached it is the position of your arm/shoulder and hand
In the below video ( which you've probably seen but has been of great help ) and also noticeable with Juan's clean and controlled technique
Is the lowered elbow ( hug that guitar ) and wrist
The problem I experiened when using a similiar position to yours is my tremelo became very uneven an lumpy from 90bpm on - also hand started looking a bit dystonic - shaking - uncontrolled - m finger jutted out so created a disproportionate sound - kind of noticeable in your audio and video ( I only say these things because it reminds me of myself )
So I'm back to slower tempos with a lowered elbow and different hand position - seems a lot better in terms of sound and control - also a metronome that can sub divide into quintuplets is helping my evenness
Just an observation - not sure it's of use but there you go ..
http://youtu.be/w00RhdzMaE4

Awesome video Juan - thanks for the post and showing how it's done

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2015 1:33:48

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

Any pointers/comments/help regarding my tremolo technique?

There's a pause after I, then you're squeezing AMI together.

So instead of "bass da da da da" it sounds like "bass da dadada"

People often suggest practicing tremolo slowly using staccato. I think
thats okay, but you should also practice legato, in which you're following through
more.
So not always dot dot dot dot, but daahh daahh daahh daahh
Its a balance, you want it to sound articulate, but you also want fluidity.
You dont want it to sound to "sticky", but you dont want it to sound
muddled either.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2015 2:26:20

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

Sr. Martins, it just sounds like you need more control. Standard prescription is to play it with rhythmic and accentual variations.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2015 4:33:53

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

Thank you all.

I wasn't sitting in my normal playing position for the video but my arm does get tense and starts to choke my hand when doing tremolo. I played back the video at half speed and it begins with 5 strokes and ends with maybe 3

I'll do the same I did regarding the other techniques, it even cured my tendonitis that I've had for 7 years... which is to know what sound and motion I want to get and let the ear meditate on that while my mind just focus on how relaxed my arm is (from shoulder blade to the fingers).

Right now I feel the tension from last practice even though I mix it with other stuff not to burn the muscles that much.

Back to practice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2015 14:27:52

jg7238

Posts: 2869
Joined: May 11 2009

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to Sr. Martins)

In addition to Todd's pointers , I suggest playing tremolo both free stroke and rest stroke using IMA. Also practice rest stroke with Pulgar and free stroke with IMA (in group of six). This improves thumb articulation and RH dexterity and flexibility. @Kiko: This would be helpful to you as well. Here is a video I just made showing what what I mean.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 3 2015 20:47:00

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Practicing tremolo on second string (in reply to jg7238)

I've also been practicing with all fingers on just one string. I thought tremolo was about all divisions even but now Ive noticed it's not. Usually the bass note is longer.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 3 2015 21:28:13