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Posts: 1708
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
Advice sought for martillo technique
Can anyone give me advice on the martillo technique on the guitar? I can do it, but it feels very violent on my nail and I don't like to risk breaking my nail. In the official Paco de Lucia transcription books, it says that it is done with m. I do it with i because it feels easier. What am I missing? A short video tutorial would be greatly appreciated.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is the martillo technique?
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Posts: 1708
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
RE: Advice sought for martillo technique (in reply to Piwin)
Ignorance is no problem. The martillo (literally "hammer") is the strongest golpe technique, whereby you hit the golpeador above the low E string with the back of the nail and continue moving the finger down across the strings, all in one motion, so you get a golpe and a strum all in one. Some people here have used another name for it which I forget.
"..."martillo" golpes, where you hit the golpeador above the strings with the back of the fingernail on the way to hitting the bass strings with that same back of fingernail. "
EDIT: Oops, he replied while I was fumbling with the link and quote
Some people here have used another name for it which I forget.
'capirote'.
I use the 'm' finger flicked out from the thumb, only needs a light flick as the wrist is main driver. But rather than hitting the top with my nail, it is more the back of the last joint that makes contact first and then the nail follows on to the strings.
I made a quick air guitar photo that may help illustrate.
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I learned this on a classical guitar with tap plate and developed a big long callous on the index from catch the bass string way above the nail bed. Dance class develops this thing of course. It is called “capirote” like the pointed clan hat Sevillano Penitents wear at Semana Santa to remember the medieval times. I guess both names refer to the sharp or high pitch tone that is produced. Middle finger would get a sound a little less bright being a bit closer to the bridge than soundhole. I also get the same type of golpe with the back of the thumb nail on many up stroke attacks, which gets more of a “pop” sound than that bright version the index gets.
In both cases, unfortunately you have to hit the nails hard. But it is not really worse than the normal golpe under the treble strings (meant to be supported by flesh and push into the nail bed, however in practice the ring nail often chips from this action), nor is it as bad as the gradual precise filing down of the back of the nails by basic rasgueados. Use glue and have no fear. Folks that use fake nails get much much louder golpes with little effort.
Sometimes when playing "capirote" I also hit the upper part of tap plate with my thumb's nail. It results in a loud and somewhat prolonged golpe. Is it acceptable?
I've come across "martillo" as equivalent to "hammer on" (i.e. "ligado") as well as for a technique where you hit all 6 strings with the right thumb very close to the bridge (Sabicas used this). And my teacher in Sevilla said he wasn't aware of the name "capirote" which is the term I learned for the golpe described by Ethan.
I made a short video in case it helps you. You can see how I get the golpe more with the back of the finger rather than hitting directly with the nail. I don't need to hit very hard to get a loud sound with the bony part of the finger. I realise I actually lightly flick off the thenar eminence rather than the end of thumb as I showed in previous 'air guitar' photo.
First thought that came to my mind was, wonder what piece Ethan is working on now?
HR
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RE: Advice sought for martillo technique (in reply to edguerin)
quote:
my teacher in Sevilla said he wasn't aware of the name "capirote" which is the term I learned for the golpe described by Ethan.
I was told it was a slang for a "tap on the head"
the main difficulty for me in learning it was to keep the other fingers out of the way. for this reason I found it easier to do it with index. I used to do it with the distal knuckle joint contacting the soundboard, and probably with WAY too much force, which caused me some problems.
Over time I have refined it so just the nail contacts the soundboard, and with less force, so it is much quicker and easier to co-ordinate.
Posts: 1708
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
RE: Advice sought for martillo technique (in reply to ernandez R)
Thanks for your curiosity, HR. I'm working on Rio Ancho. I have the CD version memorized, just, and I know a flute player and a rhythm guitarist, two women I am trying to convince to work on it with me. According to the official PDL Partitura, there is just one martillo (I think) in the piece. I don't feel obligated to do it rather than a regular golpe, but it would be a nice option.
Got it. I knew it as "capirote". Never knew it had another name. The more you know!
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