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attila57 -> Continuous rasgueo (Oct. 31 2012 23:36:29)
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Hello Guys,
For a long time the all-downstroke continuous rasgueo was something beyond my abilities.
In fact, the more I practiced the worse it became. Then something happened, and now its the second simplest thing in the world to me.
I'd like to tell you how it happened, so that you can benefit something from it.
I hope you will add your ideas to this string concerning rasgueos in general.
I'd been doing all kinds of 3-, 4- and 5-stroke rasgueos for a long time when I decided to try the all- downstroke, continuous rasgueo. I followed Juan Martín's instruction, as I have his brilliant method 'La Guitarra Flamenca'. So I got the video, watched and tried: e-a-m-i e-a-m-i e-a-m-i. It was just impossible to straighten it out.
I'd actually given it up already when, accidentally, I found another very nice flamenco method by Juan Serrano. It struck me immediately that in that method he exceptionally uses the i-e-a-m-(i) rasgueo. First it was strange, a bit difficult, but I started practising it. I soon realized that it's very useful, because it's 4 strokes plus the ending i which is easy to accent. As the first i is accented, too, this rasgueo is often used in a rhythmic way, not in a decorative way. It's nice to have a new 'even-stroke' (i-e-a-m) rasgueo among all those 'odd-stroke' ones (a-m-i, e-a-m-i-i etc.), so I followed the guidance of the book, started working on it, and, in 2 days time ... well, yes, I could do long continuous rasgueos easily. It was just then that I read the text, which indeed told me that I should be able to master the technique that fast.
The way the book teaches it is this: First practice i-e-a-m-i, i-e-a-m-i, i-e-a-m-i.
(i-e-a-m are sixteenths and the final i is a quarter note) Both i's are accented.
When the sets are reasonably even and straight, bring two sets together: i-e-a-m-i-e-a-m-i, i-e-a-m-i-e-a-m-i (8 sixteenths and a quarter) Remove the accent from the middle i.
Next bring three sets together: i-e-a-m-i-e-a-m-i-e-a-m-i, etc. (12 sixteenths and a quarter) Remove the accent from the middle i's.
Practice the sets on the trebles on a chromatically descending-ascending chord sequence (G0 shape), then practice the sets on the basses the same way (E major shape), then practice the sets on the middle strings (A minor shape). Only the first step is a little difficult, but very soon you'll get the hang of it. Once you've mastered i-e-a-m-i nicely there are no limits!
Useful advice:
When you practice more sets together concentrate on the index finger. It is pulled back quickly while e strikes the strings. And e is pulled back while i strikes the strings. The whole hand stays half-open, half-closed first. Once you've become comfortable with it, you can try it with a more open hand. Practice it with your thumb on the E string first, but when you've mastered this, you can remove the thumb from the sting, and holding your hand a little above the strings - and your thumb sticking out to one side - strike the strings continuously with the 4 fingers the learnt way.
Always remember to take away the stress from the mid-position i strokes.
Once you've mastered the continuous resgueo starting with i-e-a-m-i-e-...., you can try starting it with the little finger (e-a-m-i-...). Amazingly, you'll realize that what was incredible first becomes as easy as anything else. Thanks to Juan Serrano.
Later, whenever you realize that e-a-m-i-... becomes difficult or uneven, go back to i-e-a-m-i-... pattern to straighten it out.
Enjoy your newly mastered technique. I do.
Attila
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