z6 -> RE: Tremolo and nail length? (May 31 2013 16:46:42)
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Britguy, I'm afraid, regardless of who did and who did not play with or without nails and when; you have around zero chance of ever playing a proper tremolo with nails (and not have lockjaw by the end of the tune). Your lifestyle forbids it. Todd got it, of course, when he said that 'after' you have the nail thing worked out, you can handle your nails being longer or shorter, or perhaps with little refinements around the edges. If your nails go west every couple of weeks you will never give yourself a chance to develop the right feel. Chop em off. Chop em now. Tele thinks a nail-less tremolo would sound soft. This is not a conclusion that could be drawn by anyone familiar with actually playing without nails. Think how Paco would sound without nails? Then how might he sound with huge callouses that he had to file, a little like nails? I had the misfortune of being 'between' jobs for an extended period recently. By default (cause I had cut them, to tap my ztar) I played with no nails. I could play tremolo before, incidentally, classical tremolo and it wasn't too bad. However, having no nails, and too much time on my hands, I discovered that my nails had been hampering me my whole playing life. I was simply not aware of it. I'm no great shakes but I got a degree and a few diplomas and played in some masterclasses (and got drunk too much playing in wine bars, a looong time ago). Then I came here and asked about nails. A few people answered. Ricardo offered a magic bullet. Glue, he said, will rid you of your hook nail, and filing them straight across will do the trick. I did exactly what he (and others whom I thank) said. Bingo. So, if you can get the perfect nail then grow them. If you cannot them ditch them. Nail-less is infinitely better than crappy nails, infinitely better. And bear in mind that thirty years ago I was trying every conceivable shape and approach, wrapping micro abrasive around the string, filing this way and that, short enough to offset, I thought, the hook nail. But I never ever really found the technique until I tried without nails. However, having 'perfect' nails makes it all super easy (bear in mind that throughout my lifetime I have played a lot, but that had no apparent bearing until I played either without them or with the correct shape). I believe many people kid themselves on these matters. Like learning a proof instead of working it out they think their nails are okay but the problems persist in almost imperceptible ways. For example, without the correct shape one will inevitably develop rhythmic problems, at least. Tremolo without nails is, however, super-difficult. But it is not difficult in the way one might expect. It's like learning to waggle one ear or rubbing the tummy and tapping the head at the same rime. It becomes a problem of control and relaxation, concentration and coordination. Doing it the right way will work. Bad nails will put you forever in limbo, never quite getting it, no matter how hard you work. This leads to the final part of this diatribe. I've read, even here, people asking at what speed the tremolo sounds continuous. If you input the greatest tremolos into a computer and actually measure great tremolos (in terms of speed) they will be all over the place, often changing wildly from bar to bar. Great tremolos evolve out of relaxed techniques. If you can get to around 100bmp or so, with an actual tremolo and no tongue sticking out and no effort, then you'll be able to swirl it around this way or that at your pleasure. I used to find techniques like tremolo very difficult. But since swallowing my medicine I use those techniques TO relax. But I expect everyone has to take a different path and there are no magic bullets and if someone famous hasn't done it or we have no proof that they did then it's all just a big pinyata. Erik, first time I ever disagreed with you. I can't figure how filing 'round' can do it. Flat straight across still seems strange to me when I'm I'm filing but when I play it feels yummy; just right, like I finally came home.
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