devilhand -> Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Feb. 26 2026 13:44:07)
It sounds like ami fingers play melody and pulgar plays simple non-melodic bass notes, a repeating bass pattern in the style of Baroque era.
For example pulgar plays 3 bass notes (root-fifth-third) superimposing the beats of Solea in 3/4 time. In Farruca with 4/4 time 4 bass notes etc. Any thoughts?
kitarist -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Feb. 26 2026 18:46:31)
Isn't the answer the same as when you ask this about a rock band? Is that bass guitar playing the melody part? What do you think?
devilhand -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Feb. 27 2026 21:55:36)
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Isn't the answer the same as when you ask this about a rock band? Is that bass guitar playing the melody part? What do you think?
I'm not a bass player. But I would say a bass player plays mostly a melody. Sometimes a non melodic bass line. In tremolo, as I mentioned above, the thumb plays only a bass line added to a melody. Tremolo composition is a two part piece consisting of a melody and a bass line.
Arash -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Feb. 27 2026 23:07:12)
I would say the difference is the compas in flamenco and that Bass in tremolo in flamenco is more like an anchor to help keep the rythm feel, rather than drive the melody and harmony. Also I feel like in flamenco the same Bass notes repeat themselves more often
devilhand -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Feb. 28 2026 16:55:48)
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that Bass in tremolo in flamenco is more like an anchor to help keep the rythm feel, rather than drive the melody and harmony.
When you listen to Farruca de Lucia at 1:35, it sounds like the bass line creates both rhythmic feel and implied harmony. Ami fingers play melody. The bass line accompanies that melody. So pulgar plays chord notes. You can hear chord changes when you follow single bass notes in this example. But anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Ricardo -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Mar. 4 2026 9:36:16)
it can be either or. Think of it as polyphonic, the melody can be going slower up top and the melody below moves faster. The wider interval leaps in a melody are characteristic of bass parts, even in vocal music. The concept became about the older more mature choir members had lower voices and more experience and the simple step wise melodies that were relatively easy were given to children. The tremolo technique is imitation of a sustained vowel up top, while the bass line moves quicker.
Stu -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Mar. 4 2026 10:58:41)
If I ever get a tremolo ear worm, 95% of the time it's the treble line I'll be singing/humming.
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But anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.
I seriously doubt that
kitarist -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Mar. 4 2026 17:04:00)
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the melody can be going slower up top and the melody below moves faster.
Hmmm. But the bass is not just a slower going melody, it is typically arpeggiating harmony/chords supporting the melody in the tremolo (so, very specific interval leaps back and forth). As such it can be replaced by simple chord strumming (without hitting strings 1 and 2) by another guitar and we wouldn't lose the sense of what the melody/piece is doing. IMO.
Ricardo -> RE: Is melody in tremolo part or in pulgar part? (Mar. 5 2026 10:19:59)
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But the bass is not just a slower going melody, it is typically arpeggiating harmony/chords supporting the melody in the tremolo (so, very specific interval leaps back and forth).
typically yes, but not always. Paco Taranta fuente y caudal descending bass line starts it off. That should clue you in that it is about the two melodies working in tandem ... chords help guitarists realize the two voices via positions. Arpegios outline chords but they are constrained by the rhythm such that full chord voices are rarely realized vs simple triadic figures.
0:57, 1:40 and the end "chord" is F#-G-F#, not a chord really.
