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I keep reading about this technique used in Flamenco of muting the strings. Can anyone tell me more about this - examples of recordings where this technique is used?
In Paco de Lucia's A la perla de Cadiz (Almoraima) there is this strange guitar noise that sounds like strings being played but without much tone - producing an almost percussive noise. I wonder if that's the kind of thing?
Perhaps this is the technique Ryan002 was talking about in his 'What is it called?'.
I'm almost 100% sure that Ryan was referring to 'tambor' which isn't a flamenco technique.
Muting (done either by left hand fingers or your right palm) is something common, in electric, acoustic and flamenco guitar, not classical though.
In Almoraima, he mutes with his left hand and strums with the right. It really depends on which hand is free to mute the strings, and which is more effective. Put simply, if you want your chords or notes to sounnd abrupt, just mute with either hand.
As with many techniques, the decision on when and how to use it, is purely up to the players discretion.
Romanza, A few months ago I uploaded a "joke" video where I do a bit of the technique I think you are talking about. It's in the uploads section called "OK A Video". It's just really playing rasgueado, but with your left hand held loosely across the strings. It's a kind of modern thing I suppose.. Anyway...I've never heard Sabicas or Niño Ricardo use it.
hmm ....the quique paredes video,cool one.I remember that I was intrigued by the rhytm u did there. Can u explain exactly the rasgueados u did there(I know that when u posted the clip I asked u the same thing)...cause i've seen smth like it watching Tomatito only that I cant get right the exact rasgueado he uses and the exact rhytm.Please ..if u have the time
That video you did was GREAT Ron! I'm now trying to get hold of the full version of the song simply because I think it's a smashing bulerias, really really good rhythm flow.
Thanks Skai...but that's just a "hack" version..wait till you hear Quique Paredes do it! Sorin...if you mean the "scratching" bit (strings muted)...it's nothing special. Just hold your hand as if you were holding a pick and use your thumb for the upstrokes and the three fingers together for the downstrokes. Then just make up any rhythmic pattern you like. (Practising rumba rhythms is good for getting used to using the thumb upwards.) The rasgueado at the end is just p (up) a (down) i (down) p (up) a (down) i (down)...etc. Keep your hand really loose and you get more volume, since the power is coming from the wrist rotating back and forth.
I would like to ask how to mute if I am using an open chord? With the barre chords it's fine since the sound stops almost immediately when I "lift" my left hand but if it's an open chord it will still keep going.
Nope. I just can't mute with the right. Looks like I'm going to have to make everything a barre chord if I ever need to mute. Sigh.
It's actually very easy. Just reach out with your little finger of the left hand and mute the strings. Just lay it across the strings without pushing down. The little finger should be placed between the frets to reduce getting harmonics.
Muting and scratching are to different things. Muting is done with the little finger of the left hand and right hand palm (or side). Scratching is done by laying your left hand over all the strings to keep them from sounding and then playing the rhythm with the right hand.