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What is the typical way to play a 6 string i down stroke golpe? Do you place your left thumb above the sound hole as an anchor or is it w/o any anchor? Another option could be playing the golpe with the thumb above the sound hole. They all seem a bit awkward.
For the golpe above the strings I don’t anchor the thumb on the 6th string. I flick the index off the pad of the thumb, like flicking a fly, to hit the sound board just above the 6th string, and then twist the wrist to make the downstroke rasgueo. It’s all sort of one fluid motion. The flick of the index off the thumb is done in conjunction with the wrist clocked or hinged. But to practice slow you could try breaking it into those 2 steps. Try to use your ears to get the sound.
What Jason described is the "capirote". Gives a very sharp and powerful sound. I don't know if it's used much outside of rumba anymore, but another way to do it is to use the side of your thumb to do a golpe on the upper side of the soundhole while you do a downstroke, though usually I think it's ami and not just i. Not as powerful as the capirote. Probably good if you want that particular chord to flow with the rest, whereas the capirote will make it stand out a lot more (which is usually the point of the capirote anyway).
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Thanks Piwin. I did notice the power in it. The golpes are in a series of rasgueos with rasgueados where there are also a number of 5 string golpes with the ring finger so your suggestion might be more apt though I did like finding out about the "capirote" Jason posted. However, as I said, it does seem a bit awkward. I will give it a go. I think I will also try toning down the "capirote" too to see if that can work since it seems a bit more natural.
Are you sure this isn't another music notation error? Capirote is definitely more common than the technique I'm suggesting. I think Gerardo Nunez briefly talks about that technique with the thumb in his Encuentro DVD, but he refers to it as an old-school technique.
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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."
Are you sure this isn't another music notation error?
Good point -could be but am not sure. I just had a listen but couldn't tell. Would be less difficult if it was. As a beginner I am not well versed in the techniques so do not know what is common or how some things are articulated.
"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."
That's not a 6-string golpe with 'i', but a golpe with 'a' while doing a downward rasgeo with 'i'. Also, why don't you edit your post and click on 'Embed picture in post' so it is easier to see at a glance?
I'd just do the golpe with a and not be too strict about whether you hit all 6 strings with i. You can rest your thumb on the soundboard slightly above the E string. With any kind of strum or rasgueado, you can change the sound a bit with the placement of your hand. If your hand is lower, you'll accentuate the high notes. If your hand is higher, you'll accentuate the low notes. Getting all six strings to sound equally isn't easy that way. Other option is to do the golpe with a and play the strum with p, which will make it easier to get all 6 strings to sound. (by "lower" and "higher" placement of the hand, I mean on a plane that is parallel to the guitar surface and where 1st string is low and 6th string is high).
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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."
I'd just do the golpe with a and not be too strict about whether you hit all 6 strings with i.
That is what I have been doing but was wondering if there was a particular technique for such situations. Thumb resting on the soundboard can be problematic to keep from muting. The section is played fairly quick so playing with P also presents some difficulties. I'll have a go with them to see if I can manage.
You keep asking very good questions about basic compas strumming issues. It’s time for a one on one lesson with a teacher that can clear this up in minutes.
Thanks Ricardo. One of the problems is that the issues come up when I am working through the music so I do not have a lot of questions at any one time but just when they come up. Another issue I have is I do not like to play in front of anyone, my wife included, though I might fancy doing so in the future.
Ahh ok, when you said all 6 string index golpe my mind immediately assumed capirote. Like Piwin says It’s not common to hit all 6 strings with the regular index rasg even though the whole chord is notated.
One of the problems is that the issues come up when I am working through the music so I do not have a lot of questions at any one time but just when they come up.
In a few lessons with a good teacher you could learn how to do all the basic rasgeos and compas for all the palos you are trying to play which would mean you would understand what all this notation was trying to tell you before you even have the questions.
In the other thread when I said using your ear was useful/essential for taking lessons, it was because of the value/necessity of taking some lessons for these kind of questions. At best trying to learn the basics the way you are going is extremely inefficient, and at worst impossible. I think you at least need to look at some video to see and hear how it's done. Oscar Herrero Paso a Paso vol 1 DVD would be a good place to start. That and Vol 2 will probably equip you to play Sabicas for the rest of your life!
You are probably right about it being an inefficient method to go about it and might be somewhat derived from my incomplete understanding of Flamenco. However I seem be muddling through of late and think my queries on this subject will be a bit more refined going forward (hopefully). As far as this particular piece I think I might have it but need to train my stupid fingers more to get up to speed and fluidity. It is going to take time but it was going to take time regardless.
I do appreciate every one's input and consider myself lucky to have it.
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