Suggestions for Learning Recuerdos de la Alhambra

One suggestion we highly advocate in our publication is to learn the left hand fingerings to the point where they are second nature. A great way to do this is to go through and play Recuerdos with the thumb and index finger (just play one note of the tremolo). Doing so is so easy that you can concentrate on your left hand fingerings. Once you get those down then add the tremolo.

Rubberband power for better classical guitar tremolo technique

Anyone familiar with pinkus erectus? It’s a latin term for stiff pinky. Pinkus erectus is something guitarists don’t want in either hand, but I’m going to focus on the playing hand here. Pinkus erectus is probably caused by tension in the hand, arm and shoulder. The playing hand’s pinky becomes rigidly stiff and straight while playing. How is this harmful to classical guitar technique? When your playing hand pinky becomes stiff, your “a” finger suffers - feeling weak, uncoordinated, and not under control. These two fingers need to work together instead of fighting each other.

I was trying to think of someway to market a rubberband to classical guitarists without anyone knowing that it was a rubberband. The rubberband is a good tool for correcting this flaw in classical guitar technique. Take a rubberband or some tape and loosely (not too tight) wrap it around the ring and pinky fingers between the tip joints and middle joints of the two fingers. If you haven’t been playing long or have never worked on your technique, you may want to start out playing scales with the m and a fingers or perhaps just open strings. Watch the ring and pinky fingers and concentrate on making them move together. Whatever the ring finger does, the pinky should be its shadow.

I like to do this while practicing the tremolo. Wrap those suckers up and make them move together. Heck, I even work on Recuerdos de la Alhambra this way. Give it a shot, it will really help your classical guitar playing hand technique.

Some days you just don’t have it

I’ve noticed that from day to day my perceived tremolo abilities change. One day will be great and the next will be a disaster. Today was one of the latter days. When you are having a day where nothing seems to be going right, consider slowing down the tempo on your metronome. If that doesn’t work then take a break instead of trying to slog through your practice. If a break doesn’t help then consider moving on to something else.

Power of the pinky

Don’t underestimate the effect that the pinky can have on the “a” finger. It should be used to reinforce the action of the “a” finger as much as possible. Try lightly taping or using a rubber band to hold them loosely together while you play, and noticing where they fight one another. Try to keep the pinky loose and next to the “a” finger, moving along with it, both fingers moving primarily from the knuckle joint, following through well in towards the palm.

Strive for one free stroke, that is the same motion regardless of how it’s being used. The stroke with the “a” finger should be the same in tremolo that it is when playing a chord, a single note, or in an arpeggio.

K. Wohlwend

Classical Guitar tremolo lessons - listen in with Karl and Andy

Listen in to our quicktime audio file as we discuss tremolo technique for the classical guitar. Karl troubleshoots tremolo problems when moving from the second string to the first string and analyzes how left hand challenges can affect a player’s tremolo technique. We also discuss guitar hero and various other miscellany. I’ll post the particular measures in question from Reminiscence later.

Quick way to improve your tremolo - file your nails

Of course, this seems obvious but you’d be surprised how many people try to play tremolo with nails that are anything but smooth. If you are trying to glide across the string as quickly as possible then any imperfections in your nail surface will impede that process. Compound that with trying to perform a tremolo stroke several hundred times a minute and you can see how a little thing like nail imperfections can slow you down.

Progress report on Recuerdos and the tremolo technique for classical guitar

I am a student of Karl Wohlwend and helped out in the publication of “Secrets to Mastering Recuerdos and the Tremolo Technique.” I thought it would be a great idea to relearn Recuerdos de la Alhambra. I first worked on Recuerdos de la Alhambra three years ago and performed the piece. Since that time, I have not reviewed the piece and wanted to spend some time relearning it. Now that I have Karl’s ideas on paper, I’m using them as well as other ideas concerning learning the tremolo technique from other classical guitar resources and taking my own journey to Recuerdos.

I started my original blog at this address and continued it here. My journey began on December 29, 2006 and it was originally intended to be a 60 day trip. Since then, I’ve realized that my journey may be 2 to 3 times longer. That’s fine because I’m really in no hurry. I figured keeping a blog would motivate me on my journey and see it through completion and that it would help others who are attempting to learn the tremolo technique, the piece - Recuerdos de la Alhambra, or both. By the end of this, I hope to have evaluated the numerous tremolo drills and suggestions offered by my instructor as well as suggestions that I have found elsewhere.

In my first 40 or so days with the piece and the technique, I have the following to offer:

1 - An even, steady, rhythmically straight tremolo is what you should strive for. See my February 6 post for a great drill to determine if your tremolo is even and, if not, what part needs work.

2 - Don’t get caught up in constantly increasing your speed. Make sure your tremolo is even at a particular tempo before clocking up the metronome.

3 - Your metronome is your best friend when it comes to learning the tremolo technique. Use it religiously.

4 - Begin by working on the right hand technique separately from the left hand technique.

5 - Learn to listen to yourself objectively. If you can’t do that then record yourself and listen to your playing.

6 - The majority of your tremolo practice should not be done on the first string. Move it to the second or third string.

My progress - I feel much more comfortable on the second, third and fourth strings with my tremolo technique. I also am hearing a steady, even tremolo and am vigilant as to maintaining that. As I said before, I feel my journey is going to be closer to 180 days than 60.

Secrets to Mastering Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique

Search inside book!

Secrets to Mastering Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique by Karl Wohlwend List Price: $11.95 Your Price: $5.98 You will receive download link via email ISBN number - 0978899628

Tremolo in flamenco music

I was listening to some Gipsy Kings’ music and am amazed with the speed they can play melodic phrases. This made me think of flamenco music in general and its staple, the rasgueado. Another staple is, of course, the tremolo technique. You’ll see more of p-i-a-m-i and p-a-m-i-m-a but you’ll also find p-a-m-i, our old friend. I’ve read that the rasgueado technique helps develop the extensor muscles of the fingers. These muscles help the fingers extend out from the palm. I’ve also read where developing the extensor muscles helps with playing scales quickly as well as helps with the tremolo technique. Moving your fingers out away from your palm is required when playing scales and when playing the tremolo, so I can see how this might help. Read more

Applying the tremolo technique to a tremolo piece

Learning the tremolo technique for classical guitar through Recuerdos de la Alhambra

General thoughts on applying the tremolo techique to a tremolo piece of music -

1 - With a metronome, determine at what tempo you can maintain a steady and even tremolo on a string other than the first string. Your tremolo will get choppy and uneven on the 2nd or 3rd string sooner than it will on the 1st string. Determine the tempo you can play the piece at on the 2nd or 3rd string rather than the 1st string.

2 - Pay attention to your right hand. If it gets tight or tired then take a 5 minute break. Your tremolo technique will get worse with right hand fatigue.

3 - Try to play more on the very tips of the fingers and sweep the string. Too much flesh and your tremolo will bog down.

4 - Work out the left hand fingerings - you don’t want your right hand to wait on your left hand.

5 - Above all, use your ears. Objectively listen to what you are doing. Tape record yourself. Listen for an even and steady tremolo and don’t worry about speed.

Obtain our complete guide to mastering the tremolo technique and Recuerdos

Next Page »