Performing Tremolo Pieces

I recently performed Jorge Morel’s transcription of Misionera which contains two tremolo sections that are each repeated. When performing any piece (let alone one involving the specific technique of tremolo), I find it very important to keep loose and flexible. This would apply to not only the hands and fingers but also the forearms, upper arms, shoulders, back and neck. If I tighten up, my tremolo technique becomes choppy and uneven. How to combat this?

1 - Consider checking in with your specific tight spots throughout the piece. Ask yourself, “How is my right shoulder?” It is tight, tense, raised?
2 - Loosen up before the performance by stretching and warming up.
3 - Before starting, check in with your body. Run through the entire body and perform a system analysis. If you find a trouble spot, take a deep breath and try to release the tension with your exhale.

4 - In Misionera, there are intro sections leading to each tremolo section. During these sections, perform a quick check of your tense spots and try to loosen up during them.
5 - Extend the tremolo intro sections. I double the length of each of these intros and spend that time trying to loosen up for the tremolo.
6 - Let the music breathe. Find spots in the piece where you can pause and relax.
7 - I try to instruct myself to play on the tips of my fingers and just glide over the string during the tremolo.
8 - If my tremolo is stilly choppy, I try not to bear down but ease up and slow down the tempo.
9 - If I’m really mentally aware, I will try to create space between the thumb and “a” finger as they often overlap when my technique gets choppy.
10 - From my instructor - Feel the weight of your right forearm sink into the top and body of the guitar. My right forearm will try to hover over the guitar when I get tense.

If your tremolo still wasn’t as satisfying as you would have liked, remember that the audience may not be attuned to listening for its evenness or for the spaces between the notes like you may be. In other words, it may have sounded just fine to them because they may not have heard the same as you.

Until next time, keep on tremolo-ing!

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