Spanish Guitar Technique????

[dogwomble]

Hey guys and gals,

This is my first post in here in god knows how long ... although I am on and off reading the forums here because this is a great reference for musos and people into recording.

I'm probably going to sound like a n00b when I ask this question so please don't hurt me.

I want to write a piece of music which has a very Spanish feel to it. I've managed to find a bit of info on chord progressions and other such things, and I'm working on one that I like, but one thing I've found very hard to find is information on strumming technique - ie. what is my right hand supposed to be doing when I'm playing this style?

I thought here would be a good place to ask!!!

Many thanx for any responses I shall receive for this.

 

[EdWonbass]

Let Estaban be your guide.

 

[mshilarious]

I want to write a piece of music which has a very Spanish feel to it. I've managed to find a bit of info on chord progressions and other such things, and I'm working on one that I like, but one thing I've found very hard to find is information on strumming technique - ie. what is my right hand supposed to be doing when I'm playing this style?

You use the backside of your nails. For a downstroke, start with your right hand in the usual fingerpicking posture (don't stick out or brace with your pinky, that is improper technique), then extend your fingers down the strings, going from pinky to index, striking all of the strings in sequence with each nail. It's done very quickly, so work your way up to speed! It sounds very different than a downstroke with a pick.

The upstroke is done with the back nail of the thumb, and while you upstroke, you return your fingers to the initial position and get ready for the next downstroke.

For the final downstroke in a phrase, really dig into the strings with your nails.

 

[ibleedburgundy]

You need to learn "Rasqueado's." I hope you have a lot of time on your hands. This is not something that will come to you overnight. Some guys have been working their whole lives to have that machinegun-like quickness. First step is to get your metronome out and build some finger strength. Everyday. Don't neglect your ring finger ("a" finger in any learned classical guitar school). There are hundreds of rasqueado patterns, some will come more naturally than others.

I don't know what kind of player you are but if you don't have a base understanding of classical guitar right hand technique you may want to get the book "Pumping Nylon" by Scott Tenant. His method is the quickest way to develop a great RH. BTW he was also a student of Pepe Romero's. See below.

This book may be helpful for rasqueados. I don't know this book but I know the guy who taught this author and the Romero's don't fool around.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NIWS/102-9150771-9658549?v=glance&vi=reviews

 

[XLR]

Quick rasgueado lesson.... (I didn’t write all this just for the post - I teach flamenco gtr and this is something I hand out)

This is probably the most basic and often used rasgueado:

Hold any chord w/left hand

Right hand executes the following sequence of strums, played rhythmically as four sixteenth notes landing on a quarter note. I say sixteenths, but play very slowly until the fingers are well trained.

1) little finger (called chico) strums, moving towards the floor - hitting just a few strings is OK. Keep the R hand still and make the finger move independently of the others, without pulling them along with it. The actual finger movement is VERY quick and percussive, though you'll be keeping the overall rhythm of the combined strums very slow at first. The strum has more of the articulation of a snare hit than a typical guitar strum.
2) ring finger (anular) strums in same way
3) middle finger (medio) strums - same way
4) index finger (indice) strums - same
5) thumb (pulgar) strums across all the strings, also moving towards the floor, but the whole hand moves to support it - with a bit of forearm rotation. When the thumb isn’t playing it’s OK to rest it on the low E string to balance the hand.

It takes at least 6 months for most guitarists to get at home enough w/the technique that they can use it confidently. Be careful of your R hand and forearm though... easy to get an injury overdoing this. Just a little practice on it each day.

To link two or more of the rasgueados together for a continuous roll, just do the above steps 1-4, going right into 1-4 again, ending on 5, the thumb stroke.

There are many ways to execute the same rhythm, and other rasgueado rhythms as well, but this is a good start. Good luck with it.

Tim

 

[crazydoc]

5) thumb (pulgar) strums across all the strings, also moving towards the floor, but the whole hand moves to support it - with a bit of forearm rotation. When the thumb isn?t playing it?s OK to rest it on the low E string to balance the hand.

I learned it by moving the thumb from floor up (just the opposite). Probably wrong, but it works for me. This way there is no hand or arm motion, and as the thumb is strumming up on the strings, the fingers are ready for their downstrokes again, and there is no break in the action, allowing a continuous sound.

 

[XLR]

Yeah, many different ways to do the same rhythms. Hell, Juan Serrano does his rasg's i-c-a-m-i.

Dozens of patterns can work.

Tim

 

[Sirnothingness]

Learn the Phrygian mode.

 

[dogwomble]

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I have a bit of time off from work on Thursday, so I'll certainly work my way through them. And Sirnothingness, B have been practising my Em Phrygian so I'm starting to get the hang of that