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Does it matter about the right hand fingering of a tremolo?

by David
(France)

Hi Trevor,

I've been getting to grips the last month’s flamenco piece, Malaguena, particularly the tremolo in the last section. This is my first attempt at a tremolo so I'm not really comfortable with the technique yet (but I'll get there). On this piece, you've noted the right-hand fingering as PAMI, I've been trying hard to get that right but I naturally want play it PIMA. The instinct is hard to fight, I also find that I'm faster that way. So my question is: does it really matter which way around I play the tremolo?

By-the-way, I think the flamenco style makes a refreshing change from the 'pure' classical pieces and I can't wait to have a bash at Andalucia.

Have a merry Christmas and happy new year.

David

Hi David,

It's a very good question and of course, there are varying degrees of opinion on the matter. I myself have stuck to the conservative practice of pami.

I'd suggest you have a look at the technique ideas on tremolo by two very good names in the classical guitar field, namely: Frederick Noad and Sharon Isbin. Fred Noad says in Solo Guitar playing that...

"slow practice should help the attainment of greater speed (using pami)...what seems to happen is that a very positive and accurate habit is formed, so that there is no vagueness or uncertainty when the movement is played at a higher speed..."

And similarly, Sharon Isbin said in the Classical Guitar Answer Book that you can...

"Practice a tremolo piece very slowly using a rest stroke only for the "m" finger. Increase the speed gradually with a metronome. When you can no longer use a rest stroke, use free strokes for all fingers but continue to accent the middle finger. As the tempo increases, the accent will diminish, but the correct rhythmic placement should remain..."

These are very useful ideas and they both even go further in their books with more ideas on the art of tremolo.

I hope this has been of some help.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.

P.S. Merry Christmas to you also!