Tremolo Study

by Gouranga Debnath
(India)

Hello! Mr. Maurice. I have picked up the tremolo technique for quite some time now but playing the Recuerdos de la Alhambra seems to be problematic.

One main reason is that the sound that I am producing is not at all loud and its getting softer as my fingers are getting tired.

Is practice the only solution or do I need to change a bit on my technique. Please help!

And could you name some good tremolo musical pieces???

Hi Gouranga,

In his book Pumping Nylon Scott Tennant suggests... "The key to playing a good tremolo is not speed, as most students believe, but eveness of articulation. The more articulate each note, the faster the tremolo seems. the more articulate the tremolo, the more control we have over it."

He goes on to give a "psychological outlook" for playing tremolo and includes some musical examples to play and improve your tremolo technique.

His DVD also demonstrates the technique points in the book.

I must say I agree with Mr Tennant on this one. My tremolo was actually quite weak and lop-sided, just as he states in his book, until I practiced more articulation.

I highly recommend you get that book, if you haven't got it already, absorb the information and practice the technique.

I hope this has been of help.

Trevor M.