Members VengefulTikiGod Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 Am I the only one who uses this? My first teacher was a classical guitarist, so he started me off with some right-hand fingerstyle excercises. I asked at some point, how do you strum without a pick, and he taught me flamenco-style rasgueado, in which you quickly unfurl all your fingers but your thumb, one after the other, down over all the strings, hitting them with the back of your nails (which ideally would be grown out). Then for the upstroke, you can rake the strings with the back of your thumbnail on the way back up. Something like that. I eventually adapted it for less aggressive strumming in which I brush the strings with the back of my nails for the downstroke, and rake them with my thumbnail for the upstroke. Brush, rake, brush, rake. Sounds great, better than a pick in some cases. But then I find out... Some people only use their thumb for the whole operation! I have never been able to get a good downstroke sound with just my thumbnail, especially with steel strings, and I find it to be rather uncomfortable as my thumbnail tends to catch on the strings. So, I'm just curious, am I the only one who strums the way I do? And if I am, I'm spreading the gospel, then, because it feels very easy and natural to me.
Members Stackabones Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 Not my everyday strum, but I've done it! I think that backward raking of the thumb is used in alzapua. By the way, while we're on the topic of rasgueado, here's a great book-- I'm going to have to go dig up my copy. I know it's around here somewhere.
Members Ultimate Dave Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 I have been using http://www.flamenco-teacher.com there are 2 free lessons on there with video that have helped me out a lot... whether or not I'm doing rasgues correctly I don't know... but this technique takes so much time to become adept that i wont know for a while good luck!
Members VengefulTikiGod Posted January 9, 2007 Author Members Posted January 9, 2007 Well, I'm not as much using the whole rasgueado technique as much as just using that brush/rake thing. Rasgueado sounds crappy on most steel strings anyway because of the buzz. But are people here actually using just their thumb?
Members Cripes Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 I use rasqueado an accenuation but not as a strumming method. I rarely strum.
Members LaurentB Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 Originally posted by VengefulTikiGod Well, I'm not as much using the whole rasgueado technique as much as just using that brush/rake thing. Rasgueado sounds crappy on most steel strings anyway because of the buzz. But are people here actually using just their thumb? There's a Dutch guitarist called Jan Akkerman who uses his thumb for playing chords in a funky style on an electric and it sounds great. I never understood how he does that, especially because, as you say, the thumbnail tends to hook behind the strings during the downstroke, especially on light electric strings.
Members VengefulTikiGod Posted January 9, 2007 Author Members Posted January 9, 2007 Originally posted by LaurentB There's a Dutch guitarist called Jan Akkerman who uses his thumb for playing chords in a funky style on an electric and it sounds great. I never understood how he does that, especially because, as you say, the thumbnail tends to hook behind the strings during the downstroke, especially on light electric strings. Well, if he can pull it off, more power to him.
Members guitapick Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 Unless I'm practicing flamenco style a good amount, I tend to run into problems with the upstroke going back to the downstroke. The seamless transition isn't easy when I'm rusty in that style. Any suggestions, other than the "practice, practice, practice" mantra? You know: a magic pill or, more likely, a technique to concentrate on?
Members Davepch Posted January 9, 2007 Members Posted January 9, 2007 Originally posted by guitapick Unless I'm practicing flamenco style a good amount, I tend to run into problems with the upstroke going back to the downstroke. The seamless transition isn't easy when I'm rusty in that style. Any suggestions, other than the "practice, practice, practice" mantra? You know: a magic pill or, more likely, a technique to concentrate on? uinfortunately the only shortcut to good technique is, do it the long way without wasting time looking for a shortcut:D
Members MartinC Posted January 10, 2007 Members Posted January 10, 2007 alzupua is the technique that uses mainly the thumb-I do it all the time because I spend most of my guitar time playing flamenco. I'm not sure how doable it is with steel strings-your nails would get hammered.
Members guitapick Posted January 13, 2007 Members Posted January 13, 2007 uinfortunately the only shortcut to good technique is, do it the long way without wasting time looking for a shortcut:D Yeah...I knew that....
Members guitapick Posted January 13, 2007 Members Posted January 13, 2007 alzupua is the technique that uses mainly the thumb-I do it all the time because I spend most of my guitar time playing flamenco. I'm not sure how doable it is with steel strings-your nails would get hammered. That's interesting. I saw Vicente Amigo and it seemed that he was using thumb-I...but I'd always thought the rasquado was the major thing. He was really fast.Good to know...thanks.
Members MartinC Posted February 3, 2007 Members Posted February 3, 2007 That's interesting. I saw Vicente Amigo and it seemed that he was using thumb-I...but I'd always thought the rasquado was the major thing. He was really fast.Good to know...thanks. well you can also use your index with the thumb in alzapua-there are maybe a half dozen different ways to do it. And your right about rasquedo being a major thing-there are perhpas a hundred or more ways of doing that.
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