Comment by Jason Smith on December 8, 2011 at 23:31

Very Nice!  I will look that one up.

Comment by Mike Moss on December 8, 2011 at 23:39

Here you go (second part in my next comment)

Comment by Mike Moss on December 8, 2011 at 23:39

Comment by Jason Smith on December 9, 2011 at 0:01

Thanks!  I will exile myself to the practice room.

Comment by Sylvia on December 9, 2011 at 8:18

Hey Mike that is brilliant, just like ( was it Segovia's )  Alhambra.  Like Jason, I must head off to the practice room.   Great Stuff.

Comment by Mike Moss on December 9, 2011 at 9:23

Thanks, Sylvia... the song you mention was composed by Tarrega but was famously played by Segovia.

The "proper" technique for the tremolo pieces in the Stewart Journal is to wiggle one's index finger whilst playing arpeggios with the thumb... however, I've been trying for months already, and I still haven't obtained any good results with this technique. Joel Hooks, however, managed to play this solo and several others with the finger tremolo method, such as "variations on Home Sweet Home". Fred Bacon made several cylinder recordings in which you can hear this technique, as in his "variations on Massa's in the Cold, Cold Ground".

The method I use -- which is described by Grimshaw, and was also used by Fred Van Eps in his later years, as far as I know -- is similar to the technique used by classical guitarists, only that I alternate index, middle, index instead of the more orthodox ring, middle, index (since I don't have calluses on my ring finger, it sounds muddy).

A good way to learn is to start off slowly, fingering a chord and slowly playing a basic pattern -- thumb hits the 4th string, index-middle-index on the 1st, thumb hits the 3rd string, index-middle-index on the 1st, thumb hits the 2nd string, index-middle-index on the 1st, thumb hits the 3rd string, index-middle-index on the 1st, and so forth.

If you start off very slowly, you will soon be able to pick up speed and develop an even tremolo. After that, it is all a question of keeping time, learning how to seamlessly change from one chord to another, learning different patterns for the thumb and learning how to do a single line with all fingers on the first string.

There are two more tremolo pieces in the Journal that I know of, I'll post them later, as well as a beautiful (but extremely challenging) tremolo study called "Adieu" by Alfred Kirby.

@Jason

I'm looking forward to hearing you play it; my banjo sounds a bit too jarring for tremolo (it's set up that way) but your banza will probably achieve a better, more legato sound, as well as more expressive power.

Comment by Sylvia on December 9, 2011 at 9:55

Hi Mike, how about  thumb /anular  following through with middle then index. I have found one or two beginner exercises in "Ellis's Thorough School....page 46," uploaded by Ian in the Lessons section. I'm going to give them a go,  my tremoloing is very, very rusty.  Will also download the pieces you have posted. 

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