Hello everybody and welcome to Part 2 of this initiation to the flamenco tremolo technique! This time we will put the exercises presented last month to good real-world use by performing one of the tremolo parts from my flamenco composition "Angelika", based on the Granadina flamenco form. The sheet music for the complete piece, along with five more complete compositions will soon be available from Mel Bay publications in the Flamenco Journal Book/DVD instructional project.

To briefly recapitulate last month's materials, flamenco guitarists use a variation of the classical 4-note tremolo, a 5-note tremolo performed p-i-a-m-i. They also tend to use rest-strokes for the notes that are played with the thumb. Last month we stopped after providing you with an exercise to learn the "melody-line" tremolo, a variation in which we change notes in the melody WITHIN the tremolo figure! So, enough talk, let's get on with the music. Keep in mind that for most of the tremolo the left hand is fretting a complete chord shape while using the 1-2 remaining fingers to play the melody-tremolo:

As I always advocate, take it slow, one bar at a time. Even if it seems very difficult, do not despair but stick with it for a few days; you'll be amazed at the results!

Well, that's it for now! Next month, I will give you an even more challenging version of the tremolo part, not for the weak-of-heart! Until then, good luck, keep practicing and have fun!

Yiannis

Ioannis Anastassakis holds an MA in Guitar Performance and has taught guitar in several universities and guitar festivals in the US and Europe. He has studied flamenco guitar with Juan Serrano, Manolo Sanlucar, Juan Martín, Serranito, Paco Serrano, and José Antonio Rodriguez. Currently, he teaches at the American College of Greece and is preparing an extensive series of educational materials for Mel Bay Publications. His official website can be found at www.ioannis.org.