Tremolo
The guitar is essentially a percussion instrument, meaning that once the note is struck the sound will inevitably begin to die. The most effective way to sustain a continuous sound is by a rapid succession of notes using alternating fingers on the one string called a tremolo.
There are many variations in the fingering of the tremolo however the model to be discussed here is the common classical guitar type as demonstrated in the preceding Study in A minor as Ex. A (p a rn i). Because this example was used as a part of an arpeggio study it has a very strict four beat feel, whilst the ideal tremolo is more fluid and less percussive. Normally tremolo is notated as thirty second notes for the fingers and eighth notes for the thumb as seen below.
It can be observed that there is in fact a gap after each finger group whilst p plays a base or inner harmony. This gap is obvious at slow speed but at the required tempo the illusion of continuous melody notes is obtained. The tremolo should be practiced slowly as four even beats per group and, as with all exercises, it must be practiced strongly. The power and control attained this way will translate into fluency and smoothness at greater speed.
Be sure to retain a steady right hand position and an extended thumb (away from the fingers, see page 16# photos A-E). The tremolo will eventually be used on the inside strings @ and # (which of course presents the added difficulty of hitting adjacent strings) but for the moment concentrate on a strong, even sound on !.
Try playing Spanish Ballad (page 158) and Study in Em (page 128) in tremolo as demonstrated below. Both pieces can be played this way, therefore they are ideal examples of first string tremolo.
