Week 3 · 12 min
Unfold the rasgueado
By the end, you can separate the three brushes of a, m and i.
Before this lesson
Lesson steps
1 Two strokes with space between
Play the first bar with one beat of silence after each tambora stroke.
3 min · 44 bpm · 1 note per click
Check for · 2 bars at 52 BPM — The two light strokes fall on beats 1 and 3.
More detail
The side of the thumb touches the strings near the bridge. Listen for the drum sound from the strings themselves.
2 A slow rasgueado
Extend a, then m, then i from bass to treble in bar two.
3 min · 40 bpm · 1 note per click
Revisit the tablature · Step 1
Check for · 2 bars at 48 BPM — You hear three distinct strums before the rest.
More detail
One finger brushes all the strings on each stroke. Play a, m and i in sequence with three short movements.
3 Three distinct brushes
Open one finger per beat in the second bar, then observe the rest.
3 min · 40 bpm · 1 note per click
Revisit the tablature · Step 1
Check for · 2 bars at 48 BPM — You hear a, m and then i before the silent fourth beat.
More detail
Start with a small movement. Each finger brushes the strings independently of the next.
4 Three distinct brushes
Open one finger per beat in the second bar, then observe the rest.
3 min · 44 bpm · 1 note per click
Revisit the tablature · Step 1
Check for · 4 bars at 52 BPM — You hear a, m and then i before the silent fourth beat.
More detail
Start with a small movement. Each finger brushes the strings independently of the next.
You can move on when…
You pass when, over 4 bars at 52 BPM, you hear a, m and then i before the silent fourth beat.
If a movement feels difficult
The muted bass loses its pitch.
Move the palm contact nearer the bridge.
All three fingers strum at once.
Isolate one finger movement on each slow click.