Learn classical guitar tremolo in four weeks with Recuerdos
Four weeks from open strings to the opening phrases of Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Listen to the space between four attacks, then keep that spacing as the bass moves.
12 minutes a day · Bring out the melody of Recuerdos at 100 BPM with four evenly spaced strokes per click. Each click equals an eighth note in the original score.
What should a good tremolo sound like?
The thumb plays the bass. The ring, middle and index fingers repeat the melody note. Give p, a, m and i four equal places within each beat. The melody should sound sustained as the thumb changes strings. Record two bars and hum the upper voice when you listen back.
The eight lessons
Week 1 · Four evenly spaced attacks
- Four fingers on four strings · 12 min
- Three fingers on one string · 12 min
Week 2 · Change strings and sustain the melody
- From one treble string to the next · 12 min
- Place and remove an accent · 12 min
Week 3 · Move the bass under the tune
Week 4 · Connect the phrases of Recuerdos
- Two phrases from Recuerdos · 12 min
- Join the opening four bars · 12 min
Four problems you can hear and adjust
The bass covers the tune
Play the pattern on open strings and soften only the thumb. All three melody notes should remain equally clear.
The ring finger’s note disappears
At a slow tempo, briefly accent the ring finger. Remove the accent and listen for that first melody note again.
The fingers fly away from the string
Stop after i and look at the distance between a and the string. Repeat with the fingertip close to the string, keeping clear of any note that still needs to ring.
The hand stiffens as the tempo rises
Release the hand between groups. Return to the last tempo where you could play four even attacks with a relaxed wrist.
Set up for practice
Start with a tuned guitar and a metronome. Use a phone for a short recording. Leave it in the same position for both takes and listen back at the same volume.
The app listens to your tremolo
Use the listening button in a metronome step. After the count-in, play p, a, m, i for twenty seconds, four notes to each click. The microphone helps estimate how many attacks are audible, how evenly they are spaced and whether the bass covers the melody. The result suggests a tempo for your next attempt. Listen to the phrase yourself to hear whether the melody sings. A teacher can watch the movement behind the sound.
Watch the right hand
Watch how Bradford Werner follows the thumb with the three melody fingers. Try that movement on an open string before raising the tempo.
Bradford Werner’s tremolo lesson