I suppose you'll get lots of differing opinions on this. Here's my brain-dump on the subject of tremolo.
The way I do it, the pick angle is pretty much just the same as when I pick regularly, about 15 degrees off from the axis of the strings. Usually I point it down, but sometimes up (the way John Reischman does it) - just depends on how my hand feels at the moment. But I don't alter it for tremolo. This may depend on the pick I use, which is a softly triangle-shaped white Clayton (currently I use 1mm but 1.20 and 1.52 also are favorites). I sometimes use a 1.5mm ProPlec - same technique. I think your pick shape might affect your preferred angle. I think it makes sense for me to use the same attack angle for tremolo, so I can switch back and forth from tremolo to slower notes without having to change anything. This way I am ready for either mode. In fact, I don't really feel like I'm changing gears so much as just speeding up my pick hand when I go into a tremolo. It's key for me to feel my pick hand stay relaxed. If I feel it tighten up, then I know that I am going to lose speed and things will be jerky and unmusical. I have to stop and shake out my hand and grin a little bit and then try again. Maybe have a sip of a refreshing beverage. Also trying to play too loud can make me tighten up and I just get all discombobulated with my picking. I learned about picks and picking from playing the mandolin, and carried it back to guitar, so I use the same picks (sometimes a little lighter) and technique for guitar now. Tremolo on guitar is fun. Dick Dale! Yeah! I think the Italian style tremolo may depend on using really thin picks and flapping them over the strings, rather than moving the strings around with thicker picks the way most folks I've seen around here so it. I suspect that is a very different technique. But I can't do it so I really am guessing here. Oud players traditionally use an eagle quill (modern substitute - a thick heavy cable tie) and their tremolo usually comes from the elbow through a bent wrist. This works on mandolin also. It's a ferocious tremolo! but you have to adjust your arm quite a bit to get it. I bet that's how Dick Dale gets his mighty tremolo, but I wouldn't swear to it, since I've never watched any video of him do it. But he's influenced by Middle Eastern music, so it seems likely - he sounds quite bouzouki-esque to me. When I flatpick electric bass, I use a flat angle, parallel to the string axis. I use that 1.5mm ProPlec. I got the idea from Carol Kaye's website and I like it a lot. Better tone - I think it has to do with transmitting energy efficiently into those thick strings. I don't tremolo on the bass, although I suppose I could try it and see what it sounds like. I guess maybe not too good - probably muddy - but ya never know. Topher On Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 5:05 AM, Tim <[email protected]> wrote: > > Qestion: When playing tremolo does the pick change slightly from the > "point" end to the more broader side of the edge? This seems like the > pick doesn't get hung up as much when playing tremolo. Do most > players do this as a rule? Or is it more of changing the pick angle > from perpendicular to the strings to a more 45 degree angle..or both. > Thank you. Tim > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
