Playing Fast, Precise Tremolo on the Mandolin

Build up your ability to play fast & clean measured tremolo. When you articulate your tremolo using rest strokes, it sounds smooth and expressive. And once you can tremolo 16th and 32nd notes, it's just a matter of coordinating your left and right hands to play at really fast tempos.

Music: "Bluegrass Signal" by John Reischmann

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mandolin
• lesson
• tremolo
• speed

[AccountOfJason]

are you always doing a rest-stroke on beat 1, even at faster tempos?

[hrdrockgrrl]

@AccountOfJason No - at some point the pick stops hitting the string below and it's all muscle memory. But it's still important to maintain the feel of doing the rest strokes on beat 1 if you want a nice even tremolo. And I always make the very first note of the tremolo a rest-stroke no matter what, to give it a nice solid start.

[PoweredByChoro]

Really great work! I'll have to try out your tremolo practice techniques. I have been finding the choro bandolim players tend to really vary their tremolo speed, starting slow and picking it up as the phrase continues. Jacob is masterful at this. But, I think I can improve my right hand technique for sure. Cheers! :)

[hrdrockgrrl]

@PoweredByChoro Great point, choro bandolinistas tend to use a 'slow tremolo' that is very fluid and unmeasured, sometimes picking up speed as they go. I think it sounds devastatingly beautiful when done well, but I haven't had much luck yet doing it myself. Somehow the good players made it sound steady, relaxed and elastic all at once. This seems to be where the science breaks down and the art begins...

[dermotxy]

Really great video. What type or size of plectrum do you recommend?

[hrdrockgrrl]

@dermotxy I use a Blue Chip TAD 50, a triangular-shaped pick 1.25mm thick with a bevelled edge. It's a $30 pick though, and while I like the Blue Chip material a lot, it really doesn't make *that* much difference. Wegen and Red Bear also make similar, cheaper picks that sounds great.

[bozge11]

Thank you hrdrockgrrl, great lesson, very useful for me! I need lesson on reducing excessive pick noise.

[darrenj7]

You're an excellent instructor, thanks so much!

[MsRushrocks]

*Thanks for the great lesson......gotta go practice now!

[TheWhiteDevil1612]

You know it's going to be important when a lady says 'let's talk'.

[ryankmichael]

Thank you so very much for this tutorial - practicing along with it, my tremolo has immediately improved tremendously!

[feralrom1]

Hey hrdrockgrrl! You rock! Thanks for this. Back at you later, when I get it down.