Recuerdos Blog updated September 2007 - visit the blog and see the author play Seis por Derecho!

Mastering Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique

Tarrega wrote Recuerdos over 100 years ago yet why do so few guitarists play it well? Search the internet and you'll find audio and video recordings of people attempting to play Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Listen closely and you'll hear:
The Gallop - Di Dee Dum, Di Dee Dum, Di Dee Dum
Broken phrases resulting in no clear melody line
Pauses in the music

So few guitarists play Recuerdos de la Alhambra well (and for that matter, many other pieces) because they have no systematic approach to learning the piece. They get so caught up in the right hand tremolo technique that they fail to consider the other demands the piece makes on the player.

We've created a systematic approach to Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the tremolo technique that will get you on the road to mastery. We break the piece down into easier versions so that you progressively make your way through the piece. Rather than diving in the deep end and drowning or barely keeping your head above water, we gradually introduce you to the tremolo stroke. First you learn the best fingering for the left hand and ingrain that into your playing then you are able to forget about the left hand technique and completely concentrate on the right hand tremolo technique. This is a common mistake of many players - they fail to eliminate left hand fingering difficulties before working on the tremolo. You must separate the two and then later combine them. We've done all the work for you with our optimized left hand fingerings; we then show you how to master the tremolo technique. Learn those and then focus on the most important part - the tremolo - and you'll be on your way to mastery.

Once you've mastered Recuerdos, move on to other tremolo pieces like:

Barrios' Una Limosna por el amor de Dios

and Un Sueno en la floresta also by Barrios

Inside this Book

The Secrets to Mastering Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique, by Karl Wohlwend

Our Guide to Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique breaks down the piece and the necessary techniques in 10 simple steps leading to mastery. Learn one of the most popular pieces in the classical guitar repertoire. Our 10 step guide breaks down the piece into simple steps and focuses your practice on key elements of the piece. We'll show you what to practice, how to practice, and the reasons behind our recommendations.

Don't have the music to Recuerdos de la Alhambra? No problem. We provide the Wohlwend edition of the piece complete with easy and efficient left hand fingerings so you can concentrate on the right hand and becoming proficient with the tremolo technique.

Your payment also includes free membership to our classical guitar forum where you can post any questions you have concerning our publication and we will answer them for you. We will provide you with a link and password upon payment.

The Secrets to Mastering Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique



• Easy 10 step process includes:
• Assessment of difficulty of piece
• Road map to the piece providing bird's eye view to player
• Preparation for practicing
• Secrets to mastering Recuerdos
• Specific drills for mastering technical issues and the tremolo technique
• Helpful hints to make progress easier
• Common traps to avoid when working out the piece
• where to find video lesson for further study
• Now 41 pages with addition of day by day log of a student following the techniques recommended and his progress
• Includes free sheet music to the piece
• Where to find video lesson on learning Recuerdos

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Sample pages from The Secrets to Mastering Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the Tremolo Technique

The first secret to mastering Recuerdos is not mastering the tremolo technique but to plan an efficient left-hand fingering. The priority in determining a left-hand fingering should be ease of execution, so as to maintain a smooth transition from shape to shape. This will ensure a coherent melodic line and control of phrasing. You may find that your fingering might change as you become more familiar with the piece, but it is very important to commit to a sensible fingering as early as possible. Play the piece in four-measure bits, in time with the metronome, with the left hand alone to explore how to move smoothly from one shape to the next.

Avoiding Traps

- Keep your nails as short as you are comfortable with and keep them smooth. This will make it easier to achieve a smooth tremolo without having to compensate too much.

- When first learning the piece and for sometime thereafter, use a metronome. 10-15 minutes of practice with a metronome is more worthwhile than an hour of practice without one. Play as slowly as you need to to be comfortable and accurate.

- Record your practice often, so that you can objectively hear yourself. The first step in improvement is being honest about your playing.

- Stretch and warm up before every practice session. Avoid skipping this to save time. The 10 or 15 minutes this takes will insure that the next 20 minutes of your practice will be as effective as possible.

- Take a short break every 20 minutes, stand up, walk, and stretch. You will be more efficient during three 20 minute sessions as opposed to one 60 minute session.

- Concentrate on comfort and accuracy. Speed is only achieved as a result of good work combined with incisive awareness.

- Focus on the musicality. What makes this piece so compelling is the languid, flowing melody line. Don't become entrenched in the technical issues at the expense of the expression of musicianship. Vary the dynamics and tone color with the ebb and flow of the piece.

- Be patient and play within your limitations. Take your time both working out left-hand fingerings as well as developing your tremolo before you try to play the piece. Consider the time you take to do this as an investment in being able to play the piece as beautifully as you can hear it in your imagination.

Better Together

Buy this book with "Secrets to Mastering Rumores de la Caleta", "Making the Most out of your Musical Performance" and "Secrets to Mastering Carcassi's Op. 60, No. 7" today!

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Product Details

Pdf ebook - 41 pages

View (print) with Adobe Acrobat Reader

Publisher - K&A Publishing (April 2006)

ISBN number - 0978899628

Want a printed version sent to you via first class U.S. mail?

Prices starting at $10.97.

En espanol tambien! - $5.98

Unos extractos del libro

El dominio de Recuerdos de La Alhambra y algunos secretos sobre la tecnica del tremolo

Recuerdos de La Alhambra - Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909)

VI. Secretos para dominar Recuerdos de La Alhambra

El primer secreto para dominar Recuerdos no es el dominio de la tecnica del tremolo, sino el planear una digitacion eficiente para la mano izquierda. El sentido de esta prioridad es facilitar la ejecucion de la pieza, asi como permitir mantener una suave transicion de una forma (o digitacion) a otra. Esto va a garantizar una linea melodica coherente y un control del fraseo. Puede ser que te des cuenta, en la medida en que te familiarizas con la pieza, de la necesidad de variar la digitacion, por esto es muy importante definir, tan pronto como sea posible, una que resulte acertada. Toca la pieza compas por compas con el metronomo, con la mano izquierda solamente, para probar como moverla con suavidad de una forma (o digitacion) a la siguiente.

VII. El entrenamiento del tremolo

Como ya ha sido indicado en la parte anterior, Recuerdos presenta un reto significativo para ambas manos. Recomiendo trabajar la tecnica de la mano derecha independientemente de los cambios de acordes de la mano izquierda, y antes de intentar hacerlo todo junto a la vez. Solo cuando el tremolo salga suavemente y en cierto sentido "automatico", sera el momento de intentar negociar con las dificultades de los movimientos de la mano izquierda.

Practica el patron del tremolo (p-a-m-i) en una cuerda sola, usando el metronomo en una medida baja, que te permita cuidar el ataque de cada uno de los dedos. Intenta que el sonido de cada nota individual sea el mismo, y trata de eliminar los ruidos (clicks) que pueden producirse, intentando precisar la manera como tocan los dedos las cuerdas. Cuando te sientas comodo, duplica la velocidad del metronomo, pero manten la velocidad del tremolo, de manera que los golpes suenen sobre p y m.

Cuando seas capaz de tocar el patron de manera limpia y confortable en una cuerda, muevete a cada una de las otras cinco cuerdas, siempre trabajando con el metronomo. Si estas tenso, frustrado o lo haces de manera inexacta, BAJA LA VELOCIDAD. Las articulaciones de los dedos de la mano derecha son un buen "barometro" para la medir la tension. Todos los dedos deben estar siempre sueltos y flexibles.

Muchas gracias a mi amigo, Alejandro Bruzual, para sa traduccion

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"Karl is the best classical guitar teacher Columbus, Ohio has to offer. His ability to perceive the minutiae of technical issues as well as fine details of phrasing and musicality in his students' playing simply is more than one could expect of typical music-shop instruction. Time spent in Karl's studio is the equivalent of money well spent." - Eugene C. Braig IV

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