e Music from the student repertoire PACO PENATECHNIQUE AND NOTATION Right-Hand Technique — a Summary of Basic Principles. 'A few notes conceming the right hand may be useful since the performance of many flamenco techniques depends on a good basic right hand position, The hand should be relaxed and held so that the fingers are square to the strings. When a string is plucked the whole finger moves: the movement being controlled from the dird joint; after releasing the string the finger curls slightly to avoid the adjacent string. This type of plucking is used for playing arpegios, tremolo etc ‘A different type of plucking, known as picado (apoyando, rest strokes) is used for runs and Emphasized notes. Each finger is still controlled from the third joint; the finger strikes string and comes to rest on the next string - all in asingle movement. When playing runs, two fingers - usually the index and middle fingers - are used alternately. ‘The thumb should be held more or less parellel with the strings; thus, itis the side of the thumb which makes contact with the string. The thumb always plays apoyando; when not in use it rests lightly on the sixth string. ‘Another important right hand position is used for passages played with the thumb - this will be discussed under the heading Pulgar. Forward and Backward Strokes Forward and backward strokes (or, ambiguously, “up and down” strokes) are widely used in the expression of flamenco rhythms, especially in conjunction with rasgueados. The forward stroke is played from the lower (in pitch) to the higher strings and is designated by an arrowhead (pointing Upwards) drawn on the stem of the relevant chord. The backstroke is played in the reverse disection (from treble to bass) and is designated by an arrowhead pointing downwards. Each stroke is payed very rapidly - the individual notes of the chord should not be heard in sequence, When forward and backward strokes are played with the finger(s) (commonly the index finger, i) the hand should be maintained as nearly as possible in the basic position described above; the thumb, where possible, rests on an unused bass string. When these strokes are played with the thumb, the whole hand moves from the wrist. Example: Written: Played Forward strokes may sometimes be played with the middle (?n) and ring (a) fingers ¢ogether to achieve a different effect. Example: Written: Played: When forward or backward strokes are to be played with the thumb fp), solid arrowheads are drawn Gee in later examples). (If no particular finger is specified in the music, the index finger should be used),Rasgueado Basically, this involves striking the strings with each finger in tum - starting with the little finger (x) - using forward strokes. The basic hand position should be maintained, i.e. the hand itself should not move unduly. The thumb is rested lightly on an unused bass string, thus providing an ‘anchor’. (This also prevents the accidental sounding of unwanted notes.) Written: In order (o finish a continuous sequence of rasgueados of this kind on a bear, it is necessary to adjust the speed of the rasgueados slightly so that the final stroke (with #) falls on the beat. Example: There are a number of ways in which rasgueados may be adapted to achieve specific rhythmic effects. For example, a more rhythmic variation of the basic rasgueado involves the incorporation of a backstroke played with the index finger, as shown in the example below. Exam Rasgueados may also be used for the embellishment of a chord. In this case, the raseueado is played very rapidly, with the last stroke falling on the beat. Example: Played: Written: