How to Play Tremolo on Classical Guitar

Tremolo is a technique used in a wide range of classical guitar music genres. By sounding one note repeatedly and rapidly while playing a melodic line over it, the guitarist creates the effect of a sustained note droning under the melody. To play tremolo well requires steady rhythm and technical accuracy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Select a note on one of the two higher strings. Use you ring, middle and index fingers to play the note slowly over and over again. Keep your hand relaxed, and make the notes as fluid and connected as possible.

2. Choose a familiar chord such as G. Sound the bass note, G, with your thumb followed by the fifth, D, played with your ring, middle and index fingers. Do the same and strike the chord's third, B, with your thumb. Alternate between G and B in the thumb, continuing the tremolo on the D.

3. Play broken chords in this manner over and over slowly to develop technique and steady rhythm. Set a metronome to keep tempo. Increase the tempo only when your playing is smooth, relaxed and perfectly even.

4. Apply tremolo to scales by playing a continuous tremolo note between each of the notes of the scale. Start very slowly and use a metronome as you did for the broken chords.

5. Use simple arpeggios without tremolo as a skill-building exercise to support the development of your tremolo technique. Place sequences of rapid arpeggios on different chords.

6. Try the tremolo pattern using staccato rather than legato playing. This sounds counterintuitive, but the staccato can help you develop accuracy that will enhance your tremolo when you return to fluid, relaxed legato playing.