{"id":1267,"date":"2014-10-17T16:27:47","date_gmt":"2014-10-17T23:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/classicalguitarshed.foureyes.com\/?p=1267"},"modified":"2024-02-28T11:04:13","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T19:04:13","slug":"rasgueado-technique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/rasgueado-technique\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Flamenco Guitar Technique:  How to Play Rasgueado Strumming Patterns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Spanish flamenco strumming (rasgueado) is firey and passionate. It captures attention and draws people in.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s great fun as well.<\/p>\n<p>If you love Spanish classical guitar sounds and want to add these strumming techniques to your <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/a\/technique-concepts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">toolkit<\/a>, you\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YL-5EhkZVck?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;autohide=1\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">What is a Rasgueado?<\/h2>\n<p>The word \u201c<em>rasgueado<\/em>\u201d traslates from Spanish as \u201cstrumming.\u201d But this is not the <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/a\/strumming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">folk-style strumming<\/a> we imagine in the Anglo-sphere. They think of strumming differently.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/spanish-guitar-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Spanish guitarist<\/a> will strum using the fingers of the right hand, not a pick or plectrum.<\/p>\n<p>And to strum the strings, this player will use both <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/classical-guitar-nails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the nail<\/a> (outstroke) and the flesh (instroke) of the finger.<\/p>\n<p>Fingers can be used in quick succession to create percussive and loud strums.<\/p>\n<p>For example, one common strum is made of four notes:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A (ring) &#8211; out (nail)<\/li>\n<li>M (middle) &#8211; out<\/li>\n<li>I (index) &#8211; out<\/li>\n<li>I (index) in (flesh)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This pattern can be used as an <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/accents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">accent<\/a> at the end of a phrase. Or we can play it repeatedly as an accompaniment to a singer, dancer, or other instrument.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Popular Spanish Strumming Patterns<\/h2>\n<p>In the video above, you\u2019ll see four of the most common rasgueado patterns. And you\u2019ll also find ways to practice these.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>AMII (4:06)<\/li>\n<li>CAMII (6:34)<\/li>\n<li>AMIAMI (7:13)<\/li>\n<li>PMP (9:03)<\/li>\n<li>Practicing using accents (10:17) Click here for more on using accents.<\/li>\n<li>Review (12:16)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Common Mistakes in Spanish Guitar Music<\/h2>\n<p>As we add these patterns to our repertoire, we face some predictable dangers. If we can stay aware of these and avoid them, everything will sound better.<\/p>\n<h3>Mistake #1: Irregular rhythm<\/h3>\n<p>We don\u2019t often play with the backs of our <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/classical-guitar-nails\/\">nails on guitar<\/a>. So we can easily misplay the rhythm.<\/p>\n<p>For these strums to sound correct and effective, the <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/develop-rhythm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rhythm needs to be accurate and precise<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Slow practice with a metronome can help. As can <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/classical-guitar-speed-bursts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">speed bursts<\/a>\u00a0and accents. (Accents are mentioned in the video.)<\/p>\n<h3>Mistake #2: Uneven volume<\/h3>\n<p>Like the rhythm, we can also listen to the consistency of the volume.<\/p>\n<p>Each stroke should ideally be the same <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/dynamics-phrasing-classical-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">volume<\/a> and intensity. This will create a more \u201cSpanish\u201d effect and will communicate the Spanish vibe more convincingly.<\/p>\n<h3>Mistake #3: Restricting rasgueados to pieces<\/h3>\n<p>Rasgueados are a dynamite exercise. We can use these to strengthen and tone both hands.<\/p>\n<p>(While we don\u2019t use left-hand rasgueados on the guitar, they work well as an exercise.)<\/p>\n<p>We can even use these movements away from the guitar, on a leg, steering wheel, or arm of a chair.<\/p>\n<p>The outstroke movement builds the extensor muscles and coordinates the hand. This leads to more general control, independence, stamina, and speed.<\/p>\n<p>Pound for pound, few other <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-finger-exercises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hand exercises<\/a> bring as much general benefit as rasgueados.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">General Tips for Rasgueado Guitar Technique<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>When practicing and playing rasgueados, pay close attention to the way that your fingers extend. \u00a0One finger may try to \u201cfollow\u201d another finger out. \u00a0This means we pull that finger back before extending it through the strings, which slows us down.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/slow-practice-classical-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Go slowly<\/a>\u00a0and master the motions one at a time.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a steady rhythm at all times. \u00a0Using a metronome is a great idea with this and most all technique practice.<\/li>\n<li>Remember, you don\u2019t have to strike through every string. \u00a0When your fingers extend, they create an arc. \u00a0They may strike two, three, four, or more strings. \u00a0If you want to strike more strings, simply move your hand closer to the strings, and you will. \u00a0If you try to strum through all the strings with each finger, it will be difficult to build speed and proper rasgueado technique.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Guitar Technique Takes Time<\/h2>\n<p>Add this to your <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-practice-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">daily practice<\/a> and you will see results. And like many worthwhile things in life, it may take time to see the results.<\/p>\n<p>Results are sure to come, however. Practice is more enjoyable when embracing the small victories of the day. <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/one-percent-improvements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Incremental improvement<\/a> is how this game works.<\/p>\n<p>In a few months, your hands will have developed and advanced in startling ways. This cannot be rushed, but it will happen.<\/p>\n<p>Would you like to build a foundation of classical guitar technique that will allow you play any music you like?\u00a0 \u00a0Consider <i><a href=\"https:\/\/ClassicalGuitarShed.com\/membership\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Woodshed\u00ae Classical Guitar Program<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/i>It&#8217;s organized and progressive for steady momentum.\u00a0 Members enjoy meaningful practice and constant progress, step by step, one day at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spanish flamenco strumming (rasgueado) is firey and passionate. It captures attention and draws people in. And it\u2019s great fun as well. If you love Spanish classical guitar sounds and want to add these strumming techniques to your toolkit, you\u2019re in the right place. What is a Rasgueado? The word \u201crasgueado\u201d traslates from Spanish as \u201cstrumming.\u201d But this is not the &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/rasgueado-technique\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,434],"tags":[345,359,377,147,46],"class_list":["post-1267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technique","category-main-content-parent","tag-exercises","tag-right-hand-technique","tag-special-techniques","tag-strength","tag-strumming"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rasgueado Technique: A Spanish Guitar Strumming Tutorial<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the most common Spanish strumming patterns. 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