One Thumb is Worth 4 Fingers
The technical monster Gerardo Nunez lost his ability to fully use his index finger.
I have found out from a reliable source that it was caused by focal distonia - a debilitating neurological condition that attacka a small part of the anatomy and seizes up your affected limb (in this case your finger) when you need to use it. Anyhow, Gerardo is unable to use his index finger properly and he doesn't anymore play machine-gun picados, super fast arpeggios or tremolos. He keeps his index finger extended out and uses it very rarely for passages that do not involve complex string crossings.
I have found out from a reliable source that it was caused by focal distonia - a debilitating neurological condition that attacka a small part of the anatomy and seizes up your affected limb (in this case your finger) when you need to use it. Anyhow, Gerardo is unable to use his index finger properly and he doesn't anymore play machine-gun picados, super fast arpeggios or tremolos. He keeps his index finger extended out and uses it very rarely for passages that do not involve complex string crossings.
I bought his album Travesia and his music doesn't seem to have suffered from this nightmarish injury. How come? I can give you two reasons for this:
1 - It's the beauty of the compositions that make Gerardo Nunez one of the best flamenco artists of our time. He is able to create the same magic with the still functioning tendons and muscles of his hands
2- Most of flamenco guitar playing is accomplished with the thumb (pulgar) and Gerardo is extremely good at that.
We all know that flamenco music has a very distinct Arabic influence. I can't help but wonder whether the flamenco guitar technique grew out of the popular Arabic instrument OUD. If you watch an oud player you can immediately see the possible ancestor of the flamenco thumb.
1 - It's the beauty of the compositions that make Gerardo Nunez one of the best flamenco artists of our time. He is able to create the same magic with the still functioning tendons and muscles of his hands
2- Most of flamenco guitar playing is accomplished with the thumb (pulgar) and Gerardo is extremely good at that.
We all know that flamenco music has a very distinct Arabic influence. I can't help but wonder whether the flamenco guitar technique grew out of the popular Arabic instrument OUD. If you watch an oud player you can immediately see the possible ancestor of the flamenco thumb.
The way they use the pick by swinging the wrist is almost exactly the same as the flamenco pulgar technique that we use today. Possibly, flamenco guitar was played only with the pulgar at the beginning. I don't really know if this was the case but I do know that over 50% of modern flamenco playing involves the pulgar. There is the special pulgar technique and then there is alzapua which uses the same mechanism.
The flamenco pulgar uses a different position and mechanism than the free stroke position.
And you need to master it properly before attempting falsetas that involve the flamenco pulgar.
So, what is the flamenco pulgar? With the help of the flamenco player and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Stefan Isopescu, I have come up with the following explanation:
There are two ways you can use the pulgar (thumb).
The first is when the movement originates from the main joint where your thumb is attached to your hand also known as the "trapezio-metacarpal joint." With this technique, you play passages that incorporate both the thumb and the fingers together, such as arpeggios, tremolo, or any other bits that have active and interwoven bass and treble sequences. This is the FREE STROKE position. The wrist stays as steady as possible while the thumb and the fingers move somewhat independently from each other.
The other pulgar technique - THE FLAMENCO PULGAR - is the one where the movement comes from the wrist. Actually, to be precise, the movement originates from "proximal radio-ulnar joint" at the elbow. Your forearm twists a bit to give your whole hand/wrist a radial movement. You keep your thumb as straight and steady as possible and pound on the strings by slightly rotating your wrist.
It generates that loud, buzzy flamenco sound. For students trying to familiarize themselves with the flamenco pulgar, I suggest practising short scales by tucking the index finger underneath your thumb as if holding a pick. This will lock your thumb in position and ensure the movement and the main force come from the wrist. Once you've gotten accustomed to the basic movement, you don't have to squeeze your thumb and index finger together; do this if you are completely unfamiliar with the technique.
Watch the following video for a visual explanation:
The flamenco pulgar uses a different position and mechanism than the free stroke position.
And you need to master it properly before attempting falsetas that involve the flamenco pulgar.
So, what is the flamenco pulgar? With the help of the flamenco player and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Stefan Isopescu, I have come up with the following explanation:
There are two ways you can use the pulgar (thumb).
The first is when the movement originates from the main joint where your thumb is attached to your hand also known as the "trapezio-metacarpal joint." With this technique, you play passages that incorporate both the thumb and the fingers together, such as arpeggios, tremolo, or any other bits that have active and interwoven bass and treble sequences. This is the FREE STROKE position. The wrist stays as steady as possible while the thumb and the fingers move somewhat independently from each other.
The other pulgar technique - THE FLAMENCO PULGAR - is the one where the movement comes from the wrist. Actually, to be precise, the movement originates from "proximal radio-ulnar joint" at the elbow. Your forearm twists a bit to give your whole hand/wrist a radial movement. You keep your thumb as straight and steady as possible and pound on the strings by slightly rotating your wrist.
It generates that loud, buzzy flamenco sound. For students trying to familiarize themselves with the flamenco pulgar, I suggest practising short scales by tucking the index finger underneath your thumb as if holding a pick. This will lock your thumb in position and ensure the movement and the main force come from the wrist. Once you've gotten accustomed to the basic movement, you don't have to squeeze your thumb and index finger together; do this if you are completely unfamiliar with the technique.
Watch the following video for a visual explanation:
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