Tremolos

Music Lesson: Exploring Tremolos

Right. So in this lesson, we're just gonna look at some tremolos. They can be used so effectively, really dramatically.

Introduction to Tremolos

That was just one little idea that I showed you. A tremolo, you know, talking, that kind of thing. Very useful.

Technique

So, technique-wise, it's all about that sort of wrist movement working, spinning round. Often, you can use a note to anchor around.

• Anchor around the note like that.
• In that case, it's more of a rocking motion between those notes.

There we go! Kind of use it in that context.

Practical Application

So, you know, using the tremolo on the basic chords or using that diminished seventh chord. There is a thing I did in the little demonstration at the start of this lesson, which I performed on an arrangement of Memphis Slim's "Mother Earth," which I actually did for the whole band, including the horn section.

• Yeah, kind of this big dramatic build-up with the piano doing tremolos underneath.

• Something with the chords going like this:

  • C (tense in the left hand)
  • A minor
  • A sharp or B flat diminished seventh

So, that whole augmented chord there leads up to the chord 4 to the minor to the 1 over 5.

Example

Another sort of instance could be "Stormy Monday." The idea is to go from the loudest possible noise/volume to something very quiet.

• It's great doing that with the whole horn section behind you doing the same kind of thing.
• And the drums, yeah, the drums suddenly coming down to nothing.

Conclusion

So, yeah, tremolo can be very effective, very dramatic. You can do them with just two notes, three notes, or even larger chords.

• This allows you to create lots of layers and build up excitement gradually.

So, definitely get involved with those tremolos! Use them in all sorts of situations.