Classical Guitar and Flamenco Guitar
Tirando and Apoyando are just two of the many techniques used in classical guitar and flamenco guitar styles of playing. Playing classical guitar and flamenco guitar incorporates a lot of different guitar-playing techniques, such as: arpeggio’s, alzapua, rasgueado’s and tremolo’s.
To be able to play using these techniques does make guitar music much more interesting and exciting, but to play them both perfectly needs a lot of time spent on practice.
Definitions
Tirando
Tirando is a classical guitar right-hand plucking technique, also called free stroke.
When you play tirando:
- Your plucking finger strikes the string and moves past it into open space, without coming to rest on the next string.
- This creates a lighter, more open tone compared to apoyando (rest stroke).
- It’s often used for arpeggios, fast melodic passages, and phrases that need smooth, flowing sound.
If you want, I can also explain the main differences between tirando and apoyando with examples of when to use each.
Apoyando
Apoyando is a classical guitar right-hand plucking technique, also called rest stroke.
When you play apoyando:
- Your plucking finger strikes the string and then comes to rest against the next string.
- This gives the note a fuller, more powerful tone and clearer emphasis than tirando (free stroke).
- It’s often used for bringing out melody lines, accented notes, or passages where you want more projection and weight.
Exploring Tirando and Apoyando Techniques
The two techniques have a lot in common but at the same time, there is a world of difference in sound. Both needed to be practiced slowly and with patience.
It is better to start with the tirando first and then move on to the apoyando. To practise, try many melodies playing with each of these different attacks. Listen as you play. Pay attention to the tonal qualities, the sound of the notes as you employ each of the techniques. You might also find that recording your practise and then playing it back for analysis will help you.
Notice the overall character of each sound and how it affects the performance and the emotion of the piece, as experienced by the listener.
You can see these techniques are both demonstrated throughout the performance of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”.
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
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