14.

Muted Rasgueado
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14.1. Staccato
Staccato is a musical term for a specific performance technique. It signifies a note or chord of
shortened duration, separated from the note or chord that may follow by a very brief silence. In
musical notation it is signalled by adding a dot under or above the note or chord. Unfortunately,
there is no equivalent symbol for this in TAB.

Playing staccato in combination with a one-stroke rasgueado technique will produce a different
sound and accompaniment. It is executed by striking a chord, then quickly releasing the fingers
from the fretboard, so they are not pressing on any frets, but continue to make contact with the
strings. Thus, creating a muted sound while playing the one-stroke rasgueado. This is why the
technique is called muted rasgueado. This method works best with barre chords. It can be also
used when there are open strings within the chord, but the open strings must be muted using the
little or ring finger of the left hand.

A very effective method for practicing this technique on a chord containing open strings is to hold
an E minor chord and try to mute it. Some people find it difficult to execute this with the little
finger while others have difficulty using the ring finger. The best approach is to try both methods
to determine which is the most comfortable for you. See the pictures below for the positions.

Picture 14.1.1. Em muted with ring finger Picture 14.1.2. Em muted with little finger
Exercise 14.1.1. E minor muted rasgueados
Using a metronome set to an easy speed, play one-stroke rasgueados using the E minor chord 10-
20 times. Hold both the A and D strings with the index finger and use either the ring or little finger
to mute the strings.

TAB 14.1.1. E minor muted rasgueados

Exercise 14.1.2. A major muted rasgueados

The same technique is used in the exercise below, but using the A major chord instead of the E
minor chord. To be able to mute this chord, only two fingers are used to hold three strings. The
index finger holds the E and A notes, and the middle finger holds the C# note. In flamenco, many
players use this fingering to play the A major chord because it leaves them two fingers free to play
accents and variations.

TAB 14.1.2. A major muted rasgueados

 14.2. Staccato with a Flick
Another way to add accents to conventional strumming is by “flicking” the surface of the guitar’s
body. This is done in a similar way as the rasgueado, although in this case the thumb does not
rest on the low E string, but is rather suspended in mid-air with the “flick” being done by the index
finger. During the flicking motion the index finger’s direction of movement is towards the wood
just above the strings, and finishing on the strings. The resulting percussive sound is a
combination of wood and strings. To develop a strong sound, it is important to start the
movement with the index finger from the base of the thumb (see picture 14.2.1).

Picture 14.2.1. Position of the index finger to start a flick

This technique is generally used for starting up songs or finishing them, but can be painful or
tiring to continuously use as a strumming technique throughout a whole song.

Picture 14.2.2. Location of the flick

Exercise 14.2.1. “Em”

This exercise is great for practicing the flick at the beginning of a song. The first four bars are
done with the technique, and staccato is used on the E minor chord. From the fifth bar onward,
the rumba technique is used. From bars 5-7, the chord is stated once at the beginning of each bar
and followed by muted strumming. From bar eight onward, the percussive rumba technique is
used.
 TAB 14.2.1. “Em”

Exercise 14.2.2. Rumba chord progression that ends with a flick

The next exercise is a chord progression of A minor, D minor, G major, and E major. The flick is
performed on the third stroke of the E major in the fifth bar. The song finishes on A minor with a
three-stroke rasgueado.

TAB 14.2.2. Rumba ending