Recuerdos de la Alhambra - No Nail Classical Guitar

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Is tremolo possible without nails? Many believe it is not. However, here is Brandon Acker playing Tárrega's famous guitar piece "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" in what might be the first recording of this piece without nails and on gut strings.

Torres Homage guitar by Brian Itzkin
INSTAGRAM: itzkin_guitars

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[StevenWatsonMusic]

Thank you for making this video, Brandon, so that the rest of us no-nailers don't have to! This video will go a long way to putting the myth to bed. A very beautiful performance.

[RYwoodview]

I have been in an unresolvable conflict all my life because my instruments are piano and classical guitar. Nails click on piano keys but it was an article of faith that one can't play classical guitar without nails. (With another problem -- my nails are not strong once grown out.) Each piece I've watched you play without nails has taken me one step further from that misbegotten conviction of many years.
This video is the final confirmation. I CAN and WILL keep my nails short AND play both instruments happily. Not to mention stop being paranoid about breaking nails in normal life.
Thank you SO much, Brandon!!

[TLMuse]

Wow, this may become my favorite performance of "Recuerdos." The softer attack from not using nails makes the tremolo notes blend together in time more fluidly, which (as I understand it) was exactly the purpose of tremolo—to imitate the sustain of non-plucked instruments. I've never been a huge fan of the traditional tremolo sound; it sort of has a "barrage of notes" machine-gun effect to my ear, with the individual notes too differentiated. Here the tremolo is almost like a pad, which makes more sense to me compositionally. Bravo! —Tom

[ohoangthien]

I switched to no nails for 6 months. Every thing sounds bad at first but now even my tremolo sounds as good as when I still have nails. Thanks for inspiring me to do that.

[ThatGenericDude]

I never knew of a guitarist whose technique is supportable with nails. I have to say, nail or flesh, you are a maestro and virtuoso of the guitar and music. The embodiment of a true well-tempered musician, good sir.

[kudos]

im primarily an electric guitarist, but i write pieces for and play classical guitar. i like to think of no nail playing as the default and most organic sound of the instrument and nails as special effect. your recuerdos without nails is gorgeous and ethereal. long live the no nailers.

[moonasha]

the more I hear great players play without nails, the more I see what Sor was saying, about how it takes the soul out of the instrument. Beautiful

[rossthemusicandguitarteacher]

Of course its possible without nails! Nails are not what you pluck the strings with, they color the sound as the string leaves the finger. Lovely playing here, Bravo!!!

[knightjvsm]

i don't know why, but this version is more "intimate", remind me the feeling of nostalgia... Saudade(feeling of missing/longing someone or somewhere)... Beautiful performance Brandon!

[MaggieDelilah.Guitar]

Nailless tremolo is incredibly relaxing and more intimate. I don't like long nails myself, I prefer a soft and calm sound coming from my fingertips.
A beautiful performance by Recuerdos de la Alhambra ❤

[RobMacKillop]

Thanks, Brandon. So heartwarming to hear, and also to read so many supportive comments. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have been told that tremolo is impossible without nails. It’s not a piece or a technique I had/have any interest in, so it’s great to see you step up and debunk the myth! You’ve done we no-nail players a great service. The no-nail technique can live happily alongside its nail-playing cousin. No need for arguments. Both techniques deserve respect. Pujol would be happy!

[DrJohn-rlzg]

It's especially noticeable on your instruments with more courses, but simply watching the gracefulness of your right hand is beautiful in its own right.

[aleksienqvistguitar]

The myth has felt so bewildering since we know that Tarrega himself played without nails along with many other great guitarists.

Even though playing with nails is the canonized way to play I hope more teachers could guide people on how to play without nails, should they choose or have to so so. I recently followed a masterclass where a young guitarist who couldn’t have nails because of sports was encouraged to grow even some nail instead of being instructed on how they could get a better sound with no nails.

Beautiful performance and I hope that you will soon introduce us properly to your new guitar!

[dob]

Beautiful! Also around 1:55, your expressions made me almost think those are in fact someone else's hands playing the guitar and you are just reacting to their performance 😆

[classicalguitarjourney]

The myth is definitely debunked. Amazing to see how you always speak truth. Great performance 👌🏽

[fortissimoX]

Personally I prefer this sound than more aggressive nail sound.
Also, thank you for confirming that indeed tremolo can be played without nails.
Very nice performance! 👍

[betoferreiraportugues]

I just heard the other version where you play with nails and this one is way superior in my opinion.

[feimberg]

Brandon, thank you so much for this. I feel like this is the first time ever that this piece made sense to me as as a romantic music. The ethereal sound of this tremolo is so deep and emotional instead of the usual machine gun sound i heard literally all of my life. Recuerdos was always a very boring annoying piece for me until i found your performance. Now i am complety in love with it! Thank you so MUCH.

[MarceloVillarrealR]

Sounds more nostalgic, love the sound.... but I still like more your other interpretation with nails, somehow I feel it more powerful. That's just me though, you make any piece sound sublime, Maestro Brandon.

[kithg]

Just beautiful. I think nails are over-used in modern technique. This shows you can get a lovely warm tone this way. Thanks!