1 Dec 2004 (7th)
Learning alzapua in the tangos form today - VERY difficult
One teacher describes it thus:
The way I explain alzapua to my students is as follows: The thumb plays a rest-stroke on one of the bass strings (lets say A-string), making sure the thumb ends up on the next string down (D-strings in this case) because its a rest-stroke. As this first step is done, the a-m-i fingers are gently placed on the high E-string. The next step is for the next note, where the thumb strokes downward hitting th erest of the strings. As this is done, the a-m-i fingers and the thumb pinch together (as if your hand is a sock-puppet and the puppets mouth is closed). This is all done with the snap of the wrist. The third step, which plays the third note of triplet alzapua is a less exaggerated "thumbs up" with the whole wrist snapping upwards. Try to make the a-m-i fingers get placed back on to the high E-string at this point, so when you start all over, the fingers are already at a ready position.
~Behzad
http://www.flamenco-teacher.com/archives.jsp?read=18701
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Almost all wrist, like the triplet. You do use a little thumb movement to make the motion smoother.Some advice. I realized a few months ago that I was practicing alzapua with the "wrist motion" in mind the wrong way. I was exagerating the wrist motion, which also overpowered the tecnique.
So, keep in mind that you use the wrist, but it only takes a small amount of rotation and power to do alzapua. keep the movements very short and controlled.
Because it is so easy to "over do it" with the wrist, I suggest that you practice it softly, even if it is not that audible. Practicing softly
will show you how so little movement and power is required. using more forceful movement is not necessarily a bad thing. But you want to focus on getting your moement very fluid, even, and fast.
Jason.