Playing: Basic Playing Techniques

For those of you knew to the playing of castanets, here will follow a very short introduction to the basic techniques used :

(Keep in mind that these instructions are for those who hold the castanets with the hembra/alto in the right hand, and the macho/tenor in the left. I myself am left handed and therefore I have to reverse these instructions.)

1. Single stroke/golpe with the left hand – TA: The most basic stroke, used to keep the basic rhythm and pulse.
2. Single stroke/golpe with the right hand – PI: used mainly for accents
3. Roll/carretilla – RIA. Usually performed with the dominant hand, and is performed with all four fingers hitting the castanet rapidly in succession. It is important that the strokes are not slurred but each stroke of the fingers clearty articulated. A complete roll if then finished of with a single TA (RIA can be broken down as RI + (T)A = RIA). Some pieces might require a roll performed by the other hand, which is then finished of with a golpe of the dominant hand, and that is notated with RAI, RIA in reverse.
4. Simultaneous single stroke – TAN: Performed by both hand making a single stroke at the same time.
5. ‘Clack’/posticeo – TIN: a very distinct, almost gulping sound produced by hitting the the open pairs against each other and letting each pair close. Think of it as performing a TAN but using the castanets instead of the fingers.

How to perform the singles strokes is up to the individual perfomer. I myself tend to use the middle finger when playing softer strokes, and combined middle and ring finger for louder notes. It is important, however, that every stroke should be as close to the middle as possible for the best sound.

If you’ll watch the following video you will see members of TOCS explaining and performing the various strokes (in Catalan with Castilian subtitles, but you don’t have to speak Spanish if you read the above to understand the gist of it).