4 stroke rasgueado - i e a m

 

The video shows:

A single i e a m 4 stroke rasgueado.

Multiple i e a m 4 stroke rasgueados played in a continuous sequence.

 

Single

The "start" position shown above applies only to a single rasgueado. This is actually the same picture as the "m" position. This is where you end up after a single sequence, basically ready for the next "i" downstroke if you going to continue playing another 4 stroke sequence. As the "i" finger strikes downwards, the other three fingers (e a m) are brought up at the same time to get the "e" finger (pinky) ready to play the next stroke.

 

Continuous

In a continuous sequence, once the "i" finger has played it's stroke you can forget about the "start" position and just play "i e a m i e a m" continuously.

 

Index finger golpe

Apart from being the strongest finger and giving good accents on the first stroke of this type of rasgueado, the index finger downbeat can be combined with a golpe if necessary. The Soleá demos show how this is used to accent beats 3 and 6 of the 12 beat compás.