Thread: The Two-Handed Finger Snap

Tito demonstrated this type of snap at the IBDC, but I couldn't get close enough to really see. I've looked online and found some rough guides as to how to do it, but all I end up doing is scratching my L hand with the R index fingernail. Does anyone have a youtube video or good guide to help get my snap up to par? I would be forever grateful!!!

Lace your fingers with you right thumb on the top, left pinky on the bottom.
Now, extend your two first fingers straight out, touching the pads of the fingers on the right to those on the left.

Now slide the right hand down towards your body so that the top of your first right finger meets up with the first crease on your first left finger.

With the first right finger, brush the pad of your left finger firmly pressing down. (It takes a little repeating to get the pressure just right, and it works better if you don't have dry skin).

Hope this helps. I don't know of any online resources and maybe people do it differently, but this was how Yasmina Ramzy taught it to me.

I do it a little differently -- snapping the right forefinger tip off the left forefinger third segment. To do it I lay pinky/ring/middle finger of right hand over pinky/ring/middle finger of left hand and push down. Then I snap from left to right, toward the pushed away fingers. Do it right and it's very loud. I don't do it enough to get that loud sharp sound, but I can get a relatively reliable sound a few times in a row before my fingers start to ache!

Can't remember who taught me that -- learned it a long time ago.

That's exactly how I've been trying it, but I just can't seem to get that nice loud "crack"! It's getting better though...does the noise come from the right index finger hitting the right middle finger? Maybe I just need to keep at it, lol!

Originally Posted by Safiyah

That's exactly how I've been trying it, but I just can't seem to get that nice loud "crack"! It's getting better though...does the noise come from the right index finger hitting the right middle finger? Maybe I just need to keep at it, lol!

No, the noise comes from your right finger snapping off the pad of the left finger... I'm not sure why your nail is rubbing against you if you're doing it this way... are your nails very long?

I'd say to keep at it... try putting on some hand cream. It's easier to get a snap that way.

I was so excited when I finally figured the snap out. I learned it a little differently...

1. Make a "peace sign" with your right hand. (pointer and middle finger in a "V" with the thumb holding the pinky and ring finger down)

2. With the left hand spread out, align the top pad of the right pointer finger (still in "peace sign”) to the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger and the top pad of the right middle finger to the 3rd pad down of the left middle finger.

3. Wrap the left pinky and ring finger around the right middle finger and wrap the left thumb around the right pointer finger.

4. This hand positioning makes a hollow area inside the hands so the snap echoes.

5. Firmly and quickly slide the top pad of the right pointer over the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger to make the snap (make sure you snap over the whole pad of the left pointer finger. if you start in the middle of the left pointer pad, you won't make any sound)
~~~~~~~~~~With the top pad of the right pointer finger aligned with the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger, move the right pointer finger to the outside of the left pointer finger (towards yourself) and start the snap from there~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6. The right pointer finger should end up hitting the right middle finger and the side of the left middle finger (3rd pad down)

I know this sounds super-complicated, but play around with it and you will get your snap! To make it louder, I sometimes lick the top pad of my right pointer finger.

If you are left handed...switch all rights to lefts.

Have fun!

Originally Posted by crystalllized

I know this sounds super-complicated, but play around with it and you will get your snap! To make it louder, I sometimes lick the top pad of my right pointer finger.

If you are left handed...switch all rights to lefts.

Have fun!

Ahhhh ... this method is the one that works for me..g.:

By the way what is this finger snap used for? i have never heard of it.

Originally Posted by crystalllized

I was so excited when I finally figured the snap out. I learned it a little differently...

1. Make a "peace sign" with your right hand. (pointer and middle finger in a "V" with the thumb holding the pinky and ring finger down)

2. With the left hand spread out, align the top pad of the right pointer finger (still in "peace sign”) to the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger and the top pad of the right middle finger to the 3rd pad down of the left middle finger.

3. Wrap the left pinky and ring finger around the right middle finger and wrap the left thumb around the right pointer finger.

4. This hand positioning makes a hollow area inside the hands so the snap echoes.

5. Firmly and quickly slide the top pad of the right pointer over the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger to make the snap (make sure you snap over the whole pad of the left pointer finger. if you start in the middle of the left pointer pad, you won't make any sound)
~~~~~~~~~~With the top pad of the right pointer finger aligned with the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger, move the right pointer finger to the outside of the left pointer finger (towards yourself) and start the snap from there~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6. The right pointer finger should end up hitting the right middle finger and the side of the left middle finger (3rd pad down)

I know this sounds super-complicated, but play around with it and you will get your snap! To make it louder, I sometimes lick the top pad of my right pointer finger.

If you are left handed...switch all rights to lefts.

Have fun!

Hey! Your way snaps louder than my way!

I am glad you were able to follow my crazy directions:)

I am not totally sure what the snap "means", but I've mostly seen it when people are really into the music and decide to snap instead of clap.

My dance teacher would use it to get our attention or "snap" out a 5-6-7-8 before a combination/choreography started.

Vintage footage of Serena Wilson teaching finger-snaps on her TV show here:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB76_4rSDS8]YouTube - Serena's Bellydance TV Show 1975[/ame]

Sorry - couldn't work out how to embed! ETA - oh...the link DID IT ITSELF!

Hey Crystallized, that's great, I've been trying to do that for years and I just did 3 snaps in a row WOOOH! ..l;,

Look up Bekshan instead:

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=ouCc5cpNh7c]YouTube - how to do a Beshkan[/ame]

ajabanzabAn.com original How to Beshkan movie!

ugh..my forearms and fingers are cramping up from trying! I can do it, but the sound is so muted :(

I remember being told that creating the pocket between your palms is important to a loud snap because it creates a resonance chamber for the sound to amplify :)

Mine doesn't make a very loud sound, but I do it anyway. It's like the bellydancer's secred handshake.

I love the peace sign method, I'm producing a louder sound that way!

Originally Posted by Kalirah

I remember being told that creating the pocket between your palms is important to a loud snap because it creates a resonance chamber for the sound to amplify :)

thanks that did help.

Thanks to all! I'm starting to get it ..g.:

I think the reason I was scratching my finger was because I was curling the L pointer finger around rather than keeping it straight. I now have a snapping noise, not consistent and not loud enough for my taste but it's improving every time. The "peace sign" method works best for me.

Thanks folks - got taught this ages ago but forgot how to do it - seem to remember it was Persian in origin - but that could be total rubbish - anyon eknow better?

anybody have acrylic nails that can do this without injuring themselves, or sending a fingernail flying across the room???..l;,

LOL...my 2 year old is trying to do it. hahahaha. (I'm about has good as he is at the moment...hahahahah).

Oh hey!! I did it!! Yea, I like the peace sign method. That was great!! Now I'm better than my 2 year old!!

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

Oh hey!! I did it!! Yea, I like the peace sign method. That was great!! Now I'm better than my 2 year old!!

My seven year old daughter wants you all to know that she did it too.

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

My seven year old daughter wants you all to know that she did it too.

Miss Sierra will be showing up all of us very soon! ..l;,

Originally Posted by crystalllized

I was so excited when I finally figured the snap out. I learned it a little differently...

1. Make a "peace sign" with your right hand. (pointer and middle finger in a "V" with the thumb holding the pinky and ring finger down)

2. With the left hand spread out, align the top pad of the right pointer finger (still in "peace sign”) to the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger and the top pad of the right middle finger to the 3rd pad down of the left middle finger.

3. Wrap the left pinky and ring finger around the right middle finger and wrap the left thumb around the right pointer finger.

4. This hand positioning makes a hollow area inside the hands so the snap echoes.

5. Firmly and quickly slide the top pad of the right pointer over the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger to make the snap (make sure you snap over the whole pad of the left pointer finger. if you start in the middle of the left pointer pad, you won't make any sound)
~~~~~~~~~~With the top pad of the right pointer finger aligned with the 3rd pad down of the left pointer finger, move the right pointer finger to the outside of the left pointer finger (towards yourself) and start the snap from there~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6. The right pointer finger should end up hitting the right middle finger and the side of the left middle finger (3rd pad down)

I know this sounds super-complicated, but play around with it and you will get your snap! To make it louder, I sometimes lick the top pad of my right pointer finger.

If you are left handed...switch all rights to lefts.

Have fun!

You don't even want to know how many years I have been trying to do this....and your directions just made it happen....yay!!!!! thanks so much!