Alzapua

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Alzapua

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koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

Alzapua

Sorry! Her again with a burning question!

When I do alzapua, it gets steady when I do it for say 10 seconds.
But it's the first strokes that come out stumbling. I can't get into it right away.
Especcially the kind that start on the halfbeat with a golpe (like in fergusito's alzapua tango post).

Is it the position of the hand or thumb, or what?

Or do I just keep on practising

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 6 2005 21:04:47

Guest

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 7 2005 18:41:57

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: Alzapua (in reply to Guest)

Thank you for your reply nealf.
I'll keep it in mind.
Can you tell me the title of herrero's dvd?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 7 2005 19:55:39

Ricardo

Posts: 14892
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Alzapua (in reply to koella)

The secret is in getting the rhythmic phrase. Nunez has the perfect excercise for what you need. It is in the pulgar section of his DVD, a tangos alzapua where he does just the tricky rhythmic phrase over and over, changing the melody note.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 10 2005 0:23:34

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 11 2005 17:26:40

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: Alzapua (in reply to koella)

Thank you Ricardo. For the second time!
What's the title of the nunez dvd , or is there just one?
You're advice is very precious to me.

Nealf: I already ordered the herrero dvd.
On the nunez dvd: understanding Spanish shouldn't be the problem.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 11 2005 22:15:35

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 12 2005 15:25:44

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: Alzapua (in reply to koella)

Thank you nealf.
You're right. It's the details that matter. When I have the dvd I will Have it translated properly by a friend who is spanish. Although he doesn't know anything about flamenco.

It's a good advice!
( I should write all these advices down before the're removed from the forum!!

)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 12 2005 19:45:55

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Alzapua (in reply to koella)

quote:

ORIGINAL: koella
It's a good advice!
( I should write all these advices down before the're removed from the forum!! )

Here's two more then

Firstly there are two approaches to alzapua with just the pulgar (ignoring the Sabicas P-I tech for now). One method uses a rotation of the forearm (the way most players seem to do it) however, there is another way where you keep the forearm still and drive it all from the base of the thumb. This works much better for me - check out Vicente Amigo and Sabicas for the same approach. The Graf Martinez DVD also demonstrates this approach clearly with some cool alzapua licks to play with.

Try also practicing alzapua very, very lightly to start off. If you start by trying to get the same volume and attack, not to mention speed, as the players you hear on record, your wrist will tense up really quickly. If you back off and try and play it almost silently (and slowly) you can practice it for longer whilst you concentrate on trying to get the angle of the thumb right and locking into that rhythm. When you get the motion right and it starts to work, you just dig in and you're away.

_____________________________

Spanish Guitarist in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 13 2005 8:13:10

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: Alzapua (in reply to koella)

Thank you Jon!
I will excersise the thumb-base method.
I have the martinez book but not the dvd(yet

)

I practised with very much force and very loud. and my wrist got tired after 5 minutes or so. Not to mention the condition of my thumbnail. So It's a good thing that I can do it more silent and with less force.

You're advice, like of all the others, is so obvious but very effective.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 14 2005 20:09:44