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Morgan

Posts: 6
Joined: Feb. 22 2006

New to flamenco

Hi,

I've been playing guitar for 8 months now and my curiousity has lead me to learning flamenco. I really don't know much about it. I've read about it's history and heard one or two songs but know nothing other than that.

So I guess I'm asking the typical where to start. I know my basic chords, some barre chords, power chords, bends, slides, tremolo picking. I don't do fingerpicking, assuming flamenco is done using the fingers, I really don't know. I own a steel string acoustic and an Explorer. Do those guitars work well for learning flamenco?

Sorry about all the questions. I've done as much research as I can but am still lost.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2006 4:22:06

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Welcome Morgan. I think everyone would agree that if you can find a flamenco guitar teacher then that's the way to go. However, many of us have to teach ourselves. I had some classical guitar training which helped me a lot in the beginning (actually I'm still a flamenco beginner with only about 8 months of flamenco under my belt).

If you're going the self taught route then the most popular flamenco methods books here seem to be those by Gerhard Graf-Martines and Oscar Herrera, but there are others as well. Coming from a steel string background I think you will find flamenco challenging for both the left and right-hand.

Playing flamenco on a steel string while it could be done to a certain extent will cause some difficulties. There are numerous reasons for this i.e string spacing, action, steel will be very hard on your hands using flamenco techniques, etc. Do they work well for leaning flamenco? NO. Frankly, I would avoid it if you possibly can. Moreover, the sound is quite different from a flamenco guitar. Note, there is also a difference between a flamenco and classical guitar. If you cannot get a flamenco guitar at the current time then you could probably learn and practice the chords for the traditional keys for each form/palos ( they will, for the most part, be different than you have been playing as the voicings in flamenco are unique) and do some scale work (Spanish scale, related to the phrygian). If you can free-up a little money then the Yamaha 171 seems to be a popular "budget" entry level flamenco guitar. But there are several others as well.

The following links are some resources that you should check out, some of them you may have already seen or read.

Basics 1

Basics 2

General Info 1

General Info 2

Forms (Palos)

Glossary

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2006 10:28:48

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

quote:

I own a steel string acoustic and an Explorer. Do those guitars work well for learning flamenco?

No! You will quickly chew up your fingernails on steel strings. Look into purchasing a guitar made for flamenco. Ask questions.

Where do you live? Is there a flamenco guitar teacher near by?

Feel free to ask questions. I am sure you will get 10 different answers to the same question! Remember our advice is worth every penny you spent for it!

Take a look at my web site for some information on flamenco.

_____________________________

Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2006 15:55:37

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Yep, a real Flamenco guitar is definitely highly preferable to a steel string guitar. If you really can't get your hands on a proper Flamenco guitar, then a classical guitar is the next best thing. It won't sound "muy Flamenco" but it would do to practice your basic right hand techniques on. I have the Yamaha CG171SF that another member mentioned, and to be honest, it isn't all that great (as far as Flamenco guitars go). But for the price, it is an excellent guitar, and I can still hear the difference between my Yamaha and my classicals. The Yamaha is an ideal "First Flamenco Guitar". I have the Graf Martinez book, and several others, but the GM book has a DVD available and is good for beginners.

I wish you good luck!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2006 22:39:25

Morgan

Posts: 6
Joined: Feb. 22 2006

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Thank you for your replies! Those links you posted were helpful Gecko.

I guess I should've probably said more about my background. I live in Canada. There aren't any flamenco teachers near me. There are hardly any guitar teachers. I don't have any classical training at all.

I guess my goal is to learn flamenco techniques. As much as I can, and see what else I can apply them too. I can't really afford another guitar right now, I just bought an Explorer so I'm broke, and I might need a new amp soon..........

I might just take Gecko's suggestion and study chords, keys and scales. For the time being.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 3:47:05

Ricardo

Posts: 14828
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Hi. My advice is a little different. I think you need to make sure that flamenco is what you really want to learn. I mean, you downloaded a few tunes? You need to know something about what you are listening to by collecting some recordings. Go to flamenco-world and listen to guitarists, and cante. The attitude that you can study only the techniques of flamenco guitar, and not the complexities of the music style, and then some how apply them to your "own thing", is quite common. Even advanced players of other styles have this misconception.

I think that is the wrong idea. The music gave birth to those techniques for a reason. You won't be able to extract only the PROPER techniques and use them very effectively in some other music. More often the opposite happens. An attempt at playing the real music of flamenco, results in a personal technique style. See ToddK's video uploads for example.

Fortunately, many who take the route of extracting the technique just to scrap the surface, often end up becoming totally engrossed in the flamenco genre. So keep your ears and mind open, and start doing some real listening. It is an amazing adventure to explore a new genre of music, especially one with such a rich and varied history. Good luck!

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 5:42:25

duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Conrad lives in canada. Where do you live?
I think Toronto and Montreal has pretty ok flamenco scenes. Ask Conrad.

Hi. Im Henrik I live in sweden. Where in Canada do you live?

_____________________________

This is hard stuff!
Don't give up...
And don't make it a race.
Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.

RON

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 8:21:17

pablo requena

Posts: 18
Joined: Apr. 10 2006
From: From Malaga, Spain. Based in Sussex ,England.

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Hi Morgan

I would try to find a beguiners flamenco guitar.If you need any help with that, and you are anywhere near Sussex,England, have a look at my website.I might be able to find you something. www.spanishguitar.org.uk
Pablo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 8:45:10

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to pablo requena)

Pablo:

Did you get my last PM my old negra's neck angle issue? Had a couple of questions.

Sorry for the hijack Morgan!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 11:36:18

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Morgan:

Here is another thought, since you can't get a flamenco guitar right now. You may want to start to lean the palmas. I am told that leaning palmas will go a long way in helping you learn and understand the compas.

Just a thought. IIRC this site has a lot of info on the palmas and compas.

Chuck's Site

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 11:47:12

fevictor

Posts: 377
Joined: Nov. 22 2005
From: Quepos / Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

Morgan,

Definately let us know what part of Canada you are from. I'm from Vancouver and can give you some names and places. Otherwise go to www.flamenco.ca or www.penabuleria.com.

Vic

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 15:20:08

pablo requena

Posts: 18
Joined: Apr. 10 2006
From: From Malaga, Spain. Based in Sussex ,England.

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Gecko)

Hi Gecko,
I did get your message and I have replied already. If for any reason you
haven't got it let me know and I can send it again.
Pablo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2006 16:35:12

Morgan

Posts: 6
Joined: Feb. 22 2006

RE: New to flamenco (in reply to Morgan)

I live in Southern Ontario, about 30 minutes from Hamilton. Though I don't think I can afford a teacher right now.

I've read those websites and have been trying some of the stuff on them. Scales, chords and rasgueado *sounds cool with flanger on*, mostly on my Explorer. It's pretty fun playing around with these techniques!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 19 2006 0:37:37