Ligado

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Ligado

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JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

Ligado

I have to admit that my ligado isn't great... it sounds quite weak and quiet, and its tricky to do it fast aswell.

I was familiar with ligado (or should I say "legato") from my electric guitar days. I found it slightly easier on an electric guitar because of the amplification... even if your legato is weak, the pickups and amp amplify the sound, and make it less noticeable that your technique isn't perfect.

But to be honest, even on the electric guitar my legato needed much improving, compared to the pros.

I would like to know if anyone can advise me on how to improve my ligado. perhaps through technical advice, and maybe some short exercises to do.

I couldn't find any ligado exercises in my GM vol.1 tuition book. But I did find one or 2 in the Juan Serrano book. They were quite boring, chromatic ones, and with no instructions to accompany the exercises.

The sound I'm after is the "old school" ligado that is strong, yet fast and fluid. By guys like Sabicas (and also PDL and Serranito on the older albums).

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2006 16:21:46

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I could be wrong, but im gonna assume, that you mean
consecutive pulloffs and hammer on scales, etc...

Doing it on electric, and on nylon, are 2 entirely different techniques
almost.

You can totally get away with alot more on electric.

For nylon string, the fingers have to be more curled, so you
use the tips of the fingers.

Work your hammers and pull offs meticulously with the metronome.
Very slow, and very clear. Really examine the way your pulloff from
the string. It actually doesnt take much force, but it takes time to find
the right angle.
I think if you really focus on it, you can get it down.
I really think this type of exercise can help your playing all around.
Being able to do strong clear hammers and pulls will obviously
make everything you play sound stronger.

I used to throw this at my students. Somebody would tell me,
"i want to play this scale run faster, but my right hand is slowing me down.
If i could only get my right hand as fast and accurate as my left, i'd
be rolling!"
Then i would ask them, to do the run using only hammers and pulloffs.
99 percent of the time, they are unable to make it happen, and they
suddenly realize, there's more to it, and they're not where they thought
they were.
Some get discouraged. Others lock themselves in a room for a year,
and come back blazing. It really just comes down to motivation.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2006 17:14:41

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN)

J,
I've learned half the stuff I know about practicing from Todd, so all I can really do is reinforce what he said. I practice my slurs (ligado) every day, 2nd thing (after some light rasgueados to warm up).

As Todd said, it is all about focus. When you practice, do you find your mind wandering? Do you get distracted by outside sounds, etc? Are you zooming ahead to thinkinga bout playing like Paco? These are some things that get in my way when I practice. If you really get detail-oriented and notice every little thing, you will progress very quickly.

There's a quote...a friend sent it to me:

>>>>With what attentive courtesy he bent
>>>>Over his instrument;
>>>>Not as a lordly conqueror who could
>>>>Command both wire and wood,
>>>>But as a man with a loved woman might,
>>>>Inquiring with delight
>>>>What slight essential things she had to say
>>>>Before they started, he and she, to play. ___Francis CornfordMore art
>>>>that hides Art

this is how you should pay attention to your guitar.

_____________________________

Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it.
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Arizona Wedding Music Guitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2006 21:25:51

edgar884

Posts: 1975
Joined: Nov. 16 2005

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN) 1 votes

Try this one it works wonders for your playing.

http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=31743&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

_____________________________

May we find God through Flamenco instead of Angels and Demons

www.gabrieledgar.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2006 23:51:00

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Something that young children possess, that seems to
go away somewhat as we get older.

And that is, the ability to enjoy, and get completly lost in
"the process", with zero thought of the result.

The main reason people dont want to sit there and play
"boriing" exercises with a metronome, is because they're not
nearly as hot on the process as they are on the results.
And that is not so good. The results are only an illusion.
The process is endless.

TK

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2006 0:25:38

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Ligado (in reply to ToddK)

quote:

When you practice, do you find your mind wandering? Do you get distracted by outside sounds, etc? Are you zooming ahead to thinkinga bout playing like Paco?

You and Todd are right... I do have this problem. In fact, I like "playing the guitar" much more than practising. I see playing the guitar as fun, whereas practising is a chore, so even when I practise, half the time I end up just playing old falsettas I know. I suppose this cannot be good for progress.

I also try and avoid those monotonous repetition exercises involving metronomes. But I can see that I'm going to have to use them regularly if I'm going to improve my technique, whilst also paying careful attention what I am doing. Perhaps its time to switch the television of whilst practising, from now on!

Thanks to all of you for your help and advice!

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2006 10:03:14

edgar884

Posts: 1975
Joined: Nov. 16 2005

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN) 1 votes

Todd is right, you have to practice with a metranome and do lots of scale exercises ect.

Todd you are a very accomplished player, some good advice there.

_____________________________

May we find God through Flamenco instead of Angels and Demons

www.gabrieledgar.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2006 13:53:46

Ricardo

Posts: 14884
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Todd is right. The process has to be fun or it ain't gonna happen. People get in shape because they think exercise is more fun than watching TV.

You don't have to think of mindless non musical exercises. Just take a passage of music, a passage of ligado, and "loop it" in rhythm. That is how I work through stuff nowadays. I never did an exercise that was not a part of a real piece of music. Look at some Taranta ligados were you hold a finger down. It is ultimately "free", but take a section and do it in rhythm, over and over. Like this:

E-------------------------------------------
B------------0-2-0--------------------------
G---0-2-4----------4-2-0----------0-2-4-etc
D-4--------------------------4-3-4-----------
A-----------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------

You are supposed to hold down that ring finger on the 4th fret.
Play it 2 or 4 notes per click, and keep it going in rhythm. Just keep going faster (increase the metronome speed) until you start not hearing the notes come out clear or you lose the rhythm. That is your limit. Increase it gradually from there.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2006 15:11:12

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Ligado (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

The process has to be fun or it ain't gonna happen. People get in shape because they think exercise is more fun than watching TV.

Interesting analogy...

I'm the type of person that pays the expensive monthly gym subscription, but never quite makes it down to the gym.

That said, the restaurant there does serve an excellent steak and french fries, so occasionally I make it down there, if only for lunch!

I think practising the guitar and working out are very similar in my mind...

Always dreaming of being PDL/Brad Pitt and never having the mental discipline to see it through.

Still, I'm only cheating myself...

Jb

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2006 18:23:16

koella

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

RE: Ligado (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I must say I would never go to any fitness centre.

But I can hardly imagine anything that's more fun then working on guitar technique and enjoy those little babysteps forward. Though I also know I will never come close to any pro flamenco player.

Btw. I practise pull off ligado by letting the finger fall on the string beneath.
It seems to be the classical way. That way it's as loud as a picado stroke.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2006 20:18:11

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Ligado (in reply to koella)

quote:

I must say I would never go to any fitness centre.

But I can hardly imagine anything that's more fun then working on guitar technique and enjoy those little babysteps forward.

Yes, you are right, Koella... I do enjoy practising the guitar, otherwise I wouldn't bother at all. But I enjoy it most when I make good progress. I just meant to say that practising the guitar can be mentally exhausting in a similar way to how working out at the gym is physically tiring.

Cheers,

Jb

PS: thanks for your help with the recording software... I'll contact you again once I've got hold of a microphone!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 23 2006 13:05:03