When Practicing

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When Practicing

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Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

When Practicing

Hi All,

I would just like a little advise on practicing.

When practicing I start off with TECHNIQUE i.e. picado, apreggio, ras. and currently started learning alzapua.

Okay, so, my question is I am almost done learning a short and sweet palos from Jose's site..

It is Solea por Buleria..

My question is while I am still tightening up Solea por Buleria, is it okay to start learning anothe palos?

He has this KILLER beginner Buleria that helps soniquette.

Also, I've added in my practicing time learning palmas...

I started learning palmas to solea por buleria...

Thanks,

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 5 2012 22:13:50

That_Guy

Posts: 48
Joined: May 31 2012
From: Abingdon, VA

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

I think it's good to play different songs. While it may take you longer to perfect the Solea por Buleria, your at least playing something else. My skills diminish in every other piece I know when I stay with one piece too long.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 5 2012 22:18:58

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

Kalo,

I think it is a good idea to learn new pieces while still trying to master the older ones you are working on. For one thing, it keeps you from getting bored by practicing one alone over and over. For another, you can work on one piece forever and still find new flourishes to make it more elegant.

I have the good fortune to have a great teacher here in the Washington, DC area, and he has helped me learn various palos and pieces, starting with simple falsetas and gradually adding more complicated flourishes that really add elegance to the pieces. We review older ones while beginning newer ones. For my next challenge, we are going to work on a Zambra, using one by Sabicas as the template.

Cheers,

Bill

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With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 5 2012 23:03:59

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

Thanks for your response That_Guy & BarkellWH!

Agree with both of what you say, I don't want to burn out with playing the same Palos over and over.

I have the compas down on Solea Por Buleria...

I do however, need to tighten up on the falsetta, but, still I learnt all of it..

What I'll do is learn a BASIC, but, cool buleria that is on Jose's sight...

I know this has nothing to do with with my post, but, I am wondering how many flamenco guitarist here on this forum also practice palmas?

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 5 2012 23:21:56

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

While some might say that they practice palmas, that aint something thats going to help you unless you want to play palmas.

You want to play the guitar and have a better "sense" of each palo's rhythm but you should remember that ANY instrument is rhythmic so you should practice those rhythms on the instrument you play. No need to play notes, just mute the strings and play rhythms, accents etc etc.

Think of progressive metal for instance, you'll have to be very confortable with lots of odd time signatures changing all over the place.. eventually you'll get to know a lot about drumming without even playing the drums.

Short answer, forget about palmas, cajon, maracas and practice on the guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 0:09:16

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

While some might say that they practice palmas, that aint something thats going to help you unless you want to play palmas.

You want to play the guitar and have a better "sense" of each palo's rhythm but you should remember that ANY instrument is rhythmic so you should practice those rhythms on the instrument you play. No need to play notes, just mute the strings and play rhythms, accents etc etc.

Think of progressive metal for instance, you'll have to be very confortable with lots of odd time signatures changing all over the place.. eventually you'll get to know a lot about drumming without even playing the drums.

Short answer, forget about palmas, cajon, maracas and practice on the guitar.

Hi Rui Martins,

Thanks for the reply, I understand the term "tapado" for practicing on guitar and one can practice to that....

However, but, I am just curious why MOST guitarist know how to do palmas?

I remember when I was first starting out...A local flamenco guitarist who was VERY much accomplished said to me: You should put down the guitar and learn palmas before even playing flamenco.

He knew it and on a daily basis practices it with his wife who is also a flamenco dancer...

Thanks,

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 0:41:38

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

My question is while I am still tightening up Solea por Buleria, is it okay to start learning anothe palos?

absolutely yes ! at least thats what I do

btw I am glad you're enjoying Jose's site .. it wasn't disappointing, si ?

good luck

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 3:54:03

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

absolutely yes ! at least thats what I do
btw I am glad you're enjoying Jose's site .. it wasn't disappointing, si ?
good luck

Hi Elie,

Thanks for the advise! And, Jose's sight is AWESOME!!! His online lessons are well worth EVERY penny.

I can't believe how he breaks down EVERY lesson"step by step" SLOW!!! He explains EVERYTHING in detail. His tabs (if needed) are so easy to read as well.

I just gone done learning Solea Por Buleria Moderno 1

I absolutely LOVE his Buleria lessons...EVERYTHING ROCKS!!! Even the beginners part and how he explains how to count 12's, 3's and 2's...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 5:06:05

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

its fine...

its a good idea to focus on the same palo in one day and not jump between palos...but on a different day u can work on whatever you want...actually i don't even know if its good or not but its the way i do it....takes a few hours to fully get into the groove of the palo...i try to stick to one feel per day...or however much i require......its no good practicing something just cause u need to but would really rather be practicing something else

most important is that you wanna be doing what you doing and are fully committed to it, sometimes you don't have the choice for a gig or something...but if you do its great...

i find it very hard to practice things i don't like or am not in the mood for only cause dancers wanna dance them....for example atm tientos and tangos..i am so over them...probably cause i need to update my falsetas so i enjoy it again...but every gig...tangos ...tangos ...tangos...i am so bored of it...and tientos is so boring and seems so slow without a singer...i hate doing it...might as well do farruca but at least i feel like i have alot more melodic choice

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 5:35:03

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

its a good idea to focus on the same palo in one day and not jump between palos...but on a different day u can work on whatever you want...actually i don't even know if its good or not but its the way i do it....takes a few hours to fully get into the groove of the palo...i try to stick to one feel per day...or however much i require......its no good practicing something just cause u need to but would really rather be practicing something else

Hi Florian,

Well, I might just stay on the solea por buleria before I move to learning something different.

I can become OBESSED with something if I don't have it down the way I like. Though , that may not be a good thing either....I don't want to burn out either on the same palo.

Maybe, I can play the solea por buleria as a practice review and incorporate something new to work on. The new stuff would be nothing to hard either.

Thanks,

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 6:19:54

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

I can become OBESSED with something if I don't have it down the way I like

that's a great flaw to have for any guitarist or musician

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 7:37:35

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

That depends on what is your purpose. To play any flamenco instrument you have to know the rhythms, the accents.. but that happens in any genre, even with 4/4 time signatures.

You can count with palmas, snaping fingers, taping on the leg, with a metronome.. that doesnt matter. The thing is that in flamenco the hand clapping is used as an instrument, not just a way to count rhythm. What I mean is that what you need is to count properly in whatever instrument/style you play.

Saying that you need to learn palmas is the same as saying that you should learn to play drums if you cant play 7/8 on the guitar... it is pointless to change instrument, you have to internalize the rhythm anyway :p

OTOH, if by playing palmas you meant "just taping the rhythms/accents", that is advisable, not necessarily with palmas, you can even use your foot.

Remember that it doesnt matter if you clap hands, tap foot, play drums if you dont know what to do or what you are doing.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 12:03:12

Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

Short answer, forget about palmas, cajon, maracas and practice on the guitar.

Sorry dude but the BEST metal guitarists play drums too. Paul Gilbert, Nuno Bettencout to name two with exceptional speed and timing and groove. It really helps. Every flamenco maestro guitarist plays palmas, and even do some bad singing.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 16:31:06

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Ricardo)

But as I said, that happens as a consequence. They didnt say one day "oh, my sweep picking on odd time meters sucks.. I have to start playing drums to correct this".

If you get good at rhythm on a stringed instrument, you'll do good on percussion too because once you are familiar with grooves and all that stuff, the mental process is there for whatever instrument. Of course, that doesnt mean that the physical side will be there rightaway if its an instrument you've never played before.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 17:54:50

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

Sorry dude but the BEST metal guitarists play drums too. Paul Gilbert, Nuno Bettencout to name two with exceptional speed and timing and groove. It really helps. Every flamenco maestro guitarist plays palmas, and even do some bad singing.

Hi Ricardo, this has been my observation as well. We have a dude in the states where I live who plays AWESOME flamenco and he said that learning palmas was very important...

Like you, I have noticed EVER good flamenco guitarist knows how to do palmas..

Sure, I know that when practicing you can do tapado and accent marks to different palos...

But, palmas is a whole other thing.....Which I feel make a flamenco guitarist even better with groove...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 17:57:38

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Kalo)

A good flamenco guitarist will obviously play palmas correctly because he knows what he's doing rhytmically, being it on a guitar or just taping on a table.

You can play palmas (hand clap) to any genre if you think of it as an aid to divide/subdivide/accent rhytms and beats.

My only point was that you dont have to get into palmas as an instrument (proper technique), the same way that you dont need to practice drums with the purpose of getting good technique if all you want is to understand and get a feel for rhythm to play guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 18:05:35

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: When Practicing (in reply to Sr. Martins)

To give you an example, Iam part of a big group (its called Tuna, you spanish folks might know that that is).

The instrumentation is acoustic, double bass, guitars, mandolins, etc.. and percussion.

All of us who play stringed instruments dont really care for percussion instruments but sometimes we're playing at a restaurant or something, drinking wine and beer and eventually most of us start playing percussion lol

The funny thing is that althought we never practice any percussion, we all play it perfectly well, maybe not with the best tone production but thats not the point.

The ones who only sing and do coreography, they all suck at percussion, guitar... whatever.

I might not be getting my point across but what I mean is that you should focus in what you really want. Palmas wont do you any harm and it is an inexpensive instrument for sure but there are many cases of people who end up playing drums to get the rhytm, violin to practice melodic sense, trumpet to avoid playing with finger shapes, etc.... they get good at none and all they wanted in the first place was to play guitar! lol

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2012 18:18:03