Aloha

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Balrog

Posts: 2
Joined: Jun. 9 2005

Aloha

Hi there,
I'm new to this forum and I just purchased my first Flamenco Guitar. I love the music that comes from this instrument. I've been playing guitar for a little over ten years, but have never played anything fingerstyle(correct me if I'm wrong on the wording for flamenco). I really want to learn as much as I can from this great Guitar. I would gladly welcome any suggestions on how and what to do to better my playing. So far I see I have alot of catching up with this. I seen some videos and heard some of the music and my god some of you guys are insane. Well anyways thank you and hopefully I can learn something from this forum.

Rod

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2005 22:38:25

Thomas Whiteley

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

RE: Aloha (in reply to Balrog)

Rod;

Well, welcome to the forum and flamenco guitar. All questions are welcomed and I am sure you will find total disagreement upon anything that is stated as “the ultimate truth”! The usual statements are about to be made:

1. It is best to find a good teacher.
a. I have aggravated some folks by stating that about 85% of the teachers I have met are of little value as teachers.

2. If you cannot find a teacher then there are video sources to learn from.

3. Find a flamenco dance studio and get aquatinted.

4. Start with traditional flamenco to learn the basics.

Well, I am sure that others will have many good ideas to relate to you. By the way where are you located? Visit my web site for some things about flamenco guitar.

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2005 1:34:57

Escribano

Posts: 6418
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Aloha (in reply to Balrog)

Welcome Rod,
Listen to lots of flamenco, whenever you can. We can recommend CDs and artists. Try identifying the differences between the styles and clapping the main rhythm (known as compas and compas is everthing). I would recommend a couple of Manuel Granados teaching books and CDs (such as his Didactica series) but there are others.

Don't aim too high and practise whenever and wherever. This music takes a lot of practise! A couple of hours a day is probably a minumum to make any progress in the first years and progress comes in years not weeks.

One good lesson can last you several weeks so I would check out any recommened teachers in your area or go to Spain for a starter course, if you can afford it.

Good luck and do not be afraid to ask these guys questions, they are some of the best on the Internet.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2005 4:47:06

el ted

Posts: 466
Joined: Nov. 13 2003

RE: Aloha (in reply to Balrog)

Rod,
OR, you could do it my way, which is as follows -

1) Live in splendid isolation in the middle of a 600acre arable farm
2) Buy the Juan Martin guitar method book, but not the accompanying cassette.
3) Bash away for 10years approximating techniques according to what you think the sheet music is telling you.
4) Finally, meet up with Real flamenco players and realise that your playing is arse about face, then start to re learn all the techniques properly.

hmmm..... on second thoughts.... don't do it my way!

Stick around, there are some very learned people on this forum.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2005 7:50:45

Balrog

Posts: 2
Joined: Jun. 9 2005

RE: Aloha (in reply to Balrog)

LOL Ted. Thanks for the info. Actually I'm situated on OAHU Hawaii. I don't know of any teachers around here, so I best be starting to look for one. My guitar now is a Cordoba CWE-S I don't know anything about it. I bought it from a friend who needed to sell it. I've been playing blues, Hendrix, Clapton, and on a good day pull off some Stevie Ray Vaughan. It already feels pretty odd but i do LOVE the sounds that come out of it already. I picked up a Flamenco book for now. It's titled Flamenco Guitar method Vol. 1 by Gerhard -Martinez. Is this something useful? I would want to get together with some players, but as of yet I don't know any. I'm pretty excited on getting to practice on it, and yes 2 hours is kinda the norm for me to play. Thanks again for the encouragement guys. Oh also I plan to purchase some cd's.

Aloha

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2005 12:09:42