advice needed on rasgueo technique

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Bernito

Posts: 5
Joined: Feb. 18 2007

advice needed on rasgueo technique

Sorry if this has been covered before. I have a very simple question that requires a little background. I have been playing flamenco pretty actively for only about 6 months. However, this has been enough time to form some habits. I just recently bought the Gref-Martinez method and he says that building up the pressure in the fingers of the right hand by pressing them to the base of the thumb is very important for getting that proper "attack" sound with your rasgueos. I have been playing long enough that my habit now is to play the rasgueo without building this pressure. I am fairly fast and consistent with this method but there is a subtle difference in sound. So, finally, my question is, SHOULD I TAKE THE TIME TO RE-INVENT MY RASGUEO TO INCORPORATE THE PRESSURE-BUILDING THAT GRAF TALKS ABOUT? In other words, is this bad habit going to come back and haunt me later down the road or is this more a matter of personal style? Thanks guys...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 26 2007 13:20:31

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: advice needed on rasgueo technique (in reply to Bernito)

Yet another method guy saying that its important to do something in one way.

There are many ways to play rasguedo PDL, Pepe Habichuela and others play their rasgueados in a completely different way than Gerardo nuñez.

So to your question. Yes, I think you should learn the Graff Martinez way, BUT I find it even more important that you keep playing your way as well.

There are so many ways of playing all the tecniques that you´ll find yourself relearning most things quite a few times, because you want to be able to express something diferent.
I´m learning a new rasgueado myself these days... with very little pressure in the base of the thumb if any. If you hear some old cante recordings, you can hear players like Manuel Morao playing bulerias with a lot of VERY fast, but also kind of soft rasgueados.....
I used to play all my rasgueados with a lot of pressure in the thumb... I was told (correctly) that I was lacking dynamics, so here we go... Always something new to learn.