Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
I decided to introduce myself having realized I am likely never to leave the forum LOL...
Anyway, I am Conrad Pienaar. I've been a guitarist for 16 years but became interested in flamenco about 2 years ago and I could not believe that I have been missing out on this sound all those years.
I am now very interested in moving from "fakemenco" to more traditional flamenco, meeting like minded people and honing my flamenco skills.
Anyway, I am Conrad Pienaar. I've been a guitarist for 16 years but became interested in flamenco about 2 years ago and I could not believe that I have been missing out on this sound all those years.
i know exactly where you come from. i wasn't a guitarist for 16 years, but began guitar playing at age of 15,16 (with many breaks inbetween). and played all kind of stuff like heavy metal, blues, rock, etc....mostly on e-guitar.
then discovered flamenco guitar after years, and within few days after hearing paco de lucias album (over and over again).......i sold all my e-equipment (big marshall amp, my ibanez, boss effect, etc.... ) and just focused on flamenco from that time.
@edguerin : Yes Stu is right. I am behind the boerewors curtain in South Africa. Pretoria to be exact but I am certain there must be a Spaniard somewhere in my ancestry maybe together with a poodle and someone's unsuspecting leg.
OK I apologise.
@Arash: Yes I am actually selling a 7 string electric now to finance a flamenco guitar. There just doesn't seem to be anything as powerful, energetic, elegant, sophisticated and beautiful as flamenco. I know that it is a subjective feeling on my part but that is just how I experience it and I would be lying if I denied it.
There just doesn't seem to be anything as powerful, energetic, elegant, sophisticated and beautiful as flamenco. I know that it is a subjective feeling on my part but that is just how I experience it and I would be lying if I denied it.
you wont find much oppositioon to that way opf thinking around here!!
I noticed a general like minded (to my mind) way of thinking on the forum since I joined. It's appears quite uncanny. I mean there are guitarists from Australia, France, UK, USA, Iran and SA on this thread alone and there is always this great passion for this music's texture and taste and sound etc and everyone seems quite down to earth.
I noticed a general like minded (to my mind) way of thinking on the forum
Don't kid yourself. We all disagree on everything except -
quote:
there is always this great passion for this music's texture and taste and sound etc
On that we never disagree.
Welcome. Also kudos for admitting right off to your fakemenco past. HAHA. (is there maybe some kind of 12 step program? FA - Fakemencos Anonymous? Hi, I'm Stoney and I'm a Fakeholic? Sorry, blathering here)
Well goodness fakemenco isn't all bad coz it led me to traditional flamenco and it is a conduit to traditional flamenco for the masses no? Plus I believe there is creativity in Jesse Cook's compositions etc but I basically only play fakemenco at the moment because my picado is not strong enough yet to take over from the bloody plectrum.
I really pray that the transition will be a bit sooner rather than later.
Welcome from a fellow South African now living behind the Hamburger curtain. I often thought to play Sarie Marais in a Solea style. Maybe we can work on that.. Groete
Glad I made your day!! Later I found your intro, and see that you are from sunny Pretoria. I am ex-Japie (originally from 'Dubben' in KZN), and have family with the same surname as you (they recently moved to New Zealand).
I started to find flamenco before leaving SA in 1999/2000. It was Tananas and Tony Cox who ignited my passion for guitar. It didn't take long to go from there through Jessie Cook & Ottmar Liebert (are they fakemenco? - not sure) before finding flamenco.
One quick thought. In your picture your right hand is positioned forward of the sound hole. My pic doesn't show how I usually play, so not sure if this is where you usually play. I move my forearm further back on the bout, so that my right hand is positioned in between the sound hole and the saddle. This enables me to flatten my wrist as I described in my first response to you.
How are you going with lessons? Have you started on-line lessons? I have been using books and DVDs (Juan Martin and Graf-Martinez). Recently found a teacher only 250kms away. Only had one lesson but it was great.
@ Spencer: Oh wow OK. Yes I am very inspired by both Newman & Cox.
The photo in pic is misleading because it's old. My technique is better now. At the moment, I can execute that triplet thumb rasgueado but basically only 2 consecutive ones, after that, it is too messy still. So I am HOPING this denotes enough progress to be able to conclude that I will be able to do it (curved nail & all).
I will seriously need therapy if I can't do it.
I have signed up for lessons on Jason MqGuire's site yes. There aren't any flamenco teachers around here. I also have a DVD by Charles Sedlak that teaches basic flamenco.
I also love Jesse Cook and I don't know if he is considered fakemenco.
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
RE: Introduction -Herrero's curso de... (in reply to ConradP)
These videos may be removed from youtube soon, until then I recommend you take advantage of them. The entire course is available. Even for those who do not understand Spanish, Herrero is such clear and methodical instructor his lessons are clear nonetheless.
@Partick I am South African. Of course I have a shotgun.
@GJ Thank you very much.
@Everyone My thumb down-stroke rasgueado (abanico rasgueado) is going to land me in an institution! Is it possible that my thumb nail is just exactly wrong so I'll never ever be able to play it?
Printable Version
) and just focused on flamenco from that time. 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread