A Place To Start

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A Place To Start

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flamablanca

Posts: 3
Joined: Nov. 11 2010

A Place To Start

Hi I am Jose. I am new to flamenco and I was curious if anyone had any ideas what forms I should start with???? Or where I should start from????

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2010 19:35:02

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

Flamablanca,

A lot of folk say that Soleares is a good place to start as it gives you the idea of a very different way of looking at rhythm...particularly from a Western point of view.

That would be my recommendation, as it can be played slowly and has within it's structure all the "jondo" elements of Flamenco and is held in great respect by all.

Diego del Morao says however that the first thing anyone is ever taught (in Jerez) is Tientos.

So there you go!

As with anything in Flamenco, very attentive listening to good (not necessarily "famous") players is much more important than practising scales or complete tunes from tabs etc.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2010 19:58:31

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

play short easy falsetas of all the palos
later get deep into each palo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2010 20:14:04

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

Listen to lots and pick something you like will help.

I am not a guitar player but my first dance class we started with a tango by Remedios Amaya

I was absolutely crap but I still love this song.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2010 20:30:41

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

Sevillanas

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 12 2010 2:30:45

flamablanca

Posts: 3
Joined: Nov. 11 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

Thanks alot everyone

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2010 5:42:44

marduk

Posts: 600
Joined: Feb. 3 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

hi flamablanca, im a beginner too. im mostly enjoying learning about soleares, sevillanas, guajiras, tangos, and bulerias

each because they had a different thing going on that was new to my ear, when i first started listening to flamenco properly

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2010 6:24:38

CarloJuan

Posts: 169
Joined: Sep. 19 2010
From: Philippines

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

soulerias

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 4:35:30

Chilli Fingers

Posts: 79
Joined: Sep. 21 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

Buy a pack of cigarettes or rollies and smoke heavily... you are half way there by default.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 6:30:33

Chilli Fingers

Posts: 79
Joined: Sep. 21 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

Oh yeah and and refer to Paco as 'god'

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 6:33:35

Chilli Fingers

Posts: 79
Joined: Sep. 21 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

And say 'ole' a lot

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 6:35:17

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

really helpful posts Chilli

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 6:57:16

CarloJuan

Posts: 169
Joined: Sep. 19 2010
From: Philippines

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

I would suggest go and listen to all the flamenco recordings you could grab on. Follow each palo and do palmas along with them. Assimilate compas within your blood!

I recommend you begin with a book by Juan Martin or by Gehrard Graf Martinez. Those are good books IMO

I personally am waiting for someone to slash me cuz i've been hearing rumors that Juan Martin is despised in foro (Doit is one of them,,,i think...

)

I hope someone explains to me why, he seems to be a good and honest teacher

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 8:06:28

NormanKliman

Posts: 1143
Joined: Sep. 1 2007

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

A good question like that deserves a good answer. Here's a list that should keep you busy for a long time. You might be asking for just one or two styles to focus on, so this might be more than you want (in that case, choose the styles that are the easiest for you). The list is based on cante, so other styles could be included for baile and solo guitar.

siguiriya
soleá
bulería por soleá (soleá por bulería)
bulería
tiento
tango
fandango de Huelva
fandango libre
malagueña
granaína
cantes mineros (cartagenera, taranta, etc.)
cantiñas (alegrías, caracoles, mirabrás, romera)

You should eventually be able to play bulerías, tangos, soleá, bulerías por soleá, siguiriyas, cantiñas and fandangos in a few different keys: E, C and A major for cantiñas; bulerías and tangos in Phrygian, major and minor in A and E (that's six different ways of playing for each style); and the rest in A and E Phrygian. So the list of 12 items actually involves 30 different ways of playing.

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Be here now.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 8:19:03

Schalli

Posts: 94
Joined: Sep. 15 2010
From: Mannheim, Germany

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to flamablanca)

quote:

So the list of 12 items actually involves 30 different ways of playing.

Wow, how many lifes do you need to achieve that??!?

I startet with a not too fast Solea from the Graf Martinez Books. I would also suggest to play some Sevillanas, I think they are a good Practice for beginners because:
- You're able to play a hole piece in a relatively short time
- It helps getting a little routine in your rasguados and picados... i think

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 8:32:46

mezzo

Posts: 1409
Joined: Feb. 18 2010
From: .fr

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to NormanKliman)

quote:

Phrygian, major and minor in A and E

what is phrygian minor? can you explain the andalusian chords progression for this please (in A and E)?
I guess the phrygian major is the por medio, por arriba schema.

thks

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"The most important part of Flamenco is not in knowing how to interpret it. The higher art is in knowing how to listen." (Luis Agujetas)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 8:49:27

Mike_Kinny

Posts: 689
Joined: Feb. 12 2009

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Nov. 26 2010 21:34:00

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 9:19:49

NormanKliman

Posts: 1143
Joined: Sep. 1 2007

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to mezzo)

quote:

I would also suggest to play some Sevillanas

Yes, beginner's sevillanas are easy and good for building technique, but it's not a style that you're going to want to spend much time on.

quote:

Wow, how many lifes do you need to achieve that??!?

Everyone gets a little rusty in some keys, but it's not too hard. I'd say that, with good material and instruction, a bit of discipline and some kind of steady progress, it would take 10-15 years at the most.

quote:

what is phrygian minor?

Sorry, I should have explained that part of my message more clearly. Por arriba is like E Phrygian and por medio is like A Phrygian. Major and minor are different from Phrygian.

Six different ways of playing bulerías and tangos. I've indicated the two most basic chords; there are others, obviously:

A Phrygian (por medio): A-B flat
A major: A-E7
A minor: A minor-E7
E Phrygian (por arriba): E-F
E major: E-B7
E minor: E minor-B7

It's not unusual to play bulerías and tangos in other keys, like F-sharp Phrygian (taranta) or B Phrygian (granaína), and a modern approach would involve altered tunings, C-sharp Phrygian, D-sharp Phrygian... (but that's all advanced stuff).

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 9:22:30

mezzo

Posts: 1409
Joined: Feb. 18 2010
From: .fr

RE: A Place To Start (in reply to NormanKliman)

Norman thanks for the clarification

quote:

Sorry, I should have explained that part of my message more clearly

No.
Only a dummie like me can ask for phrygian minor and phrygian major. I'll go hide in a hole

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"The most important part of Flamenco is not in knowing how to interpret it. The higher art is in knowing how to listen." (Luis Agujetas)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2010 9:54:19