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Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum. I'm 63 and been playing rock guitar since my teens. About a year ago I decided to expand my playing and teach myself Flamenco. I have never played without a pick and am finding the right hand very difficult. I have made some progress in the past year but oh so slowly. I am using the Juan Martin book and DVD plus a couple of other books for variation. As far as I can tell there are no teachers near me and even if there were I probably couldn't afford one. Has anyone else started flamenco so late in their playing life? How did you get on? Would love to hear from anyone with advice.
Bit younger than you...I'm 50...been practising flamenco since Jan 2010...it's when I started following online courses.
Maybe I've had a bit of a head start cos I've been fooling around with classical guitar since my teens but never really studied properly.
Found flamenco hard going for the first year but in the last few months all the right hand techniques such as rasguedo, alzapua seem more achievable now...things are getting easier. But all I can say is keep a daily practice going as much as you can...even if it's just 10 minutes....regular practice of programming muscle memory with correct technique is the key I think.
Found online lessons very helpful such as the following:
Hi, Derek- Funny you should mention- I just turned 63 last month- and am about to attempt to do the same! Former steelstring fingerstyle guitar player, have not played seriously in several years since a finger injury. I'm just about to pick up a Yamaha CG-171SF. Hoping to learn off what I can find online- and also perhaps pick up a DVD course. Have asked for recommendations on here, people here are very responsive and helpful. I'm learning Flamenco is a lifestyle, and not necessairly something you learn out of a book... but I'm hoping to be able to at least scratch some surfaces... no pun intended! Wes
I am 68 and have been learning and playing flamenco for six years. Started playuing guitar when I was 17, but never progressed beyond three-chord folk music over a 45 year stretch that included university studies, a stint in the U.S. Air Force, and a career in the U.S. diplomatic service. During that entire time, however, I loved flamenco. Finally, at the age of 62 I decided to learn to play. I am fortunate to live in Washington, DC, as Paco de Malaga, the doyenne of the Washington, DC flamenco community and the finest teacher one could have, lives there. Paco has been my teacher from the begining, and I have learned (and continue learning) not only the guitar, but also the history of flamenco and anecdotes involving various of the great flamenco guitarists. Flamenco is truly a life-long passion, whether one begins at the age of six or 60.
Cheers,
Bill
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Thanks to Pawo, MarTay6 & BarkellWH for your replies and info. I will keep working at it. Is there anyone in the Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk area who would like to get together for practice sessions? Derek
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