getting a plan

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getting a plan

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draco92

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 10 2014

getting a plan

Hello together,

I'm new here, so first of all I want to say about myself :)

I am 22 years old and am studiing Mechanical Engineering in Germany. When I was younger I had guitar lessons (for about 5 years), but after finishing school I stopped that. From time to time I took my guitar and played some of the old stuff I had.
I spent my longes time in playing Fingerstylecovers.

Now I am at the point I would need your help.
The reason why I am here is, that I (obviously) think about trying to start playing flamenco guitar. So my questions for you are the following:

1. I am sure that it would not be possible (also because I have not so much time) to play like the "professionals" like Paco de Lucia. But does also enough songs exist I could deal with after a certain time and which "sound well" nevertheless?

2. Because I also like playing fingerstyle-Covers (like: I would be interested if learning flamenco-guitar will also include the tequinces I need to play "these" fingerstylesongs.

3. Because I did not find much about the Flamenco itself yet, I want to share my question at this point with you: How exactly is Flameco seperated.
I found this about the different styles in the internet (sorry, it is in German, but I think the names are the same: http://www.kleinegitarrenschule.de/seiten/stile.html) and is it sensefull to learn one sytle after one then?

4. If I'd start learning flamenco, sould I give it a try to learn e.g. by a book (because I am not completely new at the guitar and already have some experiences playing fingerstyle) or should directly start at a teacher?

I think this were enough questions for the moment :)

So thanks in advance and friendly greetings.

PS.: sorry for my english, but unfortunatelly I am no native speaker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 10 2014 18:56:56

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

Herzlich willkommen!
Where in Germany are you? If you at all have the possibility to learn with a teacher: do so!
(I speak from experience - it's incredibly hard to get rid of all those bad habits acquired over the years)

BTW: I can't see your video link

_____________________________

Ed

El aficionado solitario
Alemania

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 10 2014 21:15:00

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

1. No, you and others just starting do have the potential to "play like" the pros such as paco, in terms of doing some accompanying with chords (ie the rhythm guitar stuff) which is a HUGE percentage of what it means to actually play flamenco guitar. You are correct though that interpreting solo guitar pieces note for note is next to impossible for most of us. Luckily, flamenco is not about that and you can find people at all levels extracting and performing (utilizing) excerpts direct from even Paco de Lucia. It's a beautiful thing about flamenco guitar.

2. while in theory you can use flamenco techniques for any style of music interpretation (acoustic nylon guitar mainly), the music gave birth to these techniques and serve a unique purpose. Sort of like learning how to be a formula 1 racecar driver because you want to apply for a regular drivers license. Overkill.

3. Flamenco songs are named and separated by forms....but it is important to understand a form name such as "solea" can have different meanings depending on context of accompanying only cante, Baile with cante, baile only, or guitar solo. There are things common to all, and things that distinguish...and this goes for ALL the forms pretty much. In addition there are degrees of taste that may push the boundries of the forms in terms of modern vs traditional or authentic purity vs commercial appeal etc. Being a dedicated aficionado of the art is important to learn how to distinguish.

4. Teacher.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 10 2014 22:08:15

flamencositar

Posts: 76
Joined: Aug. 8 2012

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

4). Teacher! A must and a must!

The guy above me, Ricardo, does Skype lessons. Worth the money! You'll progress faster, learn faster, and hate your playing faster.

And don't forget to ask Ricardo about his sleek line of flamenco robes.

_____________________________

Still the body, quiet the mind, free the soul

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 10 2014 23:42:26

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

Hallo draco92,

herzlich willkommen!

Auch ich stimme edguerin zu. Am besten geht es mit einem Lehrer

Gruß
Bernd

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 11 2014 12:55:31

draco92

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 10 2014

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

Hello everyone,

first of all in want to thank you for your quick answeres :)

I live near Frankfurt in Germany.

Concerning learning with a teacher I would have the problem how I could pay this, but the next time I have and internship, so I will use this time to think about a opportunity to finance it and may ask my parents if they would support me :) (yes, I am a poor student, who has no money :/ :D )

In the case i would take lessons: is there any good book you could advise to work with in the lessons or has every teacher his own concept he uses?
To be honest I would prefere a book for the reason to get a kind of "overview" of everything I want to/ will lern. But I think you know it better if it is in face more sensefull or not.

To point 2. of Ricardo's answere:

I am not sure if I got it, so I need to ask once again, sorry:
It's possible to interpret any song as a solo-guitar version by using the flamenco-guitar-techniques, right?
But in the case I would already handle with these techniques of flamenco, could I also play those arrangements by "Sungha Jung" without any bigger problems?
Or also classical guitar?
(like this: )

So once again: Best regards :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 12 2014 12:59:01

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

quote:

It's possible to interpret any song as a solo-guitar version by using the flamenco-guitar-techniques, right?

Since you didn't get my analogy I will make it more clear. YES....but by the time you are actually doing the proper flamenco techniques correctly with control and authority etc, you will be so deeply imbedded in the music that your question will no longer be relevant.

Sorry I can't recommend any method books. Good luck.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 12 2014 16:51:24

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

@ draco92

There´s a meeting up to come I´ve planned with the Siccas Guitar Shop in Karlruhe on 28 september due to 2 years birthday for their new business rooms. The meeting is free of charge. Lots of guitarists are invited, some flamenco guitarist as well. I´ll be coming with about 12 guitarists. Sicca have invited all their customers from Germany. I´m offering coach pool on the run Fulda - Frankfurt - Karlsruhe. If you like to car-pool, I can pick you up. Just send me a PN.

Karlsruhe have a big guitar scene and some flamenco guitarists, too. It´s an opportunity to get in touch personally with some guitarists and checking out an interesting selection of flamenco guitars through all ranges.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 14 2014 3:41:08

NenadK

Posts: 137
Joined: Jun. 6 2010

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

As someone that also likes learning from a book I would strongly advise against it in this case. I learned quite a bit from Juan Martin's El Arte Flamenco de la Guitarra (which comes highly recommended by the way) but then when I started taking lessons from a good teacher (Ricardo in fact) the first thing he had me do was unlearn some things I learned in the book. I should note that I did play it exactly as it sounds on the CD that comes with the book but I always knew that something sounded off about certain things and Ricardo picked up on it in about 5 seconds. These weren't small issues either, it was which beat to emphasize which beat to golpe (tap the guitar) etc. Pretty major stuff. So yeah, skip the book and take the lessons.

Regarding using the techniques for other styles, I'm sure it's possible but the fact that you're asking the question tells me that you associate flamenco guitar playing with the guitar techniques. I think a lot of guitarists myself included start off thinking this way but soon you will see that the technique is secondary to a few other things (compas/rhythm and form structure being at the top of the list). You can get away with flawed technique but not with flawed compas. I've recently learned that my technique is far superior to my compas and believe me I would do anything to reverse that. So yeah if you're thinking of learning flamenco only to add spice to playing other styles, I would say it's not worth it because technique is only a small piece of it.

Good luck

N

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2014 6:23:09

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

Paint it Black is a great song, but that fellows arrangement is not super different from this one oyu can learn in Youtube. Several people teach it on youtube. You could learn this in an afternoon and in weeks have your own version.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2014 7:04:35

draco92

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 10 2014

RE: getting a plan (in reply to draco92)

Hello again everybody,

@Ricardo:

No problem about the book, I just wanted to point out my "idea" and ask for a feedback.

@bernd:

Thanks a lot for the nice offer, but unfortunatelly I am not here at this time :/

@Nenadk:

Thanks for sharing your experiences. So I have to search a way to finance my lessons now. :)
Concerning the second point: Sure I am interested in learning flamenco, but I dont know if I want to play only flamenco, but also those fingerstyle like I posted above.

@estebanana:

The point was not that I want to play "paint it black" in any case, but just giving an example of what type of guitarplaying I am also interested (and which tecniques are included). I could have posted every song of "sungha jung" as well.

Thanks for all your answeres.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2014 15:06:31