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was trying to watch Todd's solea instructional but it doesnt load, theres some error on the page.
I am always amazed at how you can play so well with such "wrong" technique...not only does Todd use a pick but i saw he also grabs around the top of the neck in country/western style! Wth, this isnt supposed to sound good
how you can play so well with such "wrong" technique...not only does Todd use a pick but i saw he also grabs around the top of the neck in country/western style! Wth, this isnt supposed to sound good
Yeah I agree. In the early 70's I was told by some buen aficionados in Spain not to listen to Paco de Lucia, because he played too hard and too fast and it wasn't proper Flamenco anyway.
But who says what's the wrong way to do it or the right way? The people who make these rules are guys who can't play. WAtch the guys who do play and see that they all do it their own way.
Shroomy, your post lacks internal logic. It's kind of like saying that even if a payo can sing flamenco as good as a gypsy, then it doesn't matter, it's still not "puro" and not as good. Plus, it's bad form to denigrate Todd's technique or that of anyone else here.
That being said, Merry Solstice (winter or summer) everyone! I'm off to take a nap after Christmas brunch!
Regarding the perpetual pick argument, the same point always applies. If i never mentioned that i use a pick, and i didnt shoot video, and all you heard were mp3's, nobody would have even known that i used one. Then suddenly, it would be considered puro. Wich i think demostrates how incredibly stupid this whole discusion really is.
At the end of the partido, nobody cares. Everybody had a good time. Why ask why....
Oh yeah, hope everyone's having a great holiday! Im spending my x-mas transcribing some PDL.
In the early 70's I was told by some buen aficionados in Spain not to listen to Paco de Lucia, because he played too hard and too fast and it wasn't proper Flamenco anyway.
Also heard about that. This is so sad. Although I can unerstand them to a certain degree. They are taking flamenco very serious and do contribute with that, too.
We should stop the pick-topic. Yes maybe Todd uses a non-flamenco technique, but that would be a childish, unneccesary discussion on the definition of technique.
If there are some who want to discuss that then do it; Im very curious to see how valuable the results would be
Well what is flamenco for guitar? I think many old players in spain even consider the sloppy pdl - Guitar hold blasphemic. Pick or not doesnt make a difference in terms of playing and how puro your music is or not. I wonder though how you teach people if you give lessons. You can not seriously teach them to play your style, right? Then again, How can you teach them "old school" playing if you dont do that yourself?
Well the actual question was about Todd's tremolo...somehow we got off topic. I would be curious to see how you do that. You gotta use the pinky right? That has to be pretty tough, esp. since you cant have the same power in it as in the middle finger!
It seems obvious at this point, that i need to simply not discuss my technique anymore.
If you want to know how i do tremelo, well, i'll eventually upload a tremelo falsetta at some point, and maybe you can figure it out from watching, or maybe not, and who really cares. You'd never be able to do it anyway. Nor would you want to. Its harder, its impure and just doesnt look as good.
what? its just country guitar technique. it takes time and practice thats all..like ANY guitar technique. I belive Todd was ironic about his technique since people are going on and on about how "un pure" it is.
I think you should go to Spain Todd. It could be fun! There has been some threats to flamenco thru time Siguiriyas being danced, PDL playing m7th chords instead of pure minor..whats else have you...ToddK playing with a pick It will surely be the end of us all LOL!!!
Sorry just my sence of humor
Henrik el puá
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This is hard stuff! Don't give up... And don't make it a race. Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.
The little condescentions like, impure, or "it doesnt look as good" dont bother me. Im just sick of reading it over and over for the last 3 years. Its annoying, like a fly that keeps buzzing in your face. Its not offensive really, but you just want it to go away.
Yes ToddK plays flamenco, there is no doubt. I saw a sola falseta,an aleria, buleria...all very flamenco. He just uses "new" technics in his playing. Gerardo added the "slap" Montoya the"arpegio, tremolo.." Gerardo the "thumb backstroke" ToddK the "pick-picado" In the gerardo video , gerardo says "now we play picado "freestroke" without apoyando.."so we could call Todds picking "picado with pic" coz it sounds like picado. Just some thoughts..
Shroomy, I feel you are asking because you want to say "AHA! There is your limitation and therefore your technique is not flamenco enough". Anyway, I disagree with your line of thinking. Todd is limited, but not nearly much as MOST others, using what they think is the "proper" technique. But the limits are subtle, something most of us on the forum would not be able to notice and call him on. Only he knows what the limits are.
Anyway, I just searched a moment to find this vid, something anyone else should be able to do if they have the patience to actually learn flamenco guitar. The vid is a huge download, but it works if you download to disc. It covers all the questions of his technique.
Wow, Todd! That's so amazing! Tremolo with the pinky? Crazy! Also, your arpeggio is fantastic, so smooth and clear. Seriously, I would have never guessed you use a pick! And that staccato scale technique is very creative! I am sure, many of us would benefit hugely by studying your way of playing, because these same principles can be used to modify the existing finger-picking technique. There are a lot of things to be discovered yet. You make it clear.
WOW. Excellent thoughts. Your technical facility is among the absolute best ive ever witnessed. So needless to say, im ecstatic to get feedback from you.
I would be tremedously honored if you would check out my Soniquette upload (in upload section) I just started transcribing it, and i videotaped the first 2 minutes to get some opinions. I think its close. Ricardo gave me a few corrections so far. Let me know if you have any. :)
For any new forum members out there, if you havent met Grisha, go to his site, and watch him play. Make sure you're sitting down. :)
I am really flattered! But also embarrassed because I have not really been practicing for more than a week. You see, my guitar was beeing fixed and I had to finish some school assignments... So now I sound like a student!
I listened to your bulerias. It has always been among my favorites. In one Russian forum I used soniquete as my nick name. It sounds great! I watched it with this familiar feeling of anxiety and excitement, you know, with the heart beating fast and percussive! You see, I am very competitive. And this is a piece that I started on some years ago, but was forced to drop because of my studies (no time). And now you transcribed and learned it so fast! And you actually have it down real good! Wow!
There are some spots where I think the harmonies are not exactly right, but I am not sure if this is an outcome of the equalization setting on your video. I will try to compare it with the original to give you specific time info where it happens. If I have a solution I'll let you know.
Otherwise, it's fantastic! It really makes me want to learn it asap! Excellent work!
the "live in america" version is in the "normal" buleria key. The one of the "Zyriab" cd is in C#. On "Live in america" it´s more of a la tumbona/ el pañuelo bulerias.
Henrik el whiskey
_____________________________
This is hard stuff! Don't give up... And don't make it a race. Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.
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