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This may turn out to be a really stupid idea, but I'm planning to design an app which would help you improve simple flamenco techniques.
Ever since I started playing the guitar and Flamenco a year ago, I always find my fingers tapping the table in p-i-a-m-i tremolo patterns and p-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio patterns and etc when I'm at work. It is starting to drive the cubicals around me nuts. I've been thinking of creating an app that helps you practice techniques and tell you how consistent you are. For instance if I want to practice Tremolo, I'd select tremolo on the app, chose where my fingers would be placed on the strings (shown in the background somehow). Then I'd set the speed and start tapping those spots. I would have pre-recorded samples for the app to play it back through your headphone such that you can sort of hear the notes you are playing. I'd have samples of notes to predefined chords or something. When done, it would give you a graph of how you timed the notes.
This might help someone like me time the 5 notes equally and build muscle memory for finger patterns but obviously not help with strokes. Right now I tend to play the p, i, then speed up the a-m-i part. If it works out to help, I may even come up with a wooden neck with some strings and sensor (like the Yamaha travel guitar) which connects to the app.
What do you guys think? worth a try? I attached a screenshot of how I'm envisioning it
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RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to roozbeh60)
I've personnally never been the type to do these kind of "half practice" things like doing rasgueados on your thigh or tremolos on the table or even practicing technique while watching television. To me, the 100% focus is a crucial aspect of any kind of practice so I wouldn't personnally see the point of this app. That being said, I'm sure it will appeal those who do like to practice all day like that. I just keep coming back to the question of whether this kind of practice actually helps or not. Resting is very important. Perhaps add a time limit to the exercices on the app so people don't end up with carpal tunnel syndrome . Anyways, that's just me and I'm sure you'll find people who will get something out of this, so why not?!
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Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to Piwin)
some folk may like it ...but how would it really help ...? for me ,, i think its upside down ...
then theres this
and there is a thing a cant find now ..like the strings going over the soundhole ...would only be about 8 inches long altoghther ...no neck , just fro right hand moves..i think theres other stuff as well . ...oh yes and guitars , theyre good for practice ...
sometimes it s good to not play for a while ... i go away on holiday and dont play for a few weeks and i like what i hear when i come back and start again ....
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Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to roozbeh60)
I used to drive my colleagues nuts by flicking my fingers on random surfaces, too. I looked in to this on an iPhone as it is a similar width to the strings, purely for rasgueado practise.
I programmed an iOS prototype that would detect placement, speed and consistency by measuring touch and acceleration in the slight inertial movements of the phone away from the taps. Other things got in the way of further development.
Without physical strings, I think it's going to be tough for arpeggios and tremolo etc. as there is not resistance or feedback (aside from audio) for consistent positioning.
Easier to use something like the Guitar Mute but it's ridiculously priced and mine snapped in half after a few months.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to Piwin)
Guitar Mute ,,,yes thats the thing I was talking about ..or similar , a friend of mine had one in Montilla , I dont even think it had tuning pegs , just like 2 bridges and tensioned the strings at the back with a kind of dummy sound hole
Piwin ....a dwarf pirate guitar ?? ......... ......what kind of life do you live to come across dwarf pirate guitars, ?, do you , perhaps live on a Terry Gilliam designed time bandits style Sailing ship ?? . . and what sea shanty's and tales do the dwarf pirates sing of.....tall tales indeed..
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to roozbeh60)
I agree that it will never be the same as practicing on tensioned strings, but the point of it was to keep the finger muscle memory at a place like work. I kind of thought of it when I realized that my P-i-m-a-m-i-P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio is much slower than p-a-m-i arpeggio. I want to build speed into my fingers and a tool to track how fast I can play that sequence, even if on a table. I thought an app would tell me if my speed is improving. something to do at work between 9-5... No doubt that it wouldn't actually teach you any actual teqniques.
Escribano: That's a really cool app you had in mind! Rasgueado was something I didn't think a touch screen can handle cause its mostly with the nails and won't trigger a touch.
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to El Kiko)
quote:
Piwin ....a dwarf pirate guitar ?? .........
lol. I was referencing a joke that came up in the "how many languages do you speak" thread. My life isn't nearly that interesting and I prefer a TARDIS for all of my time travel needs.
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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."
Posts: 1770
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to roozbeh60)
For the idea I vote an 8.
For usefullness a much lowe point.....this training is the only training you can do everywhere on the side of your Jeans. Or the table, stearing wheel etc. Also the hand position is good than. Why would I use an ipad for?
Only to find out the speed.... In this kind of training, to my oppinion, it is much more importand to train a equal time in separation between the fingers. If you manage and concentrate on that, speed will come by itself.
But I like the way you think....👏 keep it up, and do not let me dissapoint you.....
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to roozbeh60)
quote:
Rasgueado was something I didn't think a touch screen can handle cause its mostly with the nails and won't trigger a touch.
Most of the time it won't, though there should be some skin involved, however detecting a tiny, sharp movement of the phone in a specific direction is possible. A low-pass filter can count and time these impacts. Add in the drag of any skin on the screen, particularly the upward i stroke and you have some data for analysis.
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to roozbeh60)
If you could get it 100% "right" I am sure it would be useful - but could you ever really monetize it after all the effort required. I doubt it as it is such a niche market.
RE: Flamenco App.. Just an Idea! (in reply to drhildr)
quote:
If you could get it 100% "right" I am sure it would be useful - but could you ever really monetize it after all the effort required. I doubt it as it is such a niche market.
True, it isn't easy to make money off of it, but that's not my goal. If I do it (which I probably wont since having read people's thoughts, it wont be very useful), I'd do it for my own use to improve and I'd just make it available on the app store for free in case someone else could use it!
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. Anyways, that's just me and I'm sure you'll find people who will get something out of this, so why not?! 
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