Some things that helped me

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Moloko

Posts: 63
Joined: Sep. 19 2015

Some things that helped me

Hi everyone, i'm André. I live in Brasil and i've been playing guitar since 13 years old more or less. I'm into flamenco for about two years now, and i'd like to share some things that helped me to improve and see if anybody else had the same experience.

NAILS - When i started to play flamenco my nails were like that flat one described by Scott Tennant (see first picture embeded). This shape at first could produce a very good tone, but i could not get picado speed or tremolo fluency, don't know really why hahah, and i tried hard to, but i just couldn't.
So when i changed my nails shape to a round one (fingertip shape, see second picture embeded) everything changed, my picado got really faster (suddenly i could make Entre dos Aguas picado, for example, in 190-200 bpm) and Arpeggio and Tremolo was not even a challenge anymore, i can do Barrio la Vinã or Fuente y Caudal tremolos and arpeggios, for exemple, with no trouble at all.
This simple shape was a life savior, i can do all right hand techniques very well with it, the only contra is that i can't get a big round tone so easily as before, but it is a minor thing i can work with.

NAIL PROTECTION - That one is weird. I tried various types of nail coats, even glue, and i found out that there's no difference at all with our without these stuff, it wears out equally with or without it.
Anyway, long time ago i had trouble with my nails breaking, i found a Brasilian oil stuff called "Vitalizante", made by a brand called "Casco de Cavalo", it solved my nail problems and today i rarely have it.

Thanks mates

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 3 2016 2:14:45

Kiko_Roca

Posts: 82
Joined: Apr. 25 2016
From: Midwest, USA

RE: Some things that helped me (in reply to Moloko)

A clasical sloped nail shape doesn't work well with the typical hand angle with flamenco, which is straight on. Try them flat across. Or better, curve you fingers like they are playing, and look at the odd angles they sit at. typically a and i fingers curve in towards m. So slight opposite ramps, or ramp angles, can be best for those two. As far as hanging up on tremelo and picado, it is possible your nails were just too long or catching on the incorrect ramp. Any way, I'm glad you found something that works for you. Happy playing.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 4 2016 13:18:22

Moloko

Posts: 63
Joined: Sep. 19 2015

RE: Some things that helped me (in reply to Kiko_Roca)

Well, i don't play so much with a straight on angle, and i always used my nails very short. The thing that was pissing me off is that my nails were always catching, i tried a bunch of flat shapes, but it just doesn't work ): hahahah

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2016 0:04:53

Ricardo

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

RE: Some things that helped me (in reply to Moloko)

Hi. I have been playing guitar since I was 12 and flamenco for 21 years now and want to share some things that work for me.

Nails. File them like pumping nylon video (3D explaination not the 2D book version). It works. Just as KIKO said.. I M A ramp like this: / - \ palm down fingers straight. Don't round em. File "flat" meaning in one direction only at +or- 45 degree angle nail to Emory.

Nail protection. Use Krazy glue with brush, or other brush on nail glue product with active ingredient cyanoacrylate. Not only protects from rasgueados and other bad things, but also curves the nails into a more ideal shape for filing properly.

Saludos

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2016 7:08:51