If you could pick just one technique from a different guitar style to add to Flamenco...

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bobbywest87

Posts: 14
Joined: Apr. 9 2017

If you could pick just one technique...

Which technique would you choose to add?

Sacrilegious flamenco beliefs aside, I think the "nail attack" technique lends itself very well to the flamenco sound: it's percussive, but uses the strings as its drum. The benefit of this technique is that in addition to a percussive sound, it also produces the pitch of whatever note is being played which lends itself a unique "punchy" sound. The technique is not too difficult to learn, and actually fits in very well with the traditional Flamenco sound and hand-position despite originating on a steel-string guitar. Basically you are hitting the strings with the top of your m and a fingernails (top meaning the the pink part of the nail, not the white) in a sort of jolted motion.

Here are a few examples:

https://youtu.be/lruONOcs0ow?t=127

And a basic YouTube tutorial I found helpful:

https://youtu.be/RbTfhIpD02w?t=131

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 17:08:11

Ricardo

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

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

Well this is like a combo of “tambour” and basic rasgueado with the unused fingers....tambour gets the bassy thud near the bridge, Sabicas and others have used this, but typically with the thumb not the nails of the fingers, and the rasgueado that doesn’t follow through is used, but the “thud” is avoided by not playing so near the bridge.....the reason is we want a rounder sound for rasgueados, that type of thing near the bridge sounds pretty weak. Rhythmically speaking the type of thing your steel stringers are doing is similar to R. Montoya hear at :50 and throughout the piece:

It only sounds different because he is not targeting small groups of strings near the bridge like your steel players are doing, however it is basically the same technique musically.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 17:44:23

bobbywest87

Posts: 14
Joined: Apr. 9 2017

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

Thanks Ricardo,

Montoya sounds like he is doing a strum vs a solid hit, but I do understand what you are saying. Montoya and Oshio (from the first video I posted) both appear to use this as a way to keep the beat like a drum - though you could probably speak more to that than I could since you play drums. For lack of a better term, it's almost like filler notes.

If you happen to know what Sabicas songs use this technique, I would love to know since I'm not as familiar with his music.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 17:59:20

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

The Pete Townshend windmill. Obviously.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 18:05:02

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

Divebombs!!!!

\m/

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 18:41:57

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to Leñador)

lol
When you get that Lester Devoe of yours, I dare you to put a whammy bar on it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 19:25:33

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

Oh yeah, it’s gunna have a Floyd rose with locking nut and two active humbuckers!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 19:32:33

bobbywest87

Posts: 14
Joined: Apr. 9 2017

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

^^^ Mr. Eddie Van Halen up here.

I wonder what two-handed tapping or thumb-nail pick-scrapes would sound like on nylon strings. My thumb-nail hurts just thinking about it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 20:29:03

Ricardo

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

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bobbywest87

^^^ Mr. Eddie Van Halen up here.

I wonder what two-handed tapping or thumb-nail pick-scrapes would sound like on nylon strings. My thumb-nail hurts just thinking about it.

You wonder....really???

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 20:48:36

bobbywest87

Posts: 14
Joined: Apr. 9 2017

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

Ahh yes, how could I have forgotten Spanish Fly? First time I heard that song I couldn't believe anyone could play that fast on the acoustic guitar (note this was about 14 years ago, and I've only just started studying flamenco a little over two years ago).

I like to imagine Eddie playing that first part using picado, but most certainly it's just a pick. Otherwise, Eddie is the best kept secret picado-expert on the planet.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 21:07:54

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

Not really a technique but I would add a coil split to flamenco guitars.

It would allow switching between a robust negra sound and a jangly blanca.

At least with electrics it works pretty well for a LP/Strat sound. I guess the mechanical solution on a flamenco guitar would be having a device that would switch the action between 3.5mm and 1.5mm for immediate effect

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 12 2018 21:28:21

Harry

Posts: 390
Joined: Jun. 24 2010
From: Montreal, Canada

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

A Wes Montgomery style octave approach played with the skin of the thumb not the nail. I am pretty sure this technique would already have been explored by someone.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2018 14:24:25

SephardRick

Posts: 358
Joined: Apr. 11 2014

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to bobbywest87)

...and then there is the "Duct Tape" technique.

It's been the rage for years on NW US Coast...It's fairly applicable for flamenco too.

As Kurt Cobain would demonstrate. Taking his left hand. Throw his guitar up in the air. Let it fall onto the stage and feedback while walking off stage.

Here is where the "Duct Tape" technique comes in. Kurt would duct tape loose part and structure on the guitar; Tune up; Ready for the next gig.

I wouldn't mind seeing the "Duct Tape" technique done with a few so called factory made "Flamenco" guitars.

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Rick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2018 21:56:23

Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

RE: If you could pick just one techn... (in reply to Leñador)

Haha - I was gonna say that too. Will have to settle for burning and smashing. Could work really good in martinetes, especially when used with Tom Araya style jaleo.

Makes me wonder if they (or anyone else) ever did Raining Blood in Spanish? And which palo would you use for that anyway?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2018 6:05:40