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Hi, is there anyone in Scotland (preferably Aberdeen/shire area) that teaches flamenco guitar? I may have found someone who can do beginner level ( or so he maintains!) which is perfect right now, but it would be helpful to know if any more experienced individuals out there. How do I know if they're the 'real deal'? I'm a real 'beginner' - know what a guitar looks like and thats about it! . So ANY advice gratefully accepted. Used to play pipes but don't think that'll help any! Plan to go for Yamaha CG171SF - got some good reports and can just about afford it! You Can Teach Yourself Flamenco Guitar by Luigi Marracini to start with, followed by Juan Martin: La Guitarra Flamenca Book plus 2 DVDs to learn the basics although Oscar Herrero step by step series is apparently very good for technique?? Chuck Keyser's collection seems like a good choice for the info junkie in me!? Listening to Paco Pena (Flamenco Master) at moment...amazing stuff! Could anyone recommend some other albums etc to listen to please! Sorry, just joined and already asking alot. Thanks again! Kenny
RE: Please Help!- Flamenco Scotland? (in reply to duende)
Well, I'm not a teacher...and besides, my only practise time myself is about half an hour a day at lunchtime and a Sunday afternoon (when possible). In the normal working week, I can't really be bothered with the guitar after a full day's work now....too tired.
RE: Please Help!- Flamenco Scotland? (in reply to kMaclennan)
Kenny are you really starting with no previous guitar experience? I did 2 years ago and am interested in this approach. It seems most of the guys around hear have been playing forever (born with guitar on knee) and in most cases had played electric, punk, classical or whatever
As for Ron's email I have had no probs. If I were you Kenny I would do what Jim suggests - or better still wander down to Glasgow and get Jim to show you his stuff. Last year I went from Aberdeen to Glasgow on the old cross country train. It was beautiful scenery and the train was so empty you could play on the way
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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)
RE: Please Help!- Flamenco Scotland? (in reply to kMaclennan)
Kenny, Welcome to the Forum! You'll learn a lot here. If you've never really played guitar before, then get some books and learn some chords and strumming first. I will only take someone on if they can strum some chords and sing a song first... my time is limited..so I can't spend all my Sunday showing someone how to change from C to Am... you can get this easily yourself. Your main aim at the moment is to learn how to change chords quickly without thinking about it. I need E A C D G and the minors, all in the open positions plus an ability to play F shapes with a full barre (no thumb LOL!) and the equivalent A and Am and D and Dm shapes all the way up the neck.
Without that, we can't even begin to speak about Flamenco technique and the right hand. It's not that hard if you are really interested...maybe 6 months?
As for my own qualifications and credentials...
I don't read music. I don't read tabs. I have no musical education. I don't know the names of chords ..other than the basic ones. I don't understand harmony. I am totally self taught. I only do a couple of rasgueados. I don't do fast picado. I don't do "fancy" stuff. I don't approach Flamenco from a Classical view , but from a Folk/Blues view. I'm really hard on myself and will be hard on you too...I don't like excuses or BS.
So if you're still interested...
Give me an email when you've got the first part done...
RE: Please Help!- Flamenco Scotland? (in reply to Ron.M)
Cheers Ron, really appreciate the advice (and the offer!) - thanks everyone else too! Got a much better idea of shorter term objectives now - step by step /incremental progression the key to these things I believe ......so.....got to get guitar(!) and I'm investigating into some tuition in guitar basics (Monday) and then I'll just take it from there. Cheers. Kenny
Posts: 21
Joined: Mar. 6 2005
From: cRoAtiA,zAgReB
RE: Please Help!- Flamenco Scotland? (in reply to Ron.M)
Hi, Ron
I'm a beginner, so I don't post much.I prefer reading good posts.So,this...
''I don't read music. I don't read tabs. I have no musical education. I don't know the names of chords ..other than the basic ones. I don't understand harmony. I am totally self taught. I only do a couple of rasgueados. I don't do fast picado. I don't do "fancy" stuff. I don't approach Flamenco from a Classical view , but from a Folk/Blues view. I'm really hard on myself and will be hard on you too...I don't like excuses or BS. ''
I mean, I heard your playing and I know that you are not a pro, but IMHO you play beautiful and to me one of prettiest on the forum. Got the feeling that you are trying to say that everyone can do it by selftought and every beginner want to hear that. But, can that be truth?
RE: Please Help!- Flamenco Scotland? (in reply to davor)
Gosh Davor...thanks for the compliment!
What I was telling Kenny is that I am no "teacher" in the accepted sense of the word. So I can't help with his Juan Martin tabs or write down lessons or talk about Pentatonic or Phrygian modes or whatever. Also I haven't had formal lessons from Flamenco teachers myself, or studied any Video/DVD/Book courses like Oscar Herrero/Juan Martin etc.. So I'd have a bit of a cheek saying I'm a Flamenco teacher!
I just went straight from playing acoustic steel-string Folk/Blues fingerstyle stuff to Flamenco, whereas a lot of folk come from a Classical background first. I just tried to learn Flamenco in the same way I learned Folk/Blues stuff...just by listening and trying to work out what the guy was doing. Also going to concerts and watching and trying to get tips and hints from the pros afterwards.
These days there is so much learning material available on DVD etc that there is hardly a need for one-to-one lessons I think! I mean really top guys like Gerardo Nuñez etc showing you close-up how they do stuff! What more could anybody want?
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. So ANY advice gratefully accepted. Used to play pipes but don't think that'll help any! 
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