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I need a little, maybe someone can make some suggestions. I've been playing for ~8 months now and I feel as if I can't play anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely useless, I can play a ton of exercises, the Alegrias compas and falseta from Ricardo's lessons at flamenco-teacher (thanks Ricardo, they're great!!) and some compas of Solea and Tangos but I'd really like to play a song or at least a half song.
Does anyone have a tab of any song that I can work on or any recommendations? I'm going to Jerez next week to take some lessons with El Carbonero so I'm sure I will be overloaded but I still would like something to work on so I can show him.
In my opinion you have to start really slow. I didn't, and I am paying for it! You have to realize that to play a song on the guitar is a rather complex task. I think you should try to play one part first. For example, strumming compas to a certain cante. Or maybe playign the melody. But do to both? That would be sort of like trying to play polo. First learn how to ride, then add the golf... :)
IMO, he won't really be impressed by any fumbled, fancy attempts at complicated falsetas. I think he's seen it all before, too many times now. Try to learn something (and you won't need tabs for this) that conveys a respect for his Art, like good simple timing of a solea with a couple of simple, traditional thumb falsetas. Pay more attention to how the falsetas end and not so much the middle stuff. I'm sure he won't care about fumblings here and there and will be very impressed if he can sense you have the compás going on in your head. It makes his job easier and more enjoyable, rather than trying to get you to unlearn stuff. Try to aim for nice well-timed rasgueados and don't play like you are up for a Grade Examination, but because the music means something to you.
Be humble. Be respectful, and you'll get a LOT out of it!
Try to learn something (and you won't need tabs for this) that conveys a respect for his Art, like good simple timing of a solea with a couple of simple, traditional thumb falsetas.
I wholeheartedly agree with you and this is exactly what I'd like to do however I still need music with some falsetas to practice since I don't have any. See what I mean?
I'm definately not looking to jump in over my head and I respect the steps that are necessary, I just need the first step...something other than just exercises. I feel I have decent understanding of the basic Solea and Alegrias compases (meaning I don't feel lost in compas in cante and even some solo pieces) so some simple compas and easy falsetas would be perfect.
Since i compose most of my own "trad" falsetas and don´t get them from a book or a cd i havent tabed so much. i keep it in my head.
But would a pretty basic solea do? I can make it this afternoon. I´ve done a few in the past for other members here so i can cut and paste. Anything else? Tangos? Buleria? ...
Henrik
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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.
Juan Martin's "Solo Flamencos" has some fairly lengthy pieces in it. It is a graded book (Grades 0-5) and naturally the length of the pieces increase with the grade level. It comes with a DVD and CD both. I recommend you take a look at it. There is also a Volume 2, which has higher graded pieces in it. However, I doubt if you could get it, let alone learn any of the pieces by next week. Still I have found it about the best thing out there for us beginners, after we have learned the basic flamenco techniques. It has sure helped to keep my interest piqued.
Todd, I actually thought of this this morning. You want to start with Juan Martin's level 0 stuff. When you see it, you're going to see just the very frame of flamenco falsetas. But that's going to give you the chance to get those basics down very solid. I recommend it too.
You know what's funny? Every time I listen to 'flamenco' music (you know the stuff that makes you guys here start spitting venom and hissing "that's not flamenco...Sssssssss") I hear falsetas from JM's Solos.
It's like they just stole them like licks or samples and used them in their own music.
Juan Martin didn't make that stuff up, he just ripped it off the old records. Nothing wrong with that, but don't make it seem like he is a composer. He's more of a compiler.
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hrrmm.. 
") I hear falsetas from JM's Solos. 
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