Frustrated with playing

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TGerman

Posts: 138
Joined: Nov. 27 2005

Frustrated with playing

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.

Thanks guys,
Todd

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2006 18:04:12

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

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... :)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2006 18:37:53

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

Todd,
El Carbonero...Wow!
I'm envious!!

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!

My two bobs worth anyway....

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2006 21:15:00

TGerman

Posts: 138
Joined: Nov. 27 2005

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to Ron.M)

Thanks for the advice guys.

Ron,

quote:

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.

Todd

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2006 21:37:36

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

Henrik, (duende) plays a lot of very nice Traditional Solea falsetas and he's probably got them tabbed too!

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2006 21:55:08

TGerman

Posts: 138
Joined: Nov. 27 2005

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to Ron.M)

Henrik,

Whaddya say? Have you got any easy ones?

Thanks,
Todd

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2006 23:25:28

duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

hrrmm..

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.

RON

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2006 6:06:01

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

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.

Juan Martin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2006 11:34:08

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

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.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2006 14:30:24

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

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.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2006 21:27:40

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

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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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2006 21:59:33

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Frustrated with playing (in reply to TGerman)

I didn't think that he composed them. I figured he selected them as good examples.

But you can hear the influence of his teaching materials in flamenco-esque music.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 11 2006 0:24:51