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I was wondering when watching some PdL videos about his capirote. It seemed to me like he was doing it with his m finger and not his i finger. Can capirote be done with the m finger? I tried to do that, but it felt very weird; is it because I am just used to doing capirote with my i finger?
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to rombsix)
I agree with Ykabban about alternating i and m for capirote. I used to use m exclusively, but the middle joint of the finger started to get tender. When using i I find less of the impact is sent through my knuckle before hitting the chord.
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to rombsix)
Please excuse me while I bare my, ah... ignorance, but what is a capirote? This is the first time I have seen that word used. I suspect it is a single finger down/up stroke (rasgueo??), but really have no idea.
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to Gecko)
Yeah it confused me the first time I came across that term too, its by no means a 'universal' term.
Its a type of golpe - you flick the tapa above the strings to the right of the soundhole in a downward movement and continue the stroke of whatever finger you use across the strings. It needs a flick of the wrist.
What you get is an accented chord - the golpe is slightly ahead of the chord but the more you practice the more it gives the illusion of unison. Very much a knack to it, feels weird at first and you have to experiment but as soon as it clicks it feels and sounds VERY cool
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to Jon Boyes)
Interesting. Thanks Jon, I'll give it a try today. Can't sound anymore out of unison than my regular (a) glope does right now as I'm just starting to us the glope.
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to rombsix)
Thanks Jon. I too was going to ask what the hell it was. I've been looking at flamenco terminology in the net and none of them had the term anywhere. So, is it just the same as tapping the body below the strings at the same time as either a downward P or I stroke? The site with Sal Bonavita describes something similar on video.
ORIGINAL: Hugh So, is it just the same as tapping the body below the strings at the same time as either a downward P or I stroke?
Thats a golpe too, and yes thats another way of accenting a chord but this is not the same as it is not played with the tip of the finger, but rather the back of the tip joint. Flick your finger (I or M) off the inside of your thumb ont thje topof the guitar.
When you get the angle right it:
-produces a satisfying sharp crack (sound) and -doesn't hurt
So if either of the above do not apply, you need to tweak til you get it right
Thanks Jon. I too was going to ask what the hell it was. I've been looking at flamenco terminology in the net and none of them had the term anywhere.
'Capirote' is the formal term and a lot of Flamenco guitarists probably don't even know that that is the name for it. A teacher I had in Jerez simple referred to it as 'grabbing wood' (cojer madera). If you watch videos of some guitarists, you might notice that the rosette above the strings is often worn away. That's from doing lots of 'capirotes'. If you're not familiar with this, listen for a very sharp cracking golpe sound. It sounds significantly different than a normal golpe below the strings. Moraito does it a lot when coming to the end of a verse por Malagueñas leading up to the big continous rasgueo, for example.
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to rombsix)
Ok, if I got this right here - If I were to do the tap with my m finger, I then do the strike across the strings with my i finger at the same time? or do I strike across the strings with the same finger I use for the tap?
Ok, if I got this right here - If I were to do the tap with my m finger, I then do the strike across the strings with my i finger at the same time? or do I strike across the strings with the same finger I use for the tap?
Hugh, Use the same finger, because it's one movement not two separate movements. It happens so fast that the tap and the downstroke sound almost simultaneous. I think the index finger is the most common choice, because it's usually the strongest finger. Todd said he uses his annular finger. That's probably the most logical choice for him. He's holding a pick between his thumb and index fingers and the annular finger is typically stronger than the middle finger. The bottom line is: do what's comfortable for you and gives you the sound you're looking for. Just remember that it's one downward movement. Phil
RE: Capirote with the m finger (in reply to rombsix)
Thanks Phil, I'll give it a try, I've been practicing the other way of doing it, hitting it under the strings. I use my my A finger for the tap and strike with either the P or I finger. I find so far, that I cant get much volume with the tap, but it'll come once the technique improves I'm sure.
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