Grimaces while playing

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ChrisAudio

Posts: 23
Joined: May 26 2006
From: France

Grimaces while playing

Hi,

I'm always making grimaces when I play. When I look great guitarists, they look relax almost of time while they are playing. Is this because they has interned the rythme and playing with more concentration of what they do, or something else? What do you think on that point?
Christophe

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 15:58:48

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

I have once heared that flamenco guitarist suppose to show their feelings trough their guitar, not the body/face.

Peter

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 16:01:22

ChrisAudio

Posts: 23
Joined: May 26 2006
From: France

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to gerundino63)

quote:

ORIGINAL: gerundino63

I have once heared that flamenco guitarist suppose to show their feelings trough their guitar, not the body/face.

Peter

excellent!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 16:14:35

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChrisAudio

quote:

ORIGINAL: gerundino63

I have once heared that flamenco guitarist suppose to show their feelings trough their guitar, not the body/face.

Peter

excellent!

Dont take it too personal. That is a quote of a Paco DVD if im not mistaken

Making faces is very important. In some certain moments. Players with no visual expression are hard to watch. Not only faces, you can also jump around. There needs to be a minimum of visual stimulation (sorry for the educated word) for the audience.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 16:25:07

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

I dont know with which professional guitarrist you compare. F.e. Nino de Pura is a professional.. and watch his face. I think it doesnt look relaxed...

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 17:21:16

d.eduardo

Posts: 32
Joined: Jun. 1 2006

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to Doitsujin)

Look at Jeronimo Maya when he was a young lad. His mouth looked like he was sucking a lolly (think that's popsickle in the US). However, now you don't see it - his Daddy "ironed that out" I believe. Good thing too - he did look pretty stupid!
Grimaces and facial contortions are part of an artist's expression and communication with the audience, and are ok if they aren't too pretentious.
There was a period during the Nineties when almost every young budding flamenco guitarist seemed to put on the slightly overdone facial expression of Vicente Amigo where he periodically stares up at the heavens as if momentarily moved by a fleeting astronomical event.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 17:36:34

JDiaz

Posts: 244
Joined: Apr. 20 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to d.eduardo)

quote:

the slightly overdone facial expression of Vicente Amigo where he periodically stares up at the heavens as if momentarily moved by a fleeting astronomical event.

hahaha! Ya, some expressions of guitarists are odd and can be annoying but i think it's nothing bad really, just funny sometimes.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 17:57:49

JDiaz

Posts: 244
Joined: Apr. 20 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

speaking of face expressions....

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 18:02:37

Martin

Posts: 150
Joined: Nov. 21 2004

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

Don't have a mirror around when I am playing, therefore don't know

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 18:06:56

Ron.M

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

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

It's impossible to keep a straight face if you play with any sort of intensity.
Watch Gerardo Nuñez and Paco Peña etc.
They play with a fixed professional smile which is practised, to avoid looking like an idiot.
(Julian Bream gets the World Cup for that
He always looks like he's about to sh*t himself and bust a vessel in his head at the same time

)
BTW That Jeronimo clip is pure magic, regardless of the grimaces!

cheers,

Ron

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A good guitar might be a good guitar
But it takes a woman to break your heart

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 18:17:33

Jan Willem

Posts: 274
Joined: Feb. 21 2007
From: Belgium Halle

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

There's a difference between uncontroled movements wich look really stupid, and expressions of the face that are controlled. It's clear that uncontroled grimaces, like for ex. the young jeronimo, diminish the performance in a whole.

Of course when performing a high speed picado, I think it's quite logic that you can see the intensity of the technique on the face.
But when you really enjoy the music, when it all comes natural, facial expressions will be a logic result.
It's not only in enjoying music that people make strange expressions

What you don't want, altough musicly I can appreciate the performance;

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 18:20:05

guitardode

Posts: 114
Joined: Jun. 29 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

FIND THIS REALLY AMUSING LETS ADMIT IT MOST OF US WATCHING GUITARISTS CONCENTRATE ON LOOKING AT THE PLAYERS CHORDS RASGUEDOS ETC TO LEARN A FEW TRICK FALSETTAS NOT WONDER IF THE GUYS NOSE HAIR IS GETTING IN THE WAY ETC I PREFER TO PLAY WITH A BROWN PAPER BAG OVER MY HEAD SO THAT PEOPLE CANNOT BE DISTRACTED WORKS EVERY TIME!!

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GUITARDODE

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 18:33:44

stephen hill

Posts: 300
Joined: Feb. 16 2004
From: La Herradura, Granada, Spain

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

what a great post! my problem is groaning when I play, when I am really in to it I just cant stop, sort of humming along. hmmm, how to stop, maybe one of those stop snoring things up my nose or just a rag in my mouth...

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http://www.spanishguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 18 2007 23:03:25

guitarbuddha

Posts: 2970
Joined: Jan. 4 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to stephen hill)

Practice stopping Stephen !!

Play something easy,or slow, and let yourself groan. Then consciously relax and stop but try and keep your playing even. Then speed up a little and try again.

Then when you find yourself graoning in performance you will have the skills in place to relax and stop it.

Hope that is useful (and not condescending).

D.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 19 2007 14:26:29

gato

Posts: 322
Joined: Jun. 9 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

Don't worry about it, these kinds of things iron themselves out the more you play, and you transfer your concentration from physical to musical the more natural playing the guitar becomes. Just remember that you are you, and not to try to look like other people, because when you do, that is when you start to look strange or false.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 19 2007 22:32:00

gato

Posts: 322
Joined: Jun. 9 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to gerundino63)

Peter, I think that means that guitarists are to avoid theatrics while performing, and it's a kind of tradition among guitarists. This would be to let the attention be drawn to other performers on stage, again stating the purpose of the guitar as accompaniment, though guitar may take a solo performance. It's just that way.....

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The Life Everlasting/Oswald Utopia

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 19 2007 23:21:11

stephen hill

Posts: 300
Joined: Feb. 16 2004
From: La Herradura, Granada, Spain

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to guitarbuddha)

I'll try that. Breath through the nose, as buddah did

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stephen hill - granada spain
http://www.spanishguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 19 2007 23:54:57

guitardode

Posts: 114
Joined: Jun. 29 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

HUMAN BEINGS ALL BEING TOTALLY DIFFERENT OBVIOUSLY HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIONS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IN RELATION TO THE MUSIC SO THERE IS NO REAL ANSWER TO THIS POST JUST BE YOURSELF KEEP A GOOD POSTURE GRUNT GROAN MOAN SNORT SPIT IT OUT ITS FLAMENCO!! THIS APPLIES TO THE DANCERS TOO -BE UNIQUE IF YOU.R DARING ENOUGH !!

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GUITARDODE

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 20 2007 12:19:34

Francisco

Posts: 879
Joined: Jun. 13 2005
From: SW USA

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

My problem isn't facial expressions, but rather my head starts to 'bob' up and down to the rhythm (hope that doesn't sound as bas as I think it does).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 20 2007 13:33:16

guitardode

Posts: 114
Joined: Jun. 29 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

HI SAMWISE
YES THAT IS A PROBLEM-- DUCKING N WEAVING IS A SIMILAR AFFLICTION BUT BOBBING CAN BE A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE PLAYING A RYHTMICALLY DIFFICULT PEICE- YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BRING IN CONTRA BOBBING FOR EXAMPLE !!
DANCERS COULD BE DISTRACTED EASILY BY AN OUT OF COMPAS BOB-- N BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOULL BE OUT OF A JOB !!
JUST KEEP PLAYING YOUR STUFF WOBBLING OR BOBBLING

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GUITARDODE

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 20 2007 16:12:56

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

@guitardode

your capslock man,.... your c a p s l o c k ..... tststs

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 20 2007 21:45:25

Guest

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to Doitsujin)

sometimes when they grimace it looks like theyre trying to push out a number two, that looks really sh*t.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 21 2007 0:32:19

Francisco

Posts: 879
Joined: Jun. 13 2005
From: SW USA

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

quote:

HI SAMWISE
YES THAT IS A PROBLEM-- DUCKING N WEAVING IS A SIMILAR AFFLICTION BUT BOBBING CAN BE A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE PLAYING A RYHTMICALLY DIFFICULT PEICE- YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BRING IN CONTRA BOBBING FOR EXAMPLE !!
DANCERS COULD BE DISTRACTED EASILY BY AN OUT OF COMPAS BOB-- N BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOULL BE OUT OF A JOB !!
JUST KEEP PLAYING YOUR STUFF WOBBLING OR BOBBLING

Oh, btw, all caps = very flamenco!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 21 2007 13:32:51

Matic

Posts: 603
Joined: Jul. 3 2006
From: Slovenija

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

his nick isn't in caps...so he knows the function

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vengo de los san migueles
si no me caso este año que yo
me caso el año que viene

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 21 2007 14:26:26

Matic

Posts: 603
Joined: Jul. 3 2006
From: Slovenija

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

I've just read an interview with Capullo de Jerez:

quote:

When you try and look good you can't sing well. To feel flamenco you have to pout with your mouth and with your eyes, because the quejío (lament), the jondura comes from within like a torrent a cantaor can't just open his mouth and sing, he needs charisma and strength. Flamenco has to break you.

and so it goes with tocaores imo.

cheers

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vengo de los san migueles
si no me caso este año que yo
me caso el año que viene

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2007 8:25:36

Romanza

Posts: 296
Joined: Oct. 24 2005

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

Haven't you seen Paco de Lucia doing picados lately - he does some sort of head flicking thing with his eyes squeezed shut. Of course still manages to look cool!!

a few good ones on this live (seemingly covert) recording of camaron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2007 12:06:16

Romanza

Posts: 296
Joined: Oct. 24 2005

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

In fact, here is further proof

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Attachment (1)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2007 13:07:01

Taranto

Posts: 213
Joined: Apr. 7 2005

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

Take a look at this one:

José Antonio Rodríguez seems to exaggerate a good deal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2007 15:50:29

guitardode

Posts: 114
Joined: Jun. 29 2007

RE: Grimaces while playing (in reply to ChrisAudio)

great clip of these players ,usually too many guitarists playing sounds a bit overwhelming but this sounded the right balance (good grimaces too)

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GUITARDODE

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 25 2007 18:26:05