Jon Boyes -> RE: Compas Structures (Oct. 1 2004 8:44:25)
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ORIGINAL: Skai I'm having real problems understanding compas.. For example, if bulerias, peteneras and guajiras have the same structure, why don't they sound similar apart from being different keys? Well you've given one reason - key/mode (although Buleria can be played in Aminor). You also have tempo thats different, and -crucially - the aire of these palos. That kind of means the mood and emotions conveyed but these things don't translate too well. Think of it this way, if you were playing a Guajiras you want to be thinking about lazing on a beach in Cuba under a palm tree watching the girls go by. Bulerias on the other hand is full of nervous tension and energy just waiting to burst - totally different. The cante lyrics reflect this kind of stuff. The only things that they have in common are a 12 beat cycle, and one possible pattern of accents within that cycle. However, when you start getting further into all this you find that even this doesn't hold true - there are many ways of accenting a bulerias, for example. So that's why they sound different [:)] For the second part of your question, see above - lots of good advice there ie take one palo at a time, get a flamenco metronome to jam along with, get a teacher if you can find a good one. Juan Martin and Graf Martinez both publish great methods. Learning solo pieces is helpful, but only if you take the time to look beyond the falsetas ie there is a danger of 'not seeing the wood for the trees'. Yes, learning some palmas can be helpful too. If I was teaching a beginner in the first lesson I'd have them clapping out the compas to Soleares before they pick up their guitar. Leave bulerias for a while - its the hardest palo to learn. That's one thing you will usually find everyone agrees on [;)] Jon
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