Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Full Version)

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aselix -> Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 4:41:49)

OK, so I've been playing electric and acoustic guitar for 30+ years. I can play these pretty well. I decided to get a flamenco because I really like the sound and techniques used...

I have to admit, it's pretty intimidating. Picado? I can't see how these guys go so fast...

So looking for some advice/guidance on how to move forward, mostly on the right hand techniques (left hand for me as I'm left handed). Yeah, just practice, but maybe there 's a different approach to how you practice?

I have a Benito Huipe flamenco guitar - I like it, however I find the 2" plus fretboard width tough to deal with. How to make that easier?

You want low action, correct? Fret buzz is not a big deal? Low tension strings better for flamenco?

I'm reading up on a lot of stuff so any advice from trenches is appreciated..

Thanks



chester -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 4:53:10)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aselix

OK, so I've been playing electric and acoustic guitar for 30+ years. I can play these pretty well. I decided to get a flamenco because I really like the sound and techniques used...
I have to admit, it's pretty intimidating. Picado? I can't see how these guys go so fast...

They started slow. It takes a while to get some speed. Just like alternate picking.

quote:

So looking for some advice/guidance on how to move forward, mostly on the picking techniques. Yeah, just practice, but maybe there 's a different approach to how you practice?

I'd recommend getting a teacher to show you. In person would be better than skype. If this is your first foray into fingerstyle technique there's a lot to learn and get used to.

quote:

I have a Benito Huipe flamenco guitar - I like it, however I find the 2" plus fretboard width tough to deal with. How to make that easier?

You'll get used to that pretty fast.

quote:

You want low action, correct? Fret buzz is not a big deal? Low tension strings better for flamenco?

Fret buzz IS a big deal. You still want to sound good. Sure there's great music that's played on bad instruments but that's the exception not the norm.

High tension is better since you'll be hitting those strings with force.

quote:

I'm reading up on a lot of stuff so any advice from trenches is appreciated..

Start simple. REAL simple. Two chords and some turnarounds. Flamenco is rhythmic and funky. Without the swing you'll always sound "off". Better to play something easy well rather than something difficult poorly.



aselix -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 5:28:52)

Thanks for the advice...so hard tension strings means they are also bigger guage strings? Many say lower tension strings are easier/faster. I guess I could say that I don't want the strings to be too "relaxed" when playing them.

My flamenco has no neck adjustment, so it's pretty much a straight neck with no relief? When flipping the strings on the guitar to left handed, the string height became a little too high, but understandable for now, as I need to adjust the nut and also the bridge...having some one do a professional lefty conversion on it.



chester -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 6:54:34)

Don't get bogged down with optimizing your instrument/strings. There's a pretty wide comfort zone, it's mostly about getting used to it. Things WILL feel awkward at first (I remember freaking out that I'll never be able to play decent because I thought I had a strange nail shape on one finger), but after playing for a while you'll get used to it.

It's a bit like learning stick after driving with an automatic for a long time.



Piwin -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 9:55:36)

I second chester's advice of finding a teacher. If there aren't any in your area, there's also the option of taking classes via Skype, including from some people here on the foro who are set up for this kind of thing.

For fretboard width, I'd say focusing on the position of your thumb (fretting hand) should go a long ways in helping you with that (especially if you're coming from electric/acoustic guitar), i.e. having it placed in the middle of the neck (not necessarily right in the middle, it just a rule of thumb -har har).

For string tension, maybe (arguably) lower tension is easier to play, but higher tension is better for getting that flamenco sound IMO.

For right-hand practice, the key issue when starting out is probably just getting the hand position right, which brings us back to the initial advice of finding a teacher who can show you/correct any mistakes.

Have fun!



El Kiko -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 10:03:09)

quote:

Don't get bogged down with optimizing your instrument/strings.

Definitely agree here ..its easy to get bogged down and miss the point ...
you really wont know what you need /want for a while yet...
just start playing ....first thing you gotta do is get your hands used to it ...you'll learn to play , by playing ...
After when you can play somewhat , you will have a better idea of what you need ....heres a lot of stuff on here and were all learning ... just at different levels ..


I did do a thread for beginners a while ago ( me being a constant beginner as well )
there is some easy stuff here , with the music and all fairly slow ...
maybe of use ... maybe not ....click
..
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=204445&p=3&tmode=1&smode=1



Dudnote -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 15:02:47)

This is a purely personal opinion, but I wish I'd put more time into learning letras 16 years ago when I was at where you are at now. There is a lot of powerful poetry there and I always feel frustrated when I meet other guitarists and can't even hack my way through a verse or two with them.



Leñador -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 15:10:10)

quote:

This is a purely personal opinion, but I wish I'd put more time into learning letras 16 years ago when I was at where you are at now

Second that. My drive to learn was at its strongest when I first started and I feel like it was waisted trying to learn solo pieces when I should've just been learning chords and melodies to accompany.



BarkellWH -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 12 2016 18:22:39)

If you can find a teacher, you will be ahead of the game at the beginning and avoid mistakes that are hard to undo later.

There are varying opinions about learning letras and accompanying when beginning flamenco guitar. Some have been expressed in this thread. My own opinion is that if you wish to learn to accompany, fair enough. But do not let that stop you from learning to play solo as well. They are not mutually exclusive, and it is important to learn how to execute the various techniques: rasgueado, picado, arpeggio, tremolo, etc. In fact I would suggest a reasonable grasp of technique should be accomplished before learning to accompany. But that is just my opinion.

I happen to prefer playing solo guitar. There will be plenty of times when you will be alone or with a group of friends where there will be no singer to accompany. Yet, you will want to play flamenco guitar, either for your own enjoyment or that of your friends. So by all means learn to accompany. But do not allow anything to hold you back from learning to play solo.

Bill



Ricardo -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 13 2016 2:15:29)

Metronome...and by that I mean, don't forget that compas is just rhythm like any other type of music, you need to be able to play whatever you play with others ultimately. Many will tell you that you need to accompany cante etc .... I think it is more important to learn how to LISTEN to cante first. Become an aficionado don't just do something because someone tells you it must be done. First develop a taste and love for the different styles. I see aficionados get into cante and think because they can recognize a few letras that they are moraito suddenly. You have to get the rasgueado happening first. Dance class helps this and I think gets most techniques in shape and structure and arranging/improvising etc, gets it all together. Doesn't mean you have to end up some dance company guitarist/theatre producer. But it helps to understand what is happening musically with either singing or just advanced guitar music you might be discovering you like. From there, doors to many paths open.

Ricardo



Goldwinghai -> RE: Just started on Flamenco! Now what? (Jun. 13 2016 14:21:49)

quote:

In person would be better than skype.

In my case, Skype lessons work out best. I took in-person flamenco guitar lessons for about 6 months of last year. I had to drive about 45 minute to the teacher's studio, and upon arrival, I still had to spend several minutes doing some finger warm-up. The lessons were good but if I could not remember certain details covered during the session, I would have to wait until next lesson to ask the teacher. So I decided to give Skype lesson a try. I got in touch with Ricardo, a member of this forum. In the free lesson, Ricardo asked me what I wanted to learn. I said Picado. He explained picado technique and how to play it and get the picado sound in a few words. It was simple - the mechanics I mean. I am still working on my picado skill everyday. I like skype lessons for a couple of reasons: a) I would be sitting comfortably at home in front of the computer doing scale exercises to warm up my fingers before the lessons, and b) after each skype lesson, Ricardo would send me a link to down load the video of the session. The video quality is excellent. I use this video as a reference for review. So I would not hesitate to recommend Skype lessons.



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