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Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to michel)
quote:
Ailsa, can you give us a range of bpm's that are possible for our final recording?
Hi michel,
Well no, not really. This is not a competition like the Bulerias challenge, except with yourself to produce the best playing you can. That is your prize - to be able to play some Solea to the best of your ability. I don't think bpm is really relevant to play good Solea. If you play it slower than the original but well, that's still good Solea.
There's some other stuff I want to say, having read some of the other posts, and I think it's important so I'm going to put it in bold.
This is a BEGINNERS challenge and we have six weeks to complete it, of which only 5 days has gone. I have read a lot of people saying 'I can't play it yet'. You SHOULDN'T be able to yet! - it's a CHALLENGE! If you could play it already it would be too easy for you and you should be in an intermediate challenge, not this one.
I haven't even started trying to play yet, because I am learning the notes in my head first. When I can 'sing' it then I'll start trying to play the notes, and it will take me a few weeks, not a few days.
I also think the whole thing about not liking the way Graf-Martinez plays is a complete distraction. The purpose is not to imitate Graf-Martinez, or Ricardo or anyone else. The aim is to learn the notes in whatever way is easiest for you and then play them like music. Make them your own.
Sorry rant over. I begin to think I didn't explain what I was hoping this challenge would be.
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to at_leo_87)
I think I just left my hotel california , it was a long road, in the end mostly mental but now its done. Thanks Ailsa for your kind offer. Maybe later but not now. You have my respect for organising this event. It needs some skills and time, and Im not sure if I have what it takes. Im sure that sooner or later some of us will create new intermediate challange and it will be fun. Thanks Ruispelto and good luck with your recording sessions. Hope to hear your uploads soon.
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to michel)
At first i thought this was from graff martinez volume 2 , then i realized t was in volume 1 which i have .
Using the DVD has made this much much easyer than it was before , i am starting to get it now using the slow version on the DVD but the full tempo version is too much at the moment .
If you havent got the graff martinez book and DVD my advice is to get it ,those of us who do have it i think have a big advantage .
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to El Camino)
quote:
Using the DVD has made this much much easyer than it was before
Yes I think it is always easier if you can see the fingering, and I guess that's the traditional way to learn, by watching and copying. I'm going to just use the youtube version that andresito found. I think that, the tab and listening to the mp3 should be enough.
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to Ailsa)
Thanks for clearing that up... then like Frankie, I am going to do it my Way! Man these lyrics are really speaking to me...
And now, the end is near; And so I face the final curtain. My friend, Ill say it clear, Ill state my case, of which Im certain.
Ive lived a life thats full. Ive traveled each and evry highway; And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
Regrets, Ive had a few; But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course; Each careful step along the byway, But more, much more than this, I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, Im sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew. But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall; And did it my way.
Ive loved, Ive laughed and cried. Ive had my fill; my share of losing. And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that; And may I say - not in a shy way, No, oh no not me, I did it my way.
For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels; And not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows - And did it my way!
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to Ailsa)
quote:
This is a BEGINNERS challenge and we have six weeks to complete it, of which only 5 days has gone. I have read a lot of people saying 'I can't play it yet'. You SHOULDN'T be able to yet! - it's a CHALLENGE! If you could play it already it would be too easy for you and you should be in an intermediate challenge, not this one.
I also think the whole thing about not liking the way Graf-Martinez plays is a complete distraction. The purpose is not to imitate Graf-Martinez, or Ricardo or anyone else. The aim is to learn the notes in whatever way is easiest for you and then play them like music. Make them your own.
GREAT point Ailsa! Dont worry with how graf-martinez plays. it's there for a reference. concern yourselves with how YOU'RE going to play.
and let's try not to be dependent on the advanced players. dont wait for others to show you it can be done or how it's supposed to be done. do it yourselves.
quote:
Using the DVD has made this much much easyer than it was before
i'd get the dvd for you guys but i dont know how to. however, i can make midi files if anybody wants them. there's no limit to how much you can slow down midi files.
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to Ailsa)
quote:
it's a CHALLENGE! If you could play it already it would be too easy for you and you should be in an intermediate challenge, not this one.
When I started two years ago, solea was for me the thing. This "challenge solea" was anyhow the first one I could play from the beginning till end with golpes, remates..and keep the compas and everything. Years ago, and still, I like to play sometimes blues ( for Ramzi rumba too))), so pull offs, hammers, ligados and so.. I have.. my fingers are used to play. Yesterday I felt that this is it, I can play it, just work with alzapua (it's quite nasty), timing, to get the solea pulse, feeling.
I am tired of thinking this beginner, intermediate, advanced thing, I understand that somehow these kind of challenges and competitions can be very useful and so, but it is not for me now. And there are people who can play solea, farruca, tangos and get the flamenco aire but bulerias no no. And maybe we shoudn't think too much things. I did it and I leave.
So count me out, I don' t have any choices, I go on my own path. And still, life is wonderful, my friend gave to me a book, Zen Guitar, after reading it I try to put the white belt on me allways when I start to play. Beginner.
My challenge is to upload something else before deadline. My first recording.
Thanks for everyone, the tabs are great. And the solea is so - solea, I like it vey much and it was great to learn to play "solea rasguaidos" other way. More challenges, they keep me going)
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to Ruispelto)
quote:
This "challenge solea" was anyhow the first one I could play from the beginning till end with golpes, remates..and keep the compas and everything.
Hi Ruispelto sounds like this is too easy for you, so completely understand you quitting. But great that you have decided to do an upload. We look forward to hearing it.
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to Ailsa)
Hi Ailsa, maybe it was toooo nice little solea (only the alzapua in the beginning..), I so wanted immediately learn it)). But of cource, because there were things i have been played a lot before. But it was great help for me because now i had to really pay attention to compas and accents and that was the main point for me. Now i try to keep the pulse always when i play my solea things. it was like a key.
As said earlier i try to upload something, working on a tientos and after solea it sounds very, how can say, heavy. Let's see.
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to michel)
Hi All,
If there is still time I'd like to give it a try as well, it's just the thing I need to get serious about practicing. One thing though the neck on my guitar is a little out so playing without a capo sounds pretty terrible. I can't find a decent luthier here in Costa Rica.
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to michel)
quote:
The purpose is not to imitate Graf-Martinez, or Ricardo or anyone else. The aim is to learn the notes in whatever way is easiest for you and then play them like music. Make them your own.
Good idea, I am gonna do an "out-of-compas"-version
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to kozz)
quote:
ORIGINAL: kozz
quote:
The purpose is not to imitate Graf-Martinez, or Ricardo or anyone else. The aim is to learn the notes in whatever way is easiest for you and then play them like music. Make them your own.
Good idea, I am gonna do an "out-of-compas"-version
Pffffft! That's weak! I'm gonna do an 'out-of-tune' version!
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to andresito)
quote:
ORIGINAL: andresito Pffffft! That's weak! I'm gonna do an 'out-of-tune' version!
That's the spirit andresito - a touch of originality!
Hope some of you guys are still working on this. I had a gig playing tientos/tangos for a local dance group last night, so now that's out of the way, I've just started. But it's OK, we've got 5 weeks!
I think my main problem is going to be getting those rasgueados even and clear - they are using a technique I've never done before. I'm a bit of a p-a-i woman myself. But I guess that's what it's about, doing new stuff.
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: FINAL Solea challenge for beginners (in reply to El Camino)
Hi guys - 14 challengers on the list now - hope you are all practising. Submission date is four weeks Monday, so you still have time.
Thought I'd just let you know how I'm getting on. I've learnt the notes now - which doesn't mean I can play them perfectly! It's very halting. But I know what they are supposed to be. Today my plan is to start playing with the metronome to get them even.
I agree with all you guys that said they didn't like the way it was played, so I've just used the recording to check I've got the notes and I'm not listening to it so much now. In fact my submission is probably going to be slower than the original, as that is how I feel I want to play it (that's my excuse anyway). No really, I think it will sound better less rushed and less tense. I may be criticised for that, but I want to upload a piece that I feel is good Solea, not GFs version.
Michel mentioned bar 11 being a pain. That's getting better now. I'm having trouble using that rasguado with the p down and up - sounds very heavy-handed. But the biggest fluff-monster for me is bar 23 with that stretch over to fret 4 - messy
Let us all know how you are getting on guys, and keep practising!!
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, it was a long road, in the end mostly mental but now its done. 
Louis_B 
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