Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
Does Paco's Tone Suck?
Some people hate Paco's tone, some like it. One thing for sure, it's very distinctive and when you hear Paco rip off a picado run, you know it's him. So what do you say?
I was never a huge fan of Paco's music until this albumand ( Samarucco), mibe because most of it happened before my time. Dont get me wrong I have always known that he was the king i just didnt understand all of his music some of it went over my head.
This album is something else !! is more laid back and is soo freaking good ! I have asked this before and il ask it again : Do you find the new Paco sound more similar to Vicente this days ?
As you say, Paco's "tone" is distinctive. It's never been subtle as far as all the things I've heard him play. It's always been very much "in your face". The guitar tone is always bright, solid and every note "clean". I think Paco is of another generation, where one doesn't "muffle" one's notes in a display of "unplayable" hiccups and subdued flicks that the modern generation of players use. Not that I don't like that sort of stuff. Very much on the contrary...I do! Paco's early playing is pure virtuosity on the guitar and pure genius in his personal interpretations of compás and harmony. It sounds fairly naive when you listen to it now. But those ideas and virtuosity spawned a couple of generations of young guitarists just at a time when Flamenco was seen (even in Andalucia) as "old folk's music". The guy has every right to be called "The Pope". It's always easier to follow when someone has shown the way first.
On Paco's tone. Paco has always said that Flamenco will develop through the rhythmic possibilities rather than the harmonic. So I think he just calls a spade a spade, a note a note, plays them squarely on the head without any "moody" undertones and plays Flamenco guitar the way he sees it. Not that he is any less appreciative of guitarists who play in a more "toney" way.
the first time i heard pdl (sirroco) I thought hes tone was very strange. Very bright i had never heard that before. And when i bought la fabulosa guitarra. I thought that there were something wrong with the record his tone was so bright like there was no bass or midle what so ever . I never dissliked it. I just wasn´t use to it. No i LOVE it. Henrik
hI M.de.M. Almoraima is one of his best i belive. I like the sound of his guitar one that . And don´t forget "fuente y caudal". Or "El duende Flamenco de Paco de lucia" and..blaa blaa blaa...
´Didn´t you study at Christina Hereen ? What years was that? Henrik
I studied last there last summer, exactly one year ago I was in a crappy, non-airconditioned, roach-infested apartment on Calle Verde, which we would call an alley, not a street. I learned a tangos and panaderos flamencos and a bunch of falsetas, most of which I've completely forgotten.
hI MIGUEL. seem you didn´t like the school that much? I was curious cause i was supposed to go there 4 years ago but i went for the university of music instead.
Henrik, it was okay. I just went there for the summer course. While I enjoyed livign flamenco and guitar for 5 weeks, I am not sure I think the curriculum itself was that good. It's my understanding the 3 year course has a lot of work with singers and dancers, which would be good. I only worked with other guitarists (and saw about 25 shows while I was there).
Some think Paco's tone sucks? Who would that be? LOL I was just re-listening to the Luzia CD in my car over the last week, and I could not believe the tone of the guitar. But, you guys should realize that tone is manufactured in the recording. How about Paco's attack and clarity, his sense of 'timing' and mood, which never gets enough discussion or praise. If I could only feel as much as he feels in his little finger!
Printable Version
his tone was so bright like there was no bass or midle what so ever 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread