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***Beginner's Summer Tangos Challenge Entries***
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Andy Culpepper
Posts: 3031
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA
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 RE: ***Beginner's Summer Tangos Chal... (in reply to at_leo_87)
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OK...this was hard, everyone gave it a great shot and there were very few major compas issues or anything like that...but after MANY listens, a clear favorite emerged for me.
For everyone: Good tone, good ligados, RASGUEADOS NEED WORK  especially the tresillo. But honestly great work and all of you won in that you got through the piece at a decent speed.
Note: I'm grading these against a PERFECT version, not each other. Ramzi probably would have gotten about a 28 
1. Hyperion
Technique: 6
Groove: 6
Aire: 5
Total: 17
Your file came up in my iTunes with the genre "thrash metal" Funny. You did a nice job, but overall it needs more punch, and stronger rasgueados, especially the tresillo at the end. Tempo was a little sloppy but decent groove.
2. Cygnus
Technique: 7
Groove: 8
Aire: 8
Total: 23
My favorite. Good strong playing and tone, good ami rasgueados but again the tresillo needs work. This one grooved for me. Good job!
3. Phobos
Technique: 5
Groove: 6
Aire: 5
Total: 16
I liked your tone, but you lost technique points for a very choppy and harsh rasgueado, especially on the low strings, and the ligado was a little weak. Pretty good tresillo though!
4. Betelgeuse
Technique: 5
Groove: 4
Aire: 6
Total: 15
A lot of rushed notes detracted from the groove, in the beginning between chord changes and in the thumb part. Technique...left hand fingerings sounded hard, weak ligado and not enough punch on the alzapua. Good tone overall though.
5. Arcturus
Technique: 5
Groove: 4
Aire: 5
Total: 14
Practice your ami rasgueado landing on the beat. The timing was off in the beginning. You missed a chord change at :42. There was a compas issue at :49, the A string ligado needs to come a beat earlier. Good alzapua sound!
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Date Sep. 1 2009 12:03:17
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xirdneH_imiJ
Posts: 1933
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton
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RE: ***Beginner's Summer Tangos Chal... (in reply to at_leo_87)
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This was very difficult to judge, the level and the issues are similar. You all need to practice rasgueados and precision. The compás is fine everywhere, but you'll need to be much tighter. Recording yourselves helps enormously!
Well done all of you!
Arcturus 17 points
You definitely need more practice with the rasgueados, but I found it very positive that you attempted and pulled off the amii rasgueado perfectly. The backing obviously helped you stay in compás. I liked your alzapúa.
Betelgeuse 20 points
It sounds like a well rehearsed piece played by a nervous guitarist. Your alzapúa needs to be much cleaner. The finishing triplets sounded fine, they'll need to be cleaner, but credit for trying!
Cygnus 22 points
Overall this seems to be the best recording. The guitar being out of tune hurt a bit. The problem here is precision, you were behind the beat too often. It was also clear that some parts you played with confidence and you were just trying to get through others, you'll need to work in being more even in that regard.
Hyperion 18 points
This was a balanced performance but you'll need to work on both technique and compás in the future. The lack of a backing track helps hide the fact that the compás is not good, maybe if you used one it would've helped.
Phobos 21 points
Your rasgueados sound weird! Again, balance is the key, listen to Ramzi's recording and watch his hands. I felt you were rushing at places, again the backing track would've helped.
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 1 2009 17:11:34
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Matic
Posts: 603
Joined: Jul. 3 2006
From: Slovenija
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RE: ***Beginner's Summer Tangos Chal... (in reply to at_leo_87)
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Arcturus
timing/compas 6
technique 6
aire 6
TOTAL:18
Your timing is not bad. But you're not very confident either. Sometimes it feels like you're a bit behind the beat, that you're trying to catch it. As Ricardo says, don't you follow the palmas, let palmas follow you (or something like that...). Study that interesting compas variation around 0:42 more, do it as El Rumbero does it, it's a nice lick you can often use (don't do it too often though because it's very effective...) to enrich your compas strumming. Try as many different variations, practice it with metronome, first very slow, KNOW the rhythm, always have fun playing with your best ticking friend... GROOVE! the metronome can be the grooviest percussion instrument! ;) And try to SING everything you play. If you can sing it, you can play it. I've been hearing those advice from many different top notch players all the time and I can also say from my experience - it's true!
Regarding the sound: As Jason points out, the rasgueos are the most important technique in flamenco. That's so true. Practice rasgueos hard. And a very important thing: dig into that guitar more!! Dynamics are very important...
You are doing really well, keep it up!
Betelgeuse
timing/compas 6
technique 5
aire 4
TOTAL: 15
Let the bass notes ring in the arpegio part... EVERY note is important! You have to brush your back teeth as well even though they don't stand out the same as the incisors... Give the notes the attention they deserve! :D Practice slow with a metronome. Practice slow with a metronome. Practice slow with a metronome.
As with, Arcturus, not a bad timing. Seems like you want to be confident and dig in but don't yet have the technique to express what you desire. It will come! Flamenco guitar isn't an easy instrument to play. I know, I'm in the same position as you.
I can hear you have a nice potential. Keep it up!
Cygnus
timing/compas 7
technique 7
aire 7
TOTAL: 21
Well, I'm running out of advice. First, read everything I wrote for your colleagues. ;)
Try to produce the same strong sound with arpegios as you can with your thumb! When you practice, exaggerate, really dig in, play as loud as possible (and accurate at the same time) ... know how to play loud and you will be better at playing soft. I was oleing at 1:14, yeah man, beat it!
Vary the compas patterns, learn those Ramzi plays, listen to the cante cds, play what they play. You are able to!!
Practice hard and you will be great!
Hyperion
timing/compas 7
technique 6
aire 6
TOTAL: 19
Hey. When I first listened to your attempt I thought, he's got a good rhythm considering he has no loop or metronome! But I hear you have it really silent (on headphones?)... Anyway, sometimes you are dragging a bit... nothing tragic.
It's obvious you can produce a nice tone if you want. Dig in more! Noone in Spain wants to hear the rasgueos like you played them at the end! ;) Flamenco guitars like it HARD! And so do Flamencos.
Learn that rasgueo pattern at 0:42 (everyone should!!), practice slow, ticktack, sing...
Groove!
You are a fine, capable player.
Phobos
timing/compas 7
technique 6
aire 7
TOTAL: 20
I like your arpegios! Very nice, good tones. I don't like the sound of your rasgueos. It may be a recording but I don't think so. It sounds like you're throwing your fingers at those strings as if they weren't yours (fingers I mean) ;) I like it that you play rasgueos seperating the fingers, trying to get them sound equally strong... all good but at the end it all comes to the sound. If the sound is bad even if you have the rhythm, something is missing.
I like your playing, keep practicing!
To all:
I was hoping to hear a brave attempt on filling that BIG hole in the middle but yes, I guess you all wanted to be faithful to Ramzi's original... I remember not liking that silence when Ramzi first posted his video... I think I even posted an example or two how I would fill it (check the original thread if you want an idea). But I'm not saying it's bad or wrong, maybe more personal taste...
There are a few spots in this tango that are a nice challenge. You shouldn't stop playint it now after you're over with the challenge. Try to perfect it! Still practice it slowly and pay attention to the details. I know, one of the main worries for this challenge was to come through the piece safely... Challenges are stressful and sometimes depressing but you can get great advice and you improve a lot. Anyway, what I was trying to say is that coming throuh the piece safely is a big task and all but you shouldn't forget the other aspets of music when running towards the light at the end of a tunnel. Pay attention to the DETAILS!! Man, noone did that funky rasgueo I mentioned a few times right! Now go and learn it! Another interesting part is that ligado around 1 minute. Practice that! And the thumb part after that can be a very efective passage. You should really play that part like you mean it!
In general, I was pleasantly surprised with your submissions. You are all doing great and I heard nothing that couldn't be improved. It's obvious you are working hard and that you love flamenco. I didn't comment much about the aire. Well, you all know when you hear something that has a real aire, soniquete to it. And THAT is the most important thing in flamenco, never forget this! Si tú no tienes soniquete pa qué te metes...
Congrats to all!
Matic
_____________________________
vengo de los san migueles
si no me caso este año que yo
me caso el año que viene
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Date Sep. 2 2009 12:29:00
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