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I am a metal guitarist and have recently been VERY intrigued by flamenco style guitar. I am really wanting to start learning this awesome style now! The thing is I really don't know where to start...
First off, I don't want to start as a total beginner because I am already quite familiar with the fretboard and know many of the chords. I am also fairly good with scales and sweep picking and such. From what I understand, flamenco requires finger picking as opposed to use of a regular guitar pick (which I'm very accustomed to) am I correct on this?
Finally, I suppose I need to buy a classical guitar. I currently have an Ibanez acoustic - but it's not a nylon stringed fellow. I also have a schecter electric but I'm guessing that one wont suffice either:-) That being said, Does anyone have any recommendations for a cheap starter guitar? I really can't afford much...
Ok well that's all I can think of at the moment. I appreciate any advice offered!
Hey there mate, I'm a newbie as well. But I'll tell you what I've learnt here. Don't get a classical guitar, get a flamenco guitar, it's slightly slimmer in the body with a lower bridge. The lowered bridge is pretty important. And yes to using fingers.. check out some youtube videos. Teaching videos include Oscar Hererro, Juan Martin, check them out again on youtube.
Yamaha makes a beginner flamenco about US$350, another maker making an all solid beginner is Francisco Navarro, about US$999.
just ask any questions, lotsa friendly people here.
First off, I don't want to start as a total beginner because I am already quite familiar with the fretboard and know many of the chords. I am also fairly good with scales and sweep picking and such.
I was into metal as a kid too, later jazz and classical a bit. Unfortunately, flamenco is from another world and when I started out, I honestly had to "start over" like a beginner regarding right hand technique, and along the way MANY left hand concepts too were like back to the beginning. So keep and open mind and understand the world you are entering is exotic and foreign compared to what you are used to, and RESPECT THAT. Since you have background, many things will be easier for you then others, but still you are going to have to relearn MANY musical and technical ideas.
Assuming you take this thing serious and don't intend to do some gay spanishy noodling like HUNDREDS of other metal kids want to try after they hear Paco play with Dimeola.
Assuming you take this thing serious and don't intend to do some gay spanishy noodling like HUNDREDS of other metal kids want to try after they hear Paco play with Dimeola.
First off, I don't want to start as a total beginner because I am already quite familiar with the fretboard and know many of the chords. I am also fairly good with scales and sweep picking and such.
I was into metal as a kid too, later jazz and classical a bit. Unfortunately, flamenco is from another world and when I started out, I honestly had to "start over" like a beginner regarding right hand technique, and along the way MANY left hand concepts too were like back to the beginning. So keep and open mind and understand the world you are entering is exotic and foreign compared to what you are used to, and RESPECT THAT. Since you have background, many things will be easier for you then others, but still you are going to have to relearn MANY musical and technical ideas.
Assuming you take this thing serious and don't intend to do some gay spanishy noodling like HUNDREDS of other metal kids want to try after they hear Paco play with Dimeola.
Ricardo
I second this post 100% (specially the last sentence ;-)
I also used to play E-Guitar. Forget what you know about Guitar if you seriously want to learn Flamenco (not Flamingo) Guitar. Its a whole new world. For us who used to play E-Guitar, its even more frustrating at the beginning than someone who never had a Guitar in his hands. So prepare yourself for a tough time (of course followed by a lot of joy, if you hang on). Of course there are some advantages in your left hand, if you played E-Guitar, but the harder part is right hand.
yea definitely you need to use your fingers with flamenco well I started with yamaha cm-40 as a classical guitar and I still use it till today , this guitar is good and it last forever ,later I got my self a yamaha-C70 its better than the the cm-40 one and has a better model and sound as I got more advanced in classical music I bought an alhambra 6c and when I started flamenco I got a flamenco alhambra 3f sure i messed around with some melody and echo Chinese guitars they are totally gross hahah never buy them as they don't apply to the guitars traditional shapes so my advice to you is get a yamaha as a start its cheap with a good quality.
I am also moving from a rock/ blues guitar player to someone trying to learn the Flamenco guitar. I have to say it's not an easy task. I have found that these two sites have helped a lot.
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