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I'm not trying to start a fight here or anything, but I just thought it would be interesting to find out how fast some of you guys and gals are playing sixteenths via picado. I was under the impression that 150 beats-per-minute (bpm) is relatively slow-to-average, but from the comments I got on the "My Picado" thread, I was surprised that some of the people I consider semi-pros or pros had speeds around that value.
I KNOW that having fast picado doesn't mean anything, and that you can be the greatest flamenco guitarist in the world just by aire, compas, and accompaniment, but please, keep that thinking aside, and humor me here.
Gracias a todos!
PS: This poll refers to two-finger picado, and NOT three or more fingers (or other techniques like picking, using the index finger to simulate a pick, rasgueado on one string, flickado, etc.). Two-finger picado in any combination is fine (i-m, i-a, m-a, etc.).
PPS: I am referring to the speed you can CRUISE at, and NOT the speed you can do for only short bursts. I am talking about you being able to play at this speed relatively comfortably for at least a minute.
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
After 3 years, my picado is still crawling around at 110-120, 130-135 in short bursts. I just get so bored with practicing picado, so I rarely practice it, but I really got to get my **** together now. It's embarrassing.
After 3 years, my picado is still crawling around at 110-120, 130-135 in short bursts. I just get so bored with practicing picado, so I rarely practice it, but I really got to get my **** together now. It's embarrassing.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
Ok so I voted , picado speed wouldn't be my strong point but its getting better, not sure I put myself in as a 120 as it felt comfortable there, could be a bit faster but it gets messy above that so I dropped back to 120.. This was based on just playing up and down E phrygian from top E to bottom E strings 5 or 6 times and keeping it in with the metronone. actually I downloaded 'Tempo perfect' from NCH then I can set the subdivisions,,it's a free thing if you wanted it ,...
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
I submitted my vote. Hmmm, I never really tried to time it when I go full speed but my guess would be 170? I can probably go faster but not sure. I'm happy with it whatever it is though.
I never really tried to time it when I go full speed but my guess would be 170
You mean cruising speed, or speed bursts? I am fully sure that you can do at least 185 or higher at cruising, and more than 200 for speed bursts. I think we timed you once on that PdL Entre dos Aguas run, right?
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
I'm talking about cruising speed. Like I said, I can probably do more but I haven't timed myself. I think we did time it Ramzi, but I don't remember what it was. It probably was around 168 at least. I was holding back a bit.
ORIGINAL: Munin I just get so bored with practicing picado, so I rarely practice it
same with me. i practice say one week or maximum two weeks and then i leave it aside sometimes for months, if not years. i did not progress in speed in the last years. but somehow i dont feel to bad about it?
i practice say one week or maximum two weeks and then i leave it aside sometimes for months
Me too... I plan to practice about 10 or 15 minutes daily from now on though... I find all other techniques are manageable if they are not kept up daily, except for this bloody technique which I love / hate so much!
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
Here is the test. Chromatic scale from the low E on the 6th string to the high E on the 12 fret of the 1st string and back. How many can you do in a minute continuously without stopping?
Here is the test. Chromatic scale from the low E on the 6th string to the high E on the 12 fret of the 1st string and back. How many can you do in a minute continuously without stopping?
Could you post a tab or a video of HOW you would go from the open low E to the 12th fret of the high E and back? I mean, do you play the chromatic scale all in the first position until the G# on the high E string, then go to frets 5, 6, 7, 8 (second position) on the high E string, then to frets 9, 10, 11, 12 (third position) on the high E string, then just reverse that?
Or would you go in some way diagonally across the fret board?
Posts: 407
Joined: Oct. 10 2010
From: Wooli, NSW Australia
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
I have not attempted picado since going to flickado, some of my best efforts had me playing sixteenths comfortably at 112 nowhere near fast enough for flamenco . I have tryed many different things . I personaly don't believe that I am capable of picado however with flickado I can comfortably do bursts of 150 bpm and also explore the feel of different rhytmic variations 5's 6's 7's , and other combinations . My tone is improving and I look forward to getting off my classical .
Posts: 1821
Joined: Jul. 26 2009
From: The land down under
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
mine is pretty big,,, OOOhh, my mistake, you asked how fast is your picado?
If i practice scales at home i usually practice them between 130 and 150 depending on the length of a scale and how tricky it feels. At the end or during a three hour gig soloing over rhumbas etc... the speed increases significantly. Endurance is the difficult part for me. As my endurance goes i lose the relaxed feeling and vice versa?
It works for me. I can do faster in bursts, but I dont really care. fast picado is to much work if you only play around an hour or hour and a half each day.
RE: How fast is your picado? (in reply to rombsix)
I Usually use more fingers to go faster, less to go slower, and in combinations of 1, 2, 3, or 4's to articulate the syncopation so that I am not playing fewer or extra notes than needed, so I don't really think of it in this way.
And by the way, slower, or medium speed with articulation is much harder to do well than blow quick riffs of single notes, say multiple note and or differing articulations with rests and differing note lengths with accents, to be more melodic or harmonic. It's all about phrasing, and that's just me. Gary
Yeah, definitely. Not just playing the same note over and over on one string. Rather, playing the E phrygian scale for example.
About the exercise: I don't have a score, but if you download the video and slow it down, it should be easy to pick up.
The notes initially go like this: A, G, A, G, F, G, A, G, F, E, F, G, A, G, F, E (all on the first string so far), D, E, F, G, A, G, F, E, D, C, D, E, F, G, A, G, F, E, D, C, B (D, C, and B on the second string), etc. until you end the exercise like this (these being the final series of notes) E, F, G (6th string), A, B, C (5th string), D, E, F (4th string), E, D, C, B, A, G, F, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, D, C, B, A, G, F, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, C, B, A, G, F, E, F, G, A, B, etc. until you end on G, F, E (6th string).