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Posts: 50
Joined: Aug. 11 2012
From: Delaware, USA
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to Florian)
My name is James from Delaware, USA. I am a fairly new member, but have been reading old threads off-and-on for the past couple years. I took a couple classical guitar lessons years ago. However, even though I enjoy listening to classical, I never really enjoyed trying to play it. I thought flamenco seemed like it might be more fun to play, but my first exposure was Ottmar Liebert. This style of music did not interest me, so I mistakenly wrote off playing the guitar. It was not until finding Tomatito and Moraito on YouTube just a couple years ago that I realized that Ottmar was not playing traditional flamenco. I am still a beginner, but I enjoy messing around with flamenco guitar and trying to “feel” the compas as Anders describes. It is great that the compas is such a challenge for me, because I enjoy being able to practice it even when I am away from my guitar. I think my favorite aspect of playing flamenco guitar is that it is fun even though I still suck. Classical guitar was just tedious because I sucked. I have plans to build a guitar, in fact, that is how I found this forum. However, I recently realized that it is more important to me right now to play flamenco and explore the culture, rather than hole myself up in my basement workshop for the next year. So I took the money I had ear-marked for tools and equipment and bought a flight to Spain. I leave this Saturday. I also live close to Philadelphia and DC and plan to take some lessons when I return. James
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to Mordorito)
Welcome James! That's great to hear that your getting back into playing. Flamenco is definitely something you can practice without a guitar, listening I think is a huge part. Also you can do rasgueados can be practiced on your steering wheel in traffic Pretty sure that's safer than doing makeup! I'm off to Spain next week myself, hopefully you're going to Andalucia!
Posts: 833
Joined: Oct. 29 2006
From: Olympia, WA in the Great Pacific Northwest
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to Escribano)
Ha, I used to have my location in my profile, but at some point I got grumpy and turned off by a patch of bad vibes on the Foro and though, “Man, **** those guys, I don’t want anyone knowing where I live.”
Anyway, now y’all know where I live. Just don’t come visit me, the house is a wreck.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to Mordorito)
Cooool...here you can do it all ...learn to play ...see all the falsetas here and that the Foro have on Youtube ...get expert advice from some really good players (not me) ,find our about building flamenco guitar , talk to luthiers .....whew ...everything ...there might even be some one near you as well.....
Dig in and have a look around the site if you cant find what you really want ...ask ....
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to Mordorito)
quote:
My name is James from Delaware, USA. I am a fairly new member, but have been reading old threads off-and-on for the past couple years
Welcome James [Mordorito], you will find that ForoFlamenco is an invaluable resource for learning how to appreciate and play flamenco. As you already know, here you can find the inspiring work of professional musicians and the exciting energy of beginners.
Yet, it is by participating in the discussion, by sharing music and our ever puzzling doubts, such whether Bulerias must start on the twelve beat or how really relaxed can the form of Fandangos be, we can really accelerate learning and understanding this beautiful art.
As you must have read, you join us at a critical time, James, as we mourn the loss of our dear friend, Ron M. –the engine of this Foro for many years. But, as we also celebrate his legacy, we are determined to stimulate new ideas and implement new projects, to keep this place exciting.
We hope that in due course you too will show us your pics of your guitar and clips of your performance, and of course please share pictures from Spain… Have a safe and productive trip, amigo.
Posts: 50
Joined: Aug. 11 2012
From: Delaware, USA
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to gj Michelob)
Thanks for the warm welcome, gj. I look forward to sharing videos and pics. Spain pics, no problem...performance videos... might take me a while to get the courage !
Lenador, sounds like you'll stand out in a crowd! I will keep my eyes open. I am not so recognizable...I will be the tourist who looks like he's been sleeping in his rental car...
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to gj Michelob)
gj Michelob, your articulate posts on a variety of topics were appreciated, and they were missed when you left the Foro. Welcome back.
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
RE: Sweet country music! (in reply to gj Michelob)
quote:
country music.... (what!, omg)...
Country eh? Very cool. I use a nylon stringed guitar to accompany my voice on a lot of country tunes. I've been making pretty liberal use of flamenco-inspired rasgueados and strum patterns for rhythm lately.
That is to say... Get that guitar out of the attic man!
And umm... I suspose I am new enough to introduce myself? Do we do that in this thread or start a new one?
Country eh? Very cool. I use a nylon stringed guitar to accompany my voice on a lot of country tunes. I've been making pretty liberal use of flamenco-inspired rasgueados and strum patterns for rhythm lately.
That is to say... Get that guitar out of the attic man!
And umm... I suspose I am new enough to introduce myself? Do we do that in this thread or start a new one?
I am delighted to meet a fellow "gas station music" aficionado... by all means start a new thread, introduce yourself and let us share notes on how we are making good use of any flamenco technique in country music.
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Sweet country music! (in reply to gj Michelob)
i have heard a lot of flamencos in spain like to listen to american bluegrass/old time music. if one can get past the image of bluegrass and old time music one will discover some really nice music. maybe the flamencos can relate and that is why they like good old hillbilly music.
Hey Keith, i am still trying to figure out who the "iberianwolf" was...
I love country music, despite the general misperception... i am captivated by the story telling of "pain" and "struggle" (as in Flamenco), and by the raw sound of steel strings conjuring sweetly melancholic melodies.
RE: Please welcome new members! (in reply to gj Michelob)
quote:
Is it alright if I stay on the Foro?
Dear gj
Have you ever really left, I wonder? I shall certainly visit the site more often again now. Your posts make such wonderful reading as they are written in graceful English.
As to country music, since I have watched the movie Crazy Heart I agree there can be more to country. Still, I would use that pretty parlour guitar to play slide guitar blues.
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Pretty sure that's safer than doing makeup! I'm off to Spain next week myself, hopefully you're going to Andalucia! 
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