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RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to Filip)
Tx Filip....gotta be the best I have seen Amigo play I though his accompanying in the bulerias was excellent ....great imagination.. Also Choro is dancing well and had lost weight.
Posts: 137
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area
RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to JasonM)
When I took a few lessons with Grisha he told me that Vicente uses very low action and he is playing very very softly. Moreover Lester Devoe made the latest guitar for Grisha and it at some point had a saddle which was Vicente's and he had to give it back to Vicente eventually. But during the time that Grisha had it - he said originally every fret would buzz for him. Over time however he says playing softer and softer achieves what he calls "breath". It is also whether one plays amplified or not.
I remember going to Antonio Rey's performance and he played very softly while being amplified. I could not hear too much of what he was playing when they did "por fiesta" buleria exit and he was standing with his guitar not pointed to the mic. So playing softly its great but is a luxury traditional flamenco (especially accompanying por baile) would not be able to afford.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to zendalex)
quote:
So playing softly its great but is a luxury traditional flamenco (especially accompanying por baile) would not be able to afford.
Melchor did not play loud. It is about dynamics really. Loud is not always good, even for baile. Once the dynamics are up so an engineer wants to either back off the guitar or use compression/ limiter…then there is no where to go but loud all the time. Vicente and Antonio have the right idea… hot mic but play soft or normal dynamics until the time calls for power, and hopefully the sound guy keeps it hot and open.
Ps. Wonder what Morante thinks of that frijones solea at 16:36
RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to zendalex)
quote:
When I took a few lessons with Grisha he told me that Vicente uses very low action and he is playing very very softly.
Great to know that Vicente also plays very softly. Here's me another guy in the making with an incredible light touch. This way I got good results in my arp and picado speed. On a good day I can even keep up with Gerardo Nunez pami and pima speed in Encuentro video. I hear almost no difference in loudness of my playing. My guitar is loud enough so I have to practice with earplugs. I highly recommend a lightness and total relaxation while playing.
RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to zendalex)
quote:
ORIGINAL: zendalex
quote:
I hear almost no difference in loudness of my playing
Interesting - any samples you can share comparing lighter way of playing to your previous self?
No samples. I didn't record myself. Should have done it a year ago. But it's obvious if you read the following quote from a foromember James Ashley Mayer. I have to thank him again for that. Definitely one of the best advice on the foro.
quote:
My advice is to play very lightly. As lightly as possible. Volume and power comes from technique, not physical effort.
Posts: 137
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area
RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to devilhand)
quote:
My advice is to play very lightly. As lightly as possible. Volume and power comes from technique, not physical effort.
that echos what Antonio Rey said himself, but his was a response to "how you practice such long hours and don't injure yourself". So I guess works on both counts.
Posts: 2007
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
RE: Vicente Amigo concert recording 2019 (in reply to zendalex)
Antonio said the same in a class a few years ago. He was asked how he practiced so many hours without hurting himself, and he said he practises very lightly. But, when he plays, it's a bit differrent. There was no amp in the class, and his playing doesn't lack volume. I'm sure a lot of that is great technique as opposed to physical effort.
Recently in a class with Tino, he asked me a play a Gerardo bulerias falseta several times, until I dialed in the best tone, and the best expression, which occured when I played it much lighter than I could, and usually would. I told him my first teacher was super old school, and he played pretty hard. I said it was a constant effort to figure out how to play a given thing at the best volume and he said it took him 30 years to figure it out himself.
quote:
ORIGINAL: zendalex
quote:
My advice is to play very lightly. As lightly as possible. Volume and power comes from technique, not physical effort.
that echos what Antonio Rey said himself, but his was a response to "how you practice such long hours and don't injure yourself". So I guess works on both counts.