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So I have been browsing the "Cante Accompaniment" thread in the Audio Upload section for the past few months.
I would like to learn how to accompany but cannot find any resources on how to get started. It seems like a great mystery. I have watched a few cante accompaniment vids on YT but those are just people playing along and not really explaining what they are upto.
For all the members who regularly upload to that thread do you have any advice on how I can start my journey?
I am unable to go to Spain at the moment and I'd like to start out from the comfort of my own home so please keep that in mind when offering sugestions. Thanks.
Posts: 16239
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: How to start cante accompaniment (in reply to sol512)
Well, maybe start with Alegrías as the letras tend to be only two chords and you listen for the see-saw and simply keep time correctly (C to C, first compás, then each compás you change on 10 to G7, then next one to C, etc., until the full verse and colatilla finish, usually 7+4 compás structure). Play along with this:
1:06 and 3:25, are standard. The letra at 4:41 is more typical to start but an octave lower, so Camaron personalized this by doing it high and last in sequence. All use the same 2 chords basically:
We don't have many examples but you need to play a long with recordings as a baseline. Fandango coplas are fixed so try those next. 6 phrases
1. C 2. F 3. C 4. G7 5. C 6. F to E.
I say do Fandango de huelva first as the rhythm can guide you assuming you can keep time with a basic metronome and such. Well, if that is an issue, work on that first! Next you need to know how to find the correct pitch and put your capo so use videos as a guide (like you can see the guitarists position etc.). As you train your ear then maybe explore just audio recordings the same way. Noticing the 6 line structure of the Alegrías and the Fandango Copla are quite similar (the same really the last musical line split in two) it is likely Alegrías evolved from an extinct "Fandangos de Cadiz". Anyway these formulaic songs are a good starting place to prepare for the more challenging Soleá family where that verse/chord structure may change in the moment, rather than remain fixed.
RE: How to start cante accompaniment (in reply to sol512)
The main thing is to just start! And make lots of mistakes. Sounds like at home you won't be annoying an actual singer- just recordings. Upload your take in the Cante Accompaniment thread for feedback.
All you need to begin is to have solid compas and know a few chords, some basic marcaje, cierre and remates. Be able to keep unshakable compas and hit different chords with no problem.
Forget about trying to find a resource to give you a set of general rules or a blue print. Begin by doing - do not begin by understanding. Begin by studying one thing in particular. I recommend choosing a cante performance that you love and study it in depth. The *cante melody*, and the tonos chosen in response. You can use free online machine learning services to take the guitar off any recording you like, and then record yourself.
Then from wherever you start, gradually expand to study other styles of the same palo, other singers, other palos etc... An understanding of flamenco aesthetic and what is 'correct' will slowly begin to emerge; beyond a lifetime's work. E.g. Find out the style you've studied and find other versions of the same. Maybe same singer but a different performance or guitarist, or another singer. Then the cante variations and possible tonos choices begin to make sense.
Ricardo, Norman, Romerito, Estela and a few others have given us many pearls of knowledge on the foro. But without having one's own experience to relate to, they won't mean anything or even be recognised. Many times I have been studying a palo, or style, or cantaor/cantaora and used the foro search function and found valuable answers.
Also of course Norman's great website https://canteytoque.es/ Solea, Seguiriyas, Buleria por solea
If you need more guidance Ricardo does one to one online lessons. Pituquete has some videos you might find helpful. I have also checked out his cante accompaniment course in his paid 'peña' subscription, I found it useful.
Also José Ignacio Franco has some accompaniment class demos on his channel
RE: How to start cante accompaniment (in reply to sol512)
Thanks for the responses,. I have spent most of my time learning falsetas and some basic compas, but mainly falsetas.
I would prefer to start with Solea as that is a palo I enjoy listening to.
Agreed that the doing is important, but to use an analogy, before one can write a word they need to understand the alphabet.
If there is no resource that explains the alphabet its a bit beyond me how one is expected to start writing words.
Obviously this is a learnable system and it is taught, so it must exist.
I will try to find some resources that explain what chords I should strum and at what point in the solea cante I change to what chord, and then from there maybe I can be brave to upload to the foro.
Its a pity there are no didactic videos or learning systems that break this down in easily digestible steps.
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