RE: Counting Bulerias

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Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Counting Bulerias (in reply to Jon Boyes)

This is exactly what I was trying to say with my somewhat tongue-in-cheek post earlier.
I really struggled hard trying to understand Bulerias rhythm, as Jon did.
It's only when you get clear of the fog, that you see (the basics) as a helluva lot more simple than you first thought.
But people translate that above sentence as meaning "right...I've found it" and ask for "the formula" to be downloadable in one simple sentence, like it's some "key" or something.
The Ultimate Formula, that can be printed on a tee-shirt.
The truth is, Bulerias can be as simple or as complicated as anyone wants to make it.
There is no "key".
But it's not magic.
You have to make some inroads some way...ANY way.
Read what folk are saying, but as someone pointed out, people are saying thing about different styles and in different ways.
That's why I said maybe get a hold of Ricardo's video or see a teacher or something.
It's just a waste of time to try to explain it in words.
All this talking of numbers and odd sixes etc will just overheat your brain.
Just start somewhere, maybe clapping or tapping along with cante records or something and expand from there.

[Zen Mode]
Imagine if you (and your guitar) were captured by the Red Injuns (*) on a stagecoach ride across early America.
The Tom-Toms are playing an unfamiliar rhythm...not one you can easily associate with "Daisy,Daisy..Give Me Your Answer Do..."
They are about to tie you up to the stake and light a fire underneath you.
Suddenly, the Chief (who has been looking at the guitar and trying to work out if it's a Devil White Man's machine for firing six arrows at the same time says..
"What this?"
You say.."It's a musical instrument....for making tunes...yeah?"
He looks at it and says, "Play tune..."
Meanwhile the Tom-Toms are drumming louder than ever....
What are you going to do?
Try to fit in with their rhythm?
Or play "Daisy, Daisy" ?
[/Zen Mode]

cheers

Ron

(*) Native Americans ...(Big John Wayne has a lot to answer for..

)

_____________________________

A good guitar might be a good guitar
But it takes a woman to break your heart

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2006 20:20:50

Ricardo

Posts: 14832
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Counting Bulerias (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Fun huh? I also liked what Jon wrote. And Miguel as well. Both are right, well said, too bad it doesn't make sense to many.

For the record, I can tell when folks have internalized 12,3,6,8,10, because they get stuck in that pattern forever, and also, they often speed up the 7,8,9,10 bit of the compas for some reason, and never lock it in to other grooves. Not sure why, but I think it has to do with the challenge of feeling odd and even numbers of beats in the same phrase. Half compas don't need to be "counted", it is a really easy feel, and when you realize bulerias in 12 is just 2 of those, things get really easy in terms of grooving.

It would be good for students to learn to do palmas for bulerias, using their foot too. (foot)1&2,THREE,4,5(foot)7&8,NINE,10,11(foot)etc. When going fast if you cant' get the "&" in there it is OK, just clap the numbers. But accent the 3 and 9 always. Eventually you realize that 3 and 9 are the same, so half compas is easy to feel, and all bulerias styles in general.

http://michaelk101.com/todd/toddmp3/jerezpalmlong.mp3

Ricardo

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2006 21:40:06