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I think Herencia Latina is a bit of a tough piece to play because of all those transitions. Easy to play with a lite touch, harder to play with the tone as you say.
ORIGINAL: Shroomy726 Actually, some techniques come out a lot better with that position. But I don't use it because I do not like the way other techniques feel and because I don't like to hold the guitar in place with my left hand.
You shouldn't be supporting the guitar with your left hand, it needs to be unrestricted.
You should hold the guitar between your right arm and leg. You can attach those antiskid thingy's on the guitar to prevent it from slipping ( you know the same things that are on the bottom of furniture etc when they are standing on a shiny wooden floor )
Then again PP is using a special gadget between his guitar and his leg to prevent it from falling. It can be bought but I don't know where exactly.
In any case, when you hold your guitar like PP you should be able to let your left arm down without the guitar falling down.
I don't like to hold the guitar in place with my left hand. Does this happen to anyone else?
Well, a light weight flamenco guitar is supported in the old school position, with the forearm more or less. It is not really squeezed or pressed, but because the guitar is so light, it does not take much effort. I use this postion sometimes in juergas or when my leg gets tired, or I feel like I want to project more. There are times when you will want to strum harder and use your right arm a lot, in which case you will probably be holding a single chord or something easy, and you can support the guitar a little bit with left hand. But mostly it is not a difficult thing to support with the right arm. Just becarefull not to be squeezing the guitar, or too tense. Left hand can just give a touch of balance at certain times.
Does this happen to anyone else, the leg falling asleep?
Don't be afraid to move around a little when playing. Notice when paco taps his foot on the ground, the other sometimes swivals around in a circle. You can cross or un-cross, move around in your chair, hold the guitar up, switch legs, use a foot stool, whatever you want. It is not like classical guitar where you must sit in one position. Sitting in one position too long, not only messes up your circulation, but makes your muscles stiff and tense too. Notice how Vicente throws his head back and moves his shoulders. Looks arrogant, but if you try it, it actually feels very good. Keep lose as possible when playing.
ORIGINAL: Shroomy726 Does this happen to anyone else, the leg falling asleep?
Oh yes, the times I have hopped off stage after a set.... not cool.
As Ricardo says, one position is not good. I do the same as he says now - legs crossed mostly, but sometimes not, sometimes footstool under the right leg etc
Also, although one position will probably feel the most confortable, its good not to be dependent on it, in order the get the freedom you are talking about where you can play anywhere.
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