And here is how to do it – start young! Here is my one year old niece learning. What can you say? 
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How to learn compas
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8 Comments
Hi Miguel,
I’m gradually getting the feel of compas. Your previous help has been great. I’m religiously following the structure and it has opened a new dimension to my guitar playing.
I’m counting in my head as I go along… and was wondering do all flamenco guitarists count as they play?…or does it gradually become internalised. I’m sure if I played with a singer I wouldn’t get lost so much.
Any advice?
regards. Richard
Good news then Richard. It rather depends on who is singing for you! I have been listening to Pansequito’s “soleares personales” for years and his tercios are so long that sooner or later I just loose the thread of it, something that Habichuela does not.
Counting? I do not, and I am sure that Habichuela does not either, but I have heard people do it as a form of “jaleo” in Jerez – the effect is almost like another set of palmas. I would have to say that most flamencos would no count and many would not know where to begin as the “aire” or feel of the compás would be what most concerns them.
Miguel,
Your solea on this site is just great….and I have to say I’m really amazed you do not count (even in your head). I suppose you just take the structure of songs for granted.
When I watch Gerardo Nunez play his solea por bulerias (which is very innovative, complex and unconventional) I just do not know how he keeps to the structure without counting.
I think my next move is to find a good flamenco teacher. I’ve spent far too many years wrestling with music books and falsetas. I need more help on mastering compas. Oh well.
Richard
I was lucky to learn the phraseiology (?) over many years in Andalucia. If you want a flamenco teacher why not do it through the site. There are several ways we could go about it – web conference, practising to recordings that I make specially for you, you uploading things for me to comment on…
Are you up for it? It would be an interesting exercise to do such a thing over the net. I wonder how many other people are trying to do such a thing? Let’s be innovative…
Miguel,
Sorry for the delay in responding. My computer crashed, and so I’ve had it rebuilt.
Your offer sounds inspiring….and definitely what I need.
I practice a few hours a day so if you got some phrases to start with…let’s go for it.
regards Richard
Some more background to think about.
I’ve being playing Spanish classical stuff (not flamenco) for twenty-odd years and can cope with some fairly difficult pieces…but can only play flamenco (in compas) using two chords and some simple arpegios !! This is a challenge in itself (possibly because of my ignorance in the use of phrases). I’m getting the feel for solea…find seguiriyas impossible…and have started to play simple bulerias by counting. I’m starting to dream palmas rhythms!
Where I get lost is longer runs of picado and argegios….for example at the tail end of your solea there are some nice notes. How do I string these together without counting. Perhaps I trying to run too fast!…but you can understand my impatience.
Really looking forward to learning flamenco from you. Your help so far has been invaluable. Do you have a fee?
Richard
Richard,
I now this was posted a long ago, but if you read this, I would really appreciate if you could answer.
How are you getting on with compás?
Actually the only way that worked for me at the beginning was to completely understand the notes and their places in a compás, then play it. That is what I call playing safely.
A few months later I was able to beat with my foot, but if I made complex rythms I was lost. I am totally insane now, because the more I do it, the more I am concerned about the direction I am heading towards.
Hi
Just read your comments about my slow progression with compas! sorry for long delay in getting back to you.
Well I feel like I’m finally starting to play flamenco now…the key was a great compas lesson with Emilio Maya when I visited Granada. He suggested that I count the emphasised beats with my foot…so bulerias is 1 and a 2 and 3 and 4 and 5…etc.. I also sometimes tap every two beats (a bit like palmas) which has really helped me. I have also been listening to loads of cante..and even though I don’t speak Spanish I am starting to hear the songs/compas in my head when I play. I’ve been using a metronome for years…but now use flamenco compas metronome (..the ones on Ravenna Flamenco webiste are good).
I’ve a long way to go…and still find solea hard, and lose myself if I try to play something too complex without a metronome.
regards, Richard