Compás

Here is the final installment of our soleá. There are four rasgueado exercises that form the basic soleá rasgueados. More details about these are given in the newly updated rasgueado page.You can download the pdf here:
At the top of the page I have shown some simple chords that are most often used for this toque. After there are four very simple exercises that form a part of my daily practice. They are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. Read the rest of this entry »

 

 Rasgueado 1 [0:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Rasgueado 2 [0:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Rasgueado 3 [0:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Rasgueado 4 [0:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Soleá basic example [1:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is our second installment of soleá. Another fundamental part of the guitarists’ repetoire. The cierre (cadence or closure) is from Manuel Granados - more about this incredible man in later posts. Read the rest of this entry »

 

 soleá 2 [0:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This lesson introduces the soleá with the most simple of melodies. This melody, played only with the thumb is a fundamental part of the guitar repertoire. Although easy to play there are some important things to consider. Read the rest of this entry »

 

 solea [0:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

How can you start learning the rhythmic forms of flamenco?

Start counting. Count the beats out loud, or in your head. Do it in any language you like, the idea is to start to develop a feel for the accents sub-consciously. Read the rest of this entry »

This tangos introduces thumb and index work and the thumb to play simple compás as well as the abánico technique.

Practise dead slowly, as always because speed will come alone. The focus here is to stay in compás and keep everything even and clean.

The fingering for the abánico can be found with the other rasgueado exercises here. The abánco is shown in numbers “e” and “f” on that page.

page one

 

 Guitar only [0:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Palmas only [1:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Guitar and palmas [0:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is the first lesson. The “palo” is called “tangos” and there is no relationship with the Argentinian song and dance form.

In this lesson we will look at basic rasgueados and some thumb techniques. You can find some exercises and advice for rasgueados here and for thumb work here.

Read the rest of this entry »

 

 Tangos guitar and palmas [1:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Percussion [1:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

After a long absence, here is a post in response to two questions. Firstly, “what is soleá por bulería” and the second a request for help with compás.

This recording is an exercise for soleá por medio using rasgueados alone.

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 Guitar and percussion [4:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Palmas and cajón [4:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is a tangos that features a Solo Compas backing track. I have been practising picado recently and here are the results. Of course, still lots of work to do with respect to technique, but the practice is paying off, slowly but surely! Read the rest of this entry »

 

 Tangos [2:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here it is, after far too long, is some music for you. It is, after all the purpose of the site. Continue reading, using the link below to hear the mp3. This soleá is por medio and the cejilla is on the fourth fret. It is really a technical exercise, but with some very useful vocabulary for soleá por medio. The idea of practising crotchets and triplets came from Gabriel Cabrera in Málaga.

Here is the tablature.

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 Soleá por medio - exercise [3:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Continuing from the previous post… here is some alegría. Nearly everything consists of rasgueados and a couple of very short falsetas. You will notice that the compás (featuring cajón, palmas">palmas and jaleo) is excellently done. Read the rest of this entry »

 

 Alegría [3:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week I am back to recording and study. This recording follows the great meeting I had on Friday night with Çengizhan. Another flamenco fan, he has been playing for many a long year. Unfortunately, as with many guitar players who have never visited Andalucia,

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 Tangos [2:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Very upset I was when I was told that flamenco compás can be changed as you like and that inserting extra beats and/or chords in non-usual places is called syncopation. This is an error.

Compás cannot be changed, it is the fruit of decades of evolution and forms part of the cultural legacy of the people of Andalucía. Compás is what makes flamenco what it is (as well as the words of the cante). In Andalucía it is respected and almost venerated. Read the rest of this entry »