http://miguelbengoa.com Retraining and relearning to play guitar Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:13:31 +0000 en hourly 1 Copyright © Flamenco guitar 2011 mabengoetxea@gmail.com (Flamenco guitar) mabengoetxea@gmail.com (Flamenco guitar) http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://miguelbengoa.com 144 144 Just another WordPress site Flamenco guitar Flamenco guitar mabengoetxea@gmail.com no no http://miguelbengoa.com/practice/elementary-solea-3/ http://miguelbengoa.com/practice/elementary-solea-3/#comments Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:31:07 +0000 miguel http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/2008/01/06/elementary-solea-3/ http://miguelbengoa.com/practice/elementary-solea-3/feed/ 0 http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/elementary-solea-2/ http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/elementary-solea-2/#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:37:06 +0000 miguel http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/2007/12/16/elementary-solea-2/ http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/elementary-solea-2/feed/ 0 http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/elementary-solea/ http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/elementary-solea/#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:04:26 +0000 miguel http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/2007/12/16/elementary-solea/ http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/elementary-solea/feed/ 0 0:00:34 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. Keep in compás. Every note[...] 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. Keep in compás. Every note should sound with identical volume, except those that you accentuate as part of the compás. When playing the bass notes, your thumb should always play rest strokes, that is, come to rest on the next string after playing the one above. Accentuating notes is not a case of hitting a string harder from a distance but pushing it further in towards the sound board. You will need to play this first measure dead slow, so that you can manage the final one with ease. The second measure introduces thumb and index finger alternation. The thumb continues to play apoyando, but the index finger will need to play tirando. The third measure introduces our first arpeggio. Again, do not discriminate: allow every note to sound for its full value. If you allow some notes to sound for a longer time, and the others are “crushed” together you will not be practicing the arpeggio properly. Record your playing and be your own fiercest critic. Don’t be too ambitious. The final measure is a further variation of the same theme. This time on beat three and beat six, the thumb plays a chord with a golpe. When you reach this measure, the question I ask myself is: “have I maintained exactly the same tempo and volume throughout?” and “has every note been allowed to sound as it should?”. “Am I in complete control of the music?” The tablature: Compás, Soleá mabengoetxea@gmail.com no no http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/lesson-one/ http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/lesson-one/#comments Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:49:45 +0000 miguel http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/2007/11/11/lesson-one/ http://miguelbengoa.com/toques/compas/lesson-one/feed/ 0 0:01:19 The “palo” is called “tangos”. 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. You will see that there are two mp3[...] The “palo” is called “tangos”. 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. You will see that there are two mp3 recordings. One features guitar and the other is palms and cajón. When you practise, always play to a metronome or a rhythm track to help you develop a feel for the compás. Here is the tablature: page one page two You will notice that the tablature is divided into four sections: A, B, C and D. Section A This section is repeated. The first time there is no ‘golpe’ on the sound board, and the second time there is. The aim here is to practise both using and not using the percussive ‘golpe’. Every rasgueado in this section is played using ‘i’ only (index finger). Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is too easy to practise. Later on, this extension practice will serve you well for other techniques and palos. Section B Here, the first beat of every measure is still silence. The third beat features a new rasgueado: the three (or four) finger rasgueado. I prefer the three finger rasgueado that is played using only the a-m-i fingers. The four finger rasgueado uses the little finger as well. Section C In this section, there are variations to the previous section with a more developed rasgueado technique and a little ‘cierre’ or close at the end. Section D Here, simple thumb technique is introduced which alternates with the single finger rasgueados. See the above link to find some exercises and advice on thumb work. The last but one measure features a thumb up and down stroke, played in triplets. This is known as ‘alzapúa’. . See the thumb link for more help on playing this technique. Happy practising and I shall be back in two week2s time for another instalment. Compás, Tangos mabengoetxea@gmail.com no no http://miguelbengoa.com/flamenco-guitar-techniques/alzapua/exercise-for-solea-for-alzapua-and-arpeggios/ http://miguelbengoa.com/flamenco-guitar-techniques/alzapua/exercise-for-solea-for-alzapua-and-arpeggios/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:47:09 +0000 miguel http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/2007/04/24/exercise-for-solea-for-alzapua-and-arpeggios/ http://miguelbengoa.com/flamenco-guitar-techniques/alzapua/exercise-for-solea-for-alzapua-and-arpeggios/feed/ 0 http://miguelbengoa.com/technique/thumb-alzapua/ http://miguelbengoa.com/technique/thumb-alzapua/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:38:51 +0000 miguel http://miguelbengoa.com/wordpress/technical-exercises/thumb-alzapua/ http://miguelbengoa.com/technique/thumb-alzapua/feed/ 4