Flamenco guitar
Flamenco is an ancient and complicated art form, taught by passing the knowledge down from one artist to another. Traditionally, nothing is written down.
And that is not very useful if you are a half Welsh half English Brummie living in Yorkshire. It would be a little easier if I spoke Spanish, but I'm not very good at learning languages.
About 15 years ago I found a book from which I started to learn some flamenco. Since then many more books have been published, and I have been collecting information together just for the fun of it.
Anyone who is really serious about flamenco will have moved on by now, so it is safe to give you my oversimplified version, which is enough to get started.
If you are trying to take this seriously, you probably need to find yourself a proper teacher, although there is some information to get you started on the Nylon Guitarist website, including a pdf of a 1902 flamenco guitar method. The pdf is in Spanish, but it is still interesting.
If you want to look into flamenco seriously, have a look at the books on my recommended list.
And that is not very useful if you are a half Welsh half English Brummie living in Yorkshire. It would be a little easier if I spoke Spanish, but I'm not very good at learning languages.
About 15 years ago I found a book from which I started to learn some flamenco. Since then many more books have been published, and I have been collecting information together just for the fun of it.
Anyone who is really serious about flamenco will have moved on by now, so it is safe to give you my oversimplified version, which is enough to get started.
If you are trying to take this seriously, you probably need to find yourself a proper teacher, although there is some information to get you started on the Nylon Guitarist website, including a pdf of a 1902 flamenco guitar method. The pdf is in Spanish, but it is still interesting.
If you want to look into flamenco seriously, have a look at the books on my recommended list.
The basics
Here is what you need to know to make a start:
- They say flamenco is improvised. That isn't quite true: short phrases are put together on the spur of the moment to fit the needs of the singer or dancer. As a guitarist accompanying a dancer it is important to be able to keep up with the speed & pick up the signals to know what is needed next. That last sentence doesn't worry me - I only play on my own.
- Each dance type has fixed characteristics. They are only ever in the same small range of keys, have a certain number of beats in the phrase, a fixed pattern of emphasis, and rough tempo. Saying "I'm going to play Soleares in B minor" is like saying "I've written a Mass, but for a change I've used the words of a poem by Milton". So that isn't a Mass then, is it?
- The flamenco keys are modes rather than traditional western scales. This is along the lines of Dorian mode, which is where my eyes glaze over. I've just grouped things with the same number of sharps so everything goes together.
- There are two broad types of phrase to put together:
- Rasgueado is rhythmic strumming bits. If you have no idea what this means, this site has a good starting point. Here is my guide to the right hand fingerings. I tape this to the inside of the front cover of my file, so it can still be seen at the side of the music.
- Falsetta: the tuneful bits.
The music
If you get yourself some decent recordings of flamenco you will soon get the overall impression. I start with some rasgueado and then play whatever seems right. The sections are divided by double bar lines, which as far as possible I've got at the beginning or end of a line, although some lines have tow on the same line.
Soleares
This has a 12 beat pattern, with a pattern of emphasis like this:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
This takes a bit of getting used to, but try saying it to yourself in odd moments & while you are playing.
Aim at about 120 to 150 beats per minute.
Aim at about 120 to 150 beats per minute.
Alegrias
This has the same 12 beat pattern, but a happier feeling. Work up to about 140 beats per minute.
Tangos
This is a pattern of 8 bars of 4 beats each, & is very definitely not to be confused with the tango! The Rasgueado strumming techniques are much more prominent in this type of flamenco.