[westy]

Hi - I am pretty much new to flamenco, and have only been playing classical for most of a year. Right now I am using a guitar support for classical playing, and have found the footstool is not my friend due to back issues. I would really like to adopt a classical position for playing flamenco and do away with the support with feels a bit disconnected and in some ways a tad awkward.

I have tried the classical position of clamping the guitar between your right arm and right thigh, as well as the newer style of resting the guitar atop your crossed over right leg. Either position would seem manageable and comfortable except that it seems impossible to get my right hand positioned correctly over the strings - always ends up too close to the neck and, or with knuckles not parallel enough to the strings. It feels for the life of me that my arms are too long for either of these styles. Though not freakishly long by any means my sleeve length is probably at least an honest 35 inches or perhaps a bit longer.

Have any other players here with relatively long arms had success with the classical flamenco positions. If so, any pointers or tips. I say this with expectations of hearing back the "just stay with it and it will come to you" advice - which might be correct answer and in that case the one I would want to hear. Yet I am hopeful some of you might have a few tips that might help short cut the process. Your thoughts, if any please

Thanks - Jim

[Payul]

Hi Jim,

Maybe you can bent your wrist a bit......if you are realy long, I have a frend that is long too,( over1,95m or 6 ft 3) he has made a kind of cushion, you can see play him here.
YouTube - Solea

Payul

[westy]

Thanks for your response payul. I think my arms are probably close to ta 36 inch sleeve and not the most flexible person - I am heavy boned - but will work a bit with seeing if I can bend my wrist to accommodate.

I really do like the looks of that pad. The guy playing looks very well accommodated, though I did see some pad slippage that maybe could be helped with perhaps rubber shelf liner. His pad looks very well made and wonder if it could be ordered somewhere.

Otherwise appears one might also be able to just trace the guitar and cut the shape on a band saw out of stiff plastic or rubber foam - tougher part would be coming up with the shape for the outer part of the curve - but imagine it could follow the inner curve basically just on a larger circumference with a bit of taper towards the ends. Very handy to have that video, and may have me a little project on my hands if I cannot find one to order

Thanks Again - Jim

[at_leo_87]

i'm not particularly tall or long but had the same problem. so here's my advice...
"just stay with it and it will come to you"

[westy]

Lol - soon I hope, I just ain't that young anymore!

Thanks for the chuckle Leo

- Jim

[arturo]

Morning Jim,

I could have written this post. My sleeve length is at least a 36 inch and I haven't seen nimble in a long time. I'm also new to flamenco. If you find something that works please let me know.

-Arturo

[arturo]

Payul,

I took a look at the video and saw the pad. I went to his web page and sent him an email but I don't know if he will get it. If you are in contact with him could you please ask him about the pad? What it's made of. How it's attached to the guitar. What the size is. I was wondering why it extends forward from his elbow towards the waist of the guitar box. Does he still use it.

Gracias, Arturo

[arturo]

Originally Posted by arturo

Payul,

I took a look at the video and saw the pad. I went to his web page and sent him an email but I don't know if he will get it. If you are in contact with him could you please ask him about the pad? What it's made of. How it's attached to the guitar. What the size is. I was wondering why it extends forward from his elbow towards the waist of the guitar box. Does he still use it.

Gracias, Arturo

Otto was kind enough to answer my email and he refered me to an old blog of his describing the guitar pad he made at the advice of Paco Peña. Here is the link; Plasencia * revisited: Article for flamenco-teacher friends

[Payul]

@ Arturo, Nice he helped you a bit further.
the blog is very interesting for afficionados too!

Payul

[DreadGod]

I was suffering from back problems and started using a support which suctions to the bottom of the guitar
Gitano, Classical Guitar Support [GITANO] : Strings By Mail

I cut and placed a piece of tap guard around where the suction cups attach to the guitar to avoid wear on the guitar itself. I find that I can sit upright and get a good hand position with it. I take it off to practice playing in the traditional "gitano" style, they're kind of like training wheels. There are lots of different version. And no, I am not in anyway associated with manufacturing or selling them