Rondena tuning

[J1111]

Anyone got any good tips for how this tuning works? Whats the best way to look at it from the perspective of someone who never plays in different tunings?

Surely is just makes scale shapes and so on fall more awkwardly under the fingers? Why does it have to be tuned this way and how does it change chord shapes etc?

Any help greatly appreciated!

[Payul]

Hi, J1111,

I just finished my Rondena a few weeks ago, the best approach in my case was, to listen as much as possible to rondena's get some tabs, to find the chords play with the tuning, and get the feel of it after a while.
Rondeña is made by Nino Ricardo, and it is in fact a tarantas in a different tuning, very free.
here is a link to some theory
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/Palos.pdf

here is also an earlyer post from Falseta there is a nice Rondeña with some tabs
Mi Nino Curro Tab and Video - Flamenco at Falseta.com

It is nice to have two guitars, so you can tune one into the Rondeña tuning and take that guitar as you feel like, record some nice idears and play with it, after a few months it is getting a structure by itself.
Good luck!

[deteresa]

Rondeña is one of my favorite palos. The sonorities created by the altered tuning are incredibly rich. It was one of the first altered tunings that was used in Flamenco. Nowadays, people are playing traditional palos in all sorts of weird tunings, seeking out new tonal possibilities.
Learning to play in Rondeña tuning is not that hard, but it does take some time and practice. The tuning of Rondeña in my opinion is what makes it so special, and it really does have a distinctive sound to it, it's worth it to learn. The chords are just different in this key (C#), not necessarily more awkward, in fact the tuning may have been developed to make chords in this key easier to play.
Give it a try.