[crobson12]

Hey everyone, I have a few questions regarding flamenco guitar.

First of, I own a classical guitar and use it to play flamenco, but the sound isn't that great. I lowered the action and put extra-hard tension strings on it but it doesn't change the sound dramatically. If I bring it to a proffesional what should I tell him/her to do to make it sound more flamenco?

Also, I am interested in buying a flamenco guitar, a used one though. I want to get a hand-made one and not a mass-produced machine made guitar. What brands do you recommend that I should look into? And how much should I spend on this second-hand (used) flamenco guitar? In your opinion what kind of wood is best for flamenco guitars?

And last but not least, I am having some problems with the metronome. I can play compas in Bulerias with no trouble with a metronome, but I can't stay in time while playing falsetas with it? I have a fairly good sense of rhythm and I can keep everything in time without using a metronome, but it is much more difficult while using one. Any suggestions?

[at_leo_87]

unfortunately, there's nothing you really can do to make your classical sound more flamenco. it was meant to play classical so it's an uphill battle. i've been down that path.

however, there's plenty you can do to make your technique sound more flamenco. i think too many people overlook this. so while you're saving up for that nice hand made guitar, you can work on your hand position, attack, angle, strength, etc so that you can get a more flamenco sound.

there's actually no guarantee that once you get a flamenco guitar, you will sound flamenco. i've actually witnessed this many times in real life. it's more in the hands than anything else.

if you want handmade, you will want to buy from a person and not a brand. you should contact ron hudson from memorial music and ask about a francisco navarro concert blanca. you can get one for around $1000. it's made of spruce and cypress, unless otherwise specified. these are the standard woods for a blanca.

as for the falsetas/metronome situation, break the falseta down, find the rhythmic value of each note, write it out. figure out what notes should land on the click.

[crobson12]

Thanks for the reply Leo!

I work on my technique a lot, everyday before I play I practice my technique for a minimum of one hour. Believe me I work on my technique alot! But I will continue to do these workouts even when I get a full-fledged flamenco guitar.

Well of course, a great guitarist can make even the poorest quality guitar shine, I should of worded this question differently. I still have that flamenco sound when I play on my classical guitar, however, ever sense I asked my teacher to let me give his flamenco-guitar a try, I have been hooked on the sound of a true flamenco guitar, the feel, the sound, just everything about it blows my classical away, Hehe.

Alright thanks for the information! I will be sure to contact this "Ron Hudson" in the future. Where is he located? ( I live in canada)

Okay, I will try that. By any chance do you know of a site that has looped palmas files for free download? I would like to try playing with that instead of the standard metronome.

Thanks Leo!

[at_leo_87]

ron is in texas. another player recently ordered a francisco navarro with hard shell case and free shipping, and he's from toronto i believe.

google ravenna flamenco. he has some compas loops up there. from my experience though, compas loops can lead to bad habits.

[crobson12]

That is great news! And free shipping? That is beautiful! I will do some research on his guitars and hopefully will be able to find some demos of his guitars!

How would it lead to bad habits? Wouldn't it mimic having someone clapping palmas next too you?

[at_leo_87]

solo compas or metronomes with flamenco accents are a handicap because they pound out the accents. it's like training wheels. take it away and your music falls apart or you lose your place.

also when you have accents, your brain basically only hears the accents and your music will be chasing those accents, ignoring all the beats in between. the end result is that your music will basically be in compas or at least fit into compas, but everything in between the accents is mush and therefore, it's not really in compas, or at least by real flamenco standards.

a straight metronome will work on your rhythm and your tempo. people (who are not born into flamenco or have it around them 24.7, well actually even pros too.) who practice with nothing but solo compas pretty much ALWAYS speed up or have really shaky compas. every other musician from other genres use a regular metronome. there's really no need for flamencos to use some special metronome.

just like a drummer who needs a metronome to tell him where the 1 is, it's kind of wimpy and hurts you in the long run.

here's a video of ricardo marlow learning a tomatito falseta in 8 min. see how he just figures out where the notes land in relation to his foot tap (he is tapping in two's). i actually learned these metronomes ideas from him. i wish i listened to him earlier.

YouTube - How to learn a Tomatito falseta in 8 minutes

and here's victor wooten teaching some metronome technique. it's not flamenco but the same techniques can be applied to flamenco. play bulerias with 1's, then 2's, then 3's, then 6's. etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1fhVLVF_4

[Payul]

@ at_leo_87

Nice stuff Leo! Thanks

Payul