[Black Sheep]

I've been learning for 6 months and have started a blog of my journey towards duende. (web.mac.com/andrewmi) And I'd be interested in any experiences, stories and tips that people can give a new player. What got you interested? Where did you learn? What was your most valuable lesson?

[falseta]

Welcome to the forum Black Sheep!

Here are two pieces of advice I received and have been helpful over the years:

1. Do every gig that comes your way! ALL OF THEM! Never turn down a gig.
2. Practice clean clear notes. Speed comes later.

I enjoyed your blog! I wish you the very best on your journey and keep us posted here on the forum on your progress!

You can check out Black Sheep's blog at: The Journey...

[Black Sheep]

That's two good pieces of advice. I have not played in front of anyone, except the dog, for 30 years... but I aim to again. A stepping stone of course is play with others and I remember that was a 'buzz'... Cheers

[Frontera]

Don't be obsessed with understanding duende....

Learn compas perfectly.

Don't confuse compas, speed, and phrasing...

Simple old school strumming is ok ... don't wait till your rasqueado is amazing before you practice perfecting compas.

Put tremolo on the back burner

A slow accurate picato can be spell binding

A fast sloppy picato is a personal embrassment

Listen, listen, and then listen some more ... then play.

Listen and learn about cante even if you never plan to accompany it.

Most of all to quote Juan del Gastor, "Have fun with it"

[Black Sheep]

This is good stuff. I have come back to guitar after 30 years of leaving it alone on the top of the bookcase .... (not with that guitar though... It had a fret board like a propeller...). My trouble is I am like someone who has not had food for years and now they are just piling the plate high and pigging out. I need to stop and concentrate on one palo for a while... Sit and digest as I go.

You're advice is good. Thanks.

[evans]

hmm all very good and helpful tips...i personaly thing that what one should do is concentrate and practice the technique, cause when you develop your technique everything gets much easier,i myself train it very hard every day,especialy the picado,cause i ve noticed that while i develop my picado and its speed,i get generaly faster and acurate playing in the compas,making the notes and a lot more...so my personal advice,train the techniques methodicaly, with for example several hours of exercises a day

[at_leo_87]

yes, a methodical, pre-meditated practice session with clear goals is your friend. if you dont want to spend too much time per day working on technique, work hard on one specific technique a day.
play with a metronome. record your progress. i dont think there's a real need to practice only one palo. mix it up throughout the week.

[callefacil]

Hi, I have been playing for about 2 years, flamenco anyway. My advice would be...If you are studying alegrias, get yourself a CD with that basic compas and practice your falsetas etc along with it. It will help you grasp the beat. Good Luck!!

[Chiste de Gales]

Practice slowly!!!
Practice slowly!!!
Practice slowly!!!

Consider some practice theory:
if you practice a phrase 100 times and you only play it right 60% of the time,
then 40% of the time you are reinforcing wrong notes or wrong rhythm. This
is not good practice. You are working against yourself and wasting valuable time.

Practicing material with 100% accuracy gives you no wrong notes for muscle memory to remember. The way to do this is to practice slowly. Proficient speed will come automatically as you get better and better at playing correctly.

You are never too experienced to slow down the practice tempo.

[jazzguitar09@comcast.net]

yes i agree; practice only what is right and what matters