Issue 10 - September 9th, 2012

I would like to invite you to be part of this Weekly Magazine by raising questions and giving me suggestions thorugh e-mail so this magazine can become a good material for all flamenco lovers, researchers and musicians. Enjoy it!

1.- Performance at the Onda Azul TV Station-Málaga

2.- Comments, Questions and Answers: "Which strings should I use and why there are so many kinds and tensions ranges?"

3.- Videos of the Week:
1)Tangos Strumming Variation (Interactive Lesson) and 2) Rondeña Step by Step. Based on Rondeña (Variation) by Paco de Lucía

4.- Video Recommendation of the Week: "Diego Amador and El Chato at the Different Beach Club in Málaga" - 2 videos.

1.- Performance at the Onda Azul TV Station-Málaga

"Dear Alice" by Chick Corea

"Fuego Fatuo" by Manuel de Falla

"Rio Ancho" by Paco de Lucía

2.- Comments, Questions and Answers: "Which strings should I use and why there are so many kinds and tensions ranges?"

QUESTION:

Which strings should I use and why there are so many kinds and tensions ranges?

ANSWER:

Every guitar differs in its tension. Even from basses to trebles sometimes these differences may be there in the very same guitar.

It also depends on the players personal taste. For example, if a specific guitar is a high tension one by nature  and the player has not much strength playing (pulsación), or, if he prefers a softer touch, then it may be a good idea to have -on that specific guitar-  some low tension strings. This depends on the season and on humidity factors of the environment as well.

This applies from simple principles to “picky” ones like the following one:

If one plays with a female guitar that has not much high action (I mean distance from the 12 fret to the string itself ) and if you are supposed to play for a recording in a recording studio in full summer here in Malaga, and that room where you will play has the cold air conditioning system on, then you can use high tension basses for that particular female guitar  provided you will use the capo –say- at 4th fret for the recording of a particular track.

As you see there is a lot of fancy stuff on this strings topic. I learned all this personally from Paco as well as from my own experience  (after being “The Best Client Ever” to each and every brand of strings for 30 years so far).

Those different tensions, brands and materials *(Nylgut, Titanium, Carbon,Nylon, Silk, Pure Silver etc) are there for different guitars, different needs and seasons of the year. They exist to compensate or create diverse dynamics and sounds types besides the touch factor (pulsation) in such a way that  there are many possibilities. Sometimes seasons also affects the guitars touch or pulsación; for example for some male guitars I high tension strings in summer and mid tension in the winter.

To be continued…

2.- Videos of the Week:

1) Tangos Strumming Variation (Interactive Lesson)

2) Rondeña Step by Step. Based on Rondeña (Variation) by Paco de Lucía

1) Tangos Strumming Variation (Interactive Lesson)

2) Rondeña Step by Step. Based on Rondeña (Variation) by Paco de Lucía

Here is Diego Amador’s performance with the great singer El Chato de Málaga. They performed 3 days ago. Diego Amador belongs to a very well-known flamenco gypsy family. His brothers are also renowned flamenco artists. Diego is a very special flamenco musician because he plays the piano as if it were a guitar, not regarding the technique (by the way, he learnt to play the piano by himself) but in the way he plays falsetas, he improvises as well as the way he accompanies himself when singing. This is a very special and unique approach and it’s the confirmation that the path Paco de Lucía settled some decades ago is followed even by flamenco artists from very traditional gypsy flamenco background.

Soleá

Bulerías & Tangos