Issue 11 - September 16th, 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!

A.- Comments, Questions and Answers:

1) Some years ago I got an injury and I guess it was because of over playing Rasgueos for one or two hours daily without warming up. Are there any exercises you can recommend for me to warm up?

2) In flamenco guitar almost 99% of attention is given to right hand techniques. Why there is not much stuff for left hand in flamenco lessons?

3) I feel that the tabs are much more practical than traditional musical notation to learn. Do I need to read music notation or classical theory stuff to learn flamenco guitar?

B.- Videos of the Week:

1) Rhythmic Exercises por Zapateado. Based on "Zapateado" by Esteban de San Lucar

2) Understanding "Gitanos Andaluces". Based on "Gitanos Andaluces" (Bulería) by Paco de Lucía - INTERACTIVE VIDEOS

C.- Video Recommendation of the Week: "Al di Meola World Sinfonia & Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Jazz in Marciac 2011.

A.- Comments, Questions and Answers:

1) Some years ago I got an injury and I guess it was because of over playing Rasgueos for one or two hours daily without warming up. Are there any exercises you can recommend for me to warm up?

2) In flamenco guitar almost 99% of attention is given to right hand techniques. Why there is not much stuff for left hand in flamenco lessons?

3) I feel that the tabs are much more practical than traditional musical notation to learn. Do I need to read music notation or classical theory stuff to learn flamenco guitar?

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1

When you play “Rasgueos” or any other techniques, it’s better to play them just for the prescribed amount of time specifically given by your teacher according to your level. If you over play them, it certainly will not be beneficial for your hands. One has to gradually reach the stage of practicing for a longer time and harnessing your practice time. For example, you can practice the 6 basic Rasgueos at the beginners level as in the following video:

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo50.html

Just practice for 2 minutes each Rasgueo a day. You will make a total of 12 minutes a day practicing all the Rasgueos. That’s enough time for them to work. Rasgueos are not to be practiced for one hour daily. After you learn them in a raw manner, then the next step is to learn about targeting specific sections of strings with them. In the following two videos series you can get an idea about that:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo533.html

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo534.html

In conclusion, the process is to learn and master the Rasgueos themselves and, after that, the way to use them while playing.

As strange that it may appear, some injuries may also be related to playing on the wrong height chair. Please watch this video concerning that:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo181.html

If you want to do some warm up then do 5 minutes of the following exercises indicated herein:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo397.html

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2

This is an interesting question.

Talking in a general sense we can say that flamenco guitar technique differs from the classical guitar technique mainly regarding the right hand work, namely:

1) Thumb work “Alzapua”

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo169.html

2) The “Rasgueos” as well as the “golpes” or percussive techniques

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo254.html

In fact, the left hand for flamenco guitar is exactly the same as in classical guitar, except for the “Parado de Mano Izquierda ” Technique  (“Mutting with the Left Hand” Technique) which is not used any more nowadays. In the following video you can learn about “Parado” with right and left hands (left hand “Parado” is exemplified from minute 10:25 on):

http://www.cfgstudio.com/cfgs-grant14.html

As far as “ligados” (pull off & hammer on) and all other techniques are concerned, they are exactly the same as in classical guitar hence there is not such a thing as playing a chord with a particular flamenco left hand technique.

ANSWER TO QUESTION No. 3

There is no need to read music to learn contemporary flamenco guitar.

In fact, in my opinion,  it’s true that tabs are more practical than traditional notation  but we  have to remember that the tabs will not make us  play flamenco on their own. Unless we know the flamenco code and the “Compás” along with specific techniques beforehand, no written system will help you in  anyway.

About this subject please watch the following two videos

1) http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo836.html

2) http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo837.html

Tab for this explanation is located at:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rd-download39sqpl8539.html

Regarding music theory and harmony, my advice is that you learn only what you will actually need and really use as opposed to leaning things that you will never use.

In my lessons, the basic subjects are:

1) Technique

2) Rhythm

3) Repertoire

Then there are the other 3 optional subjects in case the student is attracted to that and those are:

4) Harmony

5) Improvisation

6) Composition

I recommend you to explore your potential on the three basic subjects and, afterwards, you will see if you would like to learn more.

B.- Videos of the Week:

1) Rhythmic Exercises por Zapateado. Based on "Zapateado" by Esteban de San Lucar

2) Understanding "Gitanos Andaluces". Based on "Gitanos Andaluces" (Bulería) by Paco de Lucía INTERACTIVE VIDEOS

1) Rhythmic Exercises Zapateado. Based on "Zapateado" by Esteban de San Lucar

2) Understanding "Gitanos Andaluces". Based on "Gitanos Andaluces" (Bulería) by Paco de Lucía (Interactive Videos)

Here is a very interesting concert by Al Di Meola (guitar) and Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano). It’s a vivid example of what you can create as a composer and as a player or band leader as well.