How I did it: I moved to Barcelona, to a neighborhood called Gracia. They have a strong Gitano (Gypsy) barrio here. I saw an ad for flamenco guitar lessons and called the guy.
We met and although I was just learning Spanish we got a long musically and started lessons.
These ended up being lessons in the culture of flamenco as much as how to play guitar. The lessons were in the Gitano community center and I got to know many of the people there.
I had lessons twice a week, I recorded them and took them home and practiced to the recording to try and match as close as possible to the sound of my teacher.
The hardest part was my right hand. Coming from the US most of my guitar playing was with a pick and concentrated on technique with the left hand.
Getting the rhythms and the banging of the guitar body was difficult but in the end I could play a few different varieties of flamenco.
I stopped the lessons as it became apparent that I would never be the next Paco de Lucia and it was taking too much time practicing this one style to get there.
I may pick them up again later with a different teacher but for now if someone asks to play some flamenco I can do it.

Lessons & tips: 1. Forget everything you know about conventional right hand technique and learn how to use your fingers.

2. Record your lessons and really try to match the sound of your teacher.

3. Try to play with a cajone player or a dancer or flamenco inger once in a while to get the real feeling of what you're supposed to be doing. The flamenco guitar is a supporting instrument.

4. Get a good flamenco guitar.

5. Practice.

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Jan 24, 2009, 09:21AM PST | 0 comments | 2 cheers