learn to play flamenco guitar

I recently picked up Documentary DVD with a biography and rare performances by legendary flamenco guitarist Paco DeLucia. I’ve watched it 3 times already, and it has been incredibly inspirational. It’s a must have for anyone serious about flamenco guitar.

What struck me about his playing is how effortless he is about his movements. There is a real economy to the way he moves around the instrument that you wouldn’t guess from the CDs. I also found it fasinating that he has always wanted to be a singer rather than a guitarist….and how his solo playing really is an expression of the flamenco vocals on the guitar.

It’s also pretty incredible that back in the Friday Night in San Francisco days he didn’t really know how to improvise, and would get headaches after performances with John McLaughlin and Al Dimeola.

I attended a famous party last night full of artists, musicians, and other creative souls. There was an Arabic band there and a lot of belly dancers ;)

I brought my flamenco guitar and strummed along. At one point, a few of the dancers came to a corner of the house and danced to my Sevillanas (traditional flamenco form). I had a wonderful time but really need to improve my flamenco repertoire….so much so that I ordered a few DVDs on Amazon when I returned to my house.

I picked up a great and inexpensive $350 Yamaha flamenco guitar today.

I was putting off learning to play more than some basic progressions because I couldn’t afford a high end DeVoe or similar Paco DeLucia inspired guitar. My buddies that play flamenco professionally have always told me that the cheaper flamenco guitars found in the USA (Cordoba, Conte Hermanos, etc.) don’t have the right neck radius and low enough action throughout the neck.

Today when I tried one of these at the San Francisco Guitar Center, a local professional flamenco player was in the store. He told me that the Yamaha was the closest thing he’s played that compares to the common flamenco guitars they use in Spain…down to the cypress wood back & sides and spruce wood top. Apparently, most of the great guitar builders in Spain use this same wood configuration because these are the woods available to the gypsy builders. He said that you would have to spend thousands of dollars to get a flamenco guitar that was much better than this one….and that this is the perfect guitar to learn all of the common flamenco techniques (rascado, etc.). It will only sound better with age, once the wood settles. Then another guy that worked in the store showed me a cool alternative tuning commonly used in Spain for phrygian riffs (low E tuned to D….and G string tuned to F#).

I definitely scored a bargain and a quick lesson. Now the real work begins. It’s time for me to break out the flamenco CDs and get back in the groove!

and it’s still sitting in a box. I learned some basic structures, and have even backed some dancers, but I do not consider myself a “whole” flamenco guitarist. I’ve been playing a lot of rock lately, and I’ve cut my nails. Out of the 7 guitars I currently have, none are a nylon. I put this on my goal list because it’s definetely something I want to revisit. Thanks for inspiring me!