Hi Everyone,

I'm a former bellydancer returning to dance after a break due to health issues. I am moving to Spain and hoped to begin Flamenco studies there because I've always wanted to learn, but there aren't really any classes in person where I live in the US. I got lucky and found a beginner workshop recently and took 3 classes with the instructor this week. The classes were all choreographies and entirely in Spanish and everyone already seemed to know what they were doing. I thought I signed up for the wrong class, when I asked if this is for beginners they just said yes you can be a beginner for a long time because Flamenco is hard.

We all know Flamenco is hard, but it felt like I was in an intermediate or advanced class. I was completely useless and halfway through the class I just couldn't keep up or do anything at all. I cried on the way home. If this is how I feel here in the US, will I survive trying to study in Spain for an entire year?! I just feel so defeated and am hoping someone can offer some words of encouragement.

Is this really just how it is? Are all beginner classes like this? Just diving straight into complex choreography and dancing the entire class without going over any technique or drills or anything to prepare you?

Hello everyone! Im searching for someone to play flamenco with in Alhaurin el grande! Someone who sings or plays guitar.

Cheers!

Been dancing flamenco for about a year now and bought chapin flamenco shoes that I’ve finally been able to break into. I’ve been dancing on this small wooden table top I found in my backyard…. I need a better platform so I stop falling off lol… any recommendations?

So I just got back from Andalucia and got to see plenty of flamenco. At a show in La Carboneria in particular, they played what I can describe as a slow, rubato song with lots of what sounded to me like major 7th chords, with mournful, sad vocals, really deep and trance like, and at the end they all speed up, led by the dancing of the bailaora.

From reading, it seems like it could have been a seguiriya, but I've been listening to a few and it doesn't seem like it.

Heard a similar performance again being played as background music in a bar in Granada.

Any ideas where to look?

Hi everyone,

Perhaps not a popular opinion this, but I just wanted to find out how other people feel about this. I love flamenco, the music that is. I simply don't give anything at all about the dancing. If anything, I find it rather distracting from the music (and yes, I do know that the dancing can add to the music as well, but does it... really?)
Are there other people who feel similarly? Are there people who can convince me otherwise? Make no mistake though. I do understand how hard it is, and what sacrifices must be made to become even a reasonable dancer, I just... ah, it just doesn't interest me. Let me know your thoughts!

Hi guys,

I'm a beginner learning modes, ionian, aeolian and phrygian and cadence.

I am interested in the following: if I take a certain piece, lets say by Vicente Amigo, how do I learn what chordes and scales he uses? Maybe using online chord finder but I'm not sure if it is accurate enough? For example in his Ventanas al alma he uses G# phrygian mode but how do I learn other chords?

What about chords I have never seen before appearing in a certain piece? Any advice on how to learn them?

I really think this will unlock my guitar playing skills, both for learning and understanding pieces and composing and improvising, something I really want to learn.

Thanks, any help is really appreciated.

Hi all!

I'd like to explore Flamenco and I was wondering whether you had suggestions of artists and songs.

I particularly like the guitar, like Paco de Lucía, and amazing voices like Camarón de la Isla. If you have more suggestions I'd be much obliged.

Edit: still taking in all of your suggestions, I'm getting to all of them, thank you all.

The wikipedia page on malaguenas says that guitar accompaniments are played in first inversion, which I assume means an E chord in first inversion. That cant be right, can it?

End of first paragraph: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malague%C3%B1as_(flamenco_style)

Going to Seville and Granada in a few weeks... what are some recommended tablaos I should be visiting?

I'm not going to pretend my appreciation of flamenco is refined enough for me to gauge authenticity, like I'm not some dirty tourist (although I'm not completely ignorant) but I want some really good shows with really good artists.

Zambra Maria La Canastera is in pretty much every travel show episode about Granada... should I focus on going there or are there any others that are recommended?

How about Casa de la Memoria in Sevilla? And Casa de la Guitarra? I'd really like to see the guitar museum.. but what about the shows?

Any players here have an interest in or knowledge of Tamura Brothers guitars? I recently purchased one a 1965 model - I'm trying to find out a little more about them...

Presented by Flamenco Vivo, TABLAO: An Intimate Flamenco Experience is returning to LPR for two nights on 03.26 and 03.27! Featuring live music and an international cast of world-class dancers, you will be able to experience the depth and authenticity of flamenco.

Whether you’re new to flamenco or not, TABLAO is open for everyone with a full selection of drinks in a cozy cabaret-style atmosphere. Don’t miss your chance to experience two nights of unforgettable music and intense flamenco and get your tickets here! >>> https://link.dice.fm/Rbn15HUhMEb

https://preview.redd.it/yswpt06lf4pc1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=522e8735c3842988b4702dbfaa01738cf938adb3

I'm completely new to flamenco, but have played electric and acoustic for 15 years.

I'm noticing that during picado, many players rest their thumb on the low E, but when doing so I get all sorts of unwanted sympathetic resonance.

As a disclaimer, I'm practising on a classical, so I don't know if the different construction of a flamenco guitar might mitigate this.

Just curious as to why this isn't addressed in tutorials as resonance management is pretty central to most fingerstyle techniques.

I enjoy very much the motion picture's official album, La Búsqueda.

I am new to this music and am trying to transcribe Camaron’s Soy Gitano.

I understand the chorus but the verses are completely baffling me in terms of meter. The chords change at times I can’t predict. I feel I am with a pulse and then I am not.

Can someone explain to a beginner like me how I should feel and count this?

Stick with what I know? Or swtich? Would it be better in the long run to learn rondena?

Hi guys,

Does anyone have any advice on how to practice scales? I practice using CAGED system both for major and minor scales.

The problem is that I don't know how to learn patterns between CAGED shapes, meaning not just from e to E string but also down from first to 12th fret and beyond (horizontally I guess?), which is very important for improvisation and composing. Any advice on how to practice that? Maybe somehow connect it with learning intervals?

I primarily play rumba, focusing on fast strumming and quick picado runs, and I'm torn between two guitars. From what I've gathered, the Alhambra seems to offer more sustain and a slightly boomy sound compared to the Cordoba. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a nearby store where I can test them out. Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

I'm looking to get into flamenco guitar and eventually make a trip to Spain to learn. I can already play the guitar.
I'm still undecided whether I want to focus more on Classical or Flamenco, so my plan is to buy a C9 or C10 and a flamenco guitar and play for the next few years.

I was looking at GK Studios (about $700 USD). I am in Eastern Europe and could make a trip to Spain to get a Luthiered one, but I'm not really looking to spend more than about $1000.

A 2nd hand one would be great, but where I'm living there aren't too many options available (Serbia).