Flamenco Etude Book?

[Anjelo]

Just curious, At the the moment I am using the Graf-Martinez Book 1 and Juan Martin Solos Book 1.

Coming from a Classical/Violin Background I loved working on etudes/studies, Is there a book/method that would help my studies/practice further.*

*Only from a technical perspective. I try to immerse myself as much as I can by watching videos and listening to a lot of music.

[Michelob]

Just curious, At the the moment I am using the Graf-Martinez Book 1 and Juan Martin Solos Book 1.

Coming from a Classical/Violin Background I loved working on etudes/studies, Is there a book/method that would help my studies/practice further.*

*Only from a technical perspective. I try to immerse myself as much as I can by watching videos and listening to a lot of music.

I wasn't very impressed with the two publications you mentioned, Anjelo -but it is a rather subjective choice-.

I found working with these very helpful:

Paco Pena: http://www.guitarsalon.com/product.php?productid=2860
Paco de Lucia: http://www.guitarsalon.com/product.php?productid=2853

After all, flamenco is made of « falsetas » and these two volumes supply a great deal of them. The book from Pena is designed for beginners and comes with a helpful CD, while the one from de Lucia –which I really enjoyed- compiles transcriptions of his recordings, so you may need to buy his CDs [not because you can’t read music, but for the added benefit of listening to the composer’s original intentions]: an investment I am sure you already made judging by your post.

Good luck and lots of fun with it.

[Todd]

Etudes to flamenco are like Falsetas to Classical.

There really are no parallels in these two musical forms.

The most they have in common is nylon strings, and some rasgueados
maybe. That's about it.
Other than that, they are complete apples and oranges.

Flamenco requires a completely different approach. I think you're on the right
track as far as just "Listening". Flamenco is traditionally taught "aurally" hand
to hand. Nothing is written.
Not very "classical" is it. ;)

[Michelob]

Flamenco requires a completely different approach. I think you're on the right
track as far as just "Listening". Flamenco is traditionally taught "aurally" hand
to hand. Nothing is written.
Not very "classical" is it. ;)

I was afraid to spell it out as confidently as you did, Todd, but I do not enjoy the same standing in the music community. That is why I suggested that Anjelo work with transcriptions to help him figure out what the Flamencos do, but ultimately listen and watch and absorbe.

[NFalla]

Again i'll have to agree with TK on this one...................!!!!

BUT if you must have something for falsetas.............then this is a Good Book!!!;)

http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=96871BCD

[Todd]

I had a funny thought. Imagine a flamenco player asking "Hey, anybody got any good classical falsetas or Letras?" :) "how about a classical remate?"


LOL

[NFalla]

I had a funny thought. Imagine a flamenco player asking "Hey, anybody got any good classical falsetas or Letras?" :) "how about a classical remate?"


LOL

LOL!!!!.........indeed sir.............!;)

[Anjelo]

The Juan Serrano and Paco Pena book sounds interesting.

I do understand that Flamenco is completely different, but before i tackle pieces, I wanted to make sure I understand what the palo is all about or simply build up some a good musical/technical vocabulary first. I guess I am just careful to play Pieces yet as it might only frustrate me and ruin the experience.

I am sure even though flamenco was never written, the maestros had a systematic way of expanding his student's vocabulary. Maybe playing a few bars of so and so, because later on when one tackles a buleria or seguirilla he will encounter this phrase and lot and it will be a lot easier to grasp since the student has already worked on it.

Just like learning a new language, learning basic words and phrase first before reading a book.

[NFalla]

my personal opinion of both the Paco Pena and Juan Serrano books is that the "Serrano" book is more "Systematical" and a little more in depth.

He gives you 10 different falsetas for each song, increasing the difficulty of each one as you go from "Falsetas 1 through 10"...........

Either way.............Good Luck and most of all.........HAVE FUN!!!!;)

[Dave Tate]

My personal vote goes to either the Koster or the Graf-Martinez books.

[NFalla]

My personal vote goes to either the Koster or the Graf-Martinez books.

Excellent books as well............BUT i think he's looking for something that really concentrates more on Falsetas............or maybe i'm wrong.........:confused:

again either way.............all good suggestions if this is the route you are taking....................:cool:

[Bernie]

There are a couple of other options, Oscar Herrero: Volumes 1-9, takes you from novice/beginner and progressively increases the difficulty to complete songs utilizing rasgueos, ligados, golpe, slides, apagados etc. It includes the book and DVD. The book has both notes and tab, the DVD shows the technique for each lesson and youcan listen as well for memorization.

Juan Martin via Mel Bay books, pretty much the same as above, Volumes 1 & 2.

Bernie

[Anjelo]

A systematic route sounds like what I am looking for.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. Since I have the Graf-Martinez book i'll give the 2nd book a shot also. I actually like his way of explaining things, a few exercises and examples first before a full piece of the palo.

Juan Serrano's book sounds interesting.

Oh man, there are so many methods out there!!

[NFalla]

Hey Anjelo..........!!

You ever find the one you're looking for.....??????

[NFalla]

bump.:)

[NFalla]

OK........bump again.

[jtucker]

I've been finding that Juan Martin's "El Arte de Flamenco de La Guitarra, vols. I and II" are superior to what his Mel Bay offerings look like. It gives enough basic compas and falsetas through an intermediate level, but it also includes a lot of history and info about the different palos how to put the pieces together.

I also have the Juan Serrano book but have not quite started working through it yet. Paco Pena's is next to buy.

[NGiorgio]

I've been finding that Juan Martin's "El Arte de Flamenco de La Guitarra, vols. I and II" are superior to what his Mel Bay offerings look like. It gives enough basic compas and falsetas through an intermediate level, but it also includes a lot of history and info about the different palos how to put the pieces together.

I would agree. I used both vol I and vol II a few years back. The Mel Bay books are just graded solos, and do not have any instructional material. :)

[Anjelo]

Hey Anjelo..........!!

You ever find the one you're looking for.....??????

I did'nt notice the bumps on this thread... I thought this was forgotten already. Anyway, I went with Graf-Martinez' vol. 2 book. This book has a lot for me to work with and It has a section that covers different palos which I really like.

I also every once In a while would do variations on his examples such as doing tresillos instead of 16th note ragueos or mixing one tango to the other. Until I am really confident with my compás I might start learning falsetas by other artists.

Mostly I'm just listening and doing palmas.

[deteresa]

I disagree somewhat with people's responses to this thread. The original poster was asking about technical "studies" to help improve their Flamenco technique. While I wouldn't advocate practicing things that are not in the form of a Flamenco falseta besides scales and stretches, I think it's perfectly reasonable to have exercises that are targeted at specific Flamenco techniques. For example alzapua on higher strings, tremolo on lower strings, arpeggios all over the place, etc.
Actually that gave me the idea to write some and put em up on my website:p


www.andyculpepper.com

[claflafan]

I have found these studies to be of great use for me and help me progress through the various flamenco techniques, all are covered in three volumes from beginner to advance. I suggest you begin with the first one to ensure you can play all of them well (or almost all at requested speed) before before moving to the next volume.
Oscar Herrero, Studies for Flamenco Guitar.
First book:
http://www.amazon.com/Studies-Flamenco-Guitar-Basic-Level/dp/8460936619/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284390215&sr=8-4

You can find the other 2 easily from there.

[Jorge H]

I've been finding that Juan Martin's "El Arte de Flamenco de La Guitarra, vols. I and II" are superior to what his Mel Bay offerings look like. It gives enough basic compas and falsetas through an intermediate level, but it also includes a lot of history and info about the different palos how to put the pieces together.

I also have the Juan Serrano book but have not quite started working through it yet. Paco Pena's is next to buy.

I agree with Mr Tucker. Juan Martin's El Arte de Flamenco de la Guitarra is probably the most comprehensive flamenco book on the market.Apparently it's studied all over the world and now is in its 11th print.It contains the history, a wealth of solos of varying difficulties as well as things like buying good guitars etc. Highly recommended.

[nickc]

I think the Juan Martin books are best for learning flamenco. I think the Paco Pena book is too difficult for beginners, although some of the music is very beautiful. Juan Serrano has a very awkward way of teaching rasgueos, starting with the index finger. Also, his idea of flamenco seems to be an alternation of scales and tremolos which makes his pieces less interesting musically than some of the other flamenco books. I am not familiar with Kevin Koster's books, but he is not a player with the gifts of a Paco Pena or Juan Martin. The Juan Martin books provide studies of graduated difficulty, so you can feel your skill growing, and even the easiest of his pieces are quite beautiful in their simplicity which makes learning them a pleasure.

[Michelob]

I think the Juan Martin books are best for learning flamenco. I think the Paco Pena book is too difficult for beginners, although some of the music is very beautiful. Juan Serrano has a very awkward way of teaching rasgueos, starting with the index finger. Also, his idea of flamenco seems to be an alternation of scales and tremolos which makes his pieces less interesting musically than some of the other flamenco books. I am not familiar with Kevin Koster's books, but he is not a player with the gifts of a Paco Pena or Juan Martin. The Juan Martin books provide studies of graduated difficulty, so you can feel your skill growing, and even the easiest of his pieces are quite beautiful in their simplicity which makes learning them a pleasure.

... and many of his (JM's) tutorial videos are on Youtube affording simple yet helpful tools for any level of learning. His Solea and Fandangos, Tangos and Buleria lessons are worth downloading while they last.

I must add that Oscar Herrero also provides some fine tutorial videos -in the origianl language yet self explenatory, as the guitar does most of the lecturing.

[Dr. Corey Whitehead]

On June 9-11 at The University of Granada, La Cartuja Campus, at The 9th International Conference on New Directions in The Humanities, Manolo Sanlucar and major figures of the flamenco world will announce in a press release, Manolo Sanlucar's greatest work complete with the presentation of a trailer that rivals the movie Flamenco, imagine the "how-to home edition of the Flamenco movie" this is it!

I am the transcriptionist, copyist, and engraver for the work, transcribed from 50 three-camera video shoots (included with the 10 volumes are DVDs) with Guitar, Cante, Baile, and Percussion. Some of the many artists include, Eva Yerbabuena, Javier Baron, Arcangel, Carmen Linares, Manolo Sanlucar, Manolo Franco, Paco Serrano, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Victor Monge Seranito, Moraito, and more.

I will post the news conference video link on June 12th.

Un cordial saludo flamencos!
Corey

[Anjelo]

Wow! I am surprised to have seen this thread again. It's been so long and so much has changed. Almost 2 years has passed. I kind of put those method books away. I listened to a lot cante and watched baile, focused on compás and didnt bother with falsetas. Met dancers and started playing with them. I also started taking lessons from Kai. Kind of really focused on Cante and Compás. I decided this is a better approach because even If I cannot play a lot of fancy things, I understand and hear whats going on.