Advice on the 12/8 compas...

[flamenco fan]

Hello flamencos !!

I would like advice on how to learn the 12/8 compas found in Bulerias, Soleares, and Alegrias. I study flamenco daily and use a metronome, but I get lost in the compas! I do palmas to warm up and I have bought the bulerias Solo Compas cd. I take biweekly lessons from a professional flamenco guitarist. I have been studying flamenco for 3 years now. I am very interested in all your opinions on the metronomes that are programmed for the 12/8 compas.

Your replies are appreciated!

flamenco fan

[NGiorgio]

Compas in flamenco is a bit difficult to nail down. You really have to feel it. Have you asked your teacher to work with you on this? I would suggest, along with what you are already doing, is to listen too as much flamenco as you can. That will help you feel it. If you have to count it out, you don't have it down.

I would think that the flamenco metronomes could be heplful if they are programmed correctly.

I compare it to playing a blues progression. If you played steel string or electric guitar, prior to your flamenco work, you know what the blues progression is. Three simple chords, but you have to know where the changes take place, and it has to feel natural.

[Todd]

Good advice.

Listening is one of the best ways, i agree.

Its a matter of what to listen to. I would say for now,
stay away from the modern stuff, ala Vicents Amigo,
or recent Paco De Lucia etc....

Listen to Nino Ricardo, Sabicas, and Serranito for a few months.

You'll get it. :wink:

And it will give you what you need to appreciate the modern flamenco
style. :)
TK

[flamenco fan]

Thanks NGiorgio and Todd for the advice! I am still at the point of counting 12-3-6-8-10... but someday hopefully the compas will become second nature. I probably will get one of those flamenco metronomes in the future. They are pricey though, about $100.00...

[Todd]

Its ok to count for now. But remember, dont get to intimidated
by the "12" in the signature.

LIsten, and feel/count it in 6/8. Dont worry about accents so much.
You just want to be able to know where "1" beat is.

TK

[cdikland]

I probably will get one of those flamenco metronomes in the future. They are pricey though, about $100.00...
Excuse my ignorance but what is so special/different about a flamenco metronome and why so expensive. :shock:

[Todd]

I probably will get one of those flamenco metronomes in the future. They are pricey though, about $100.00...
Excuse my ignorance but what is so special/different about a flamenco metronome and why so expensive. :shock:

Actually, there are a few flamenco software metronomes on
the net, that are pretty cheap.
Flamencomaster and Mundobeat being the main 2.

A flamenco metronome gives you specific accents
wich helps in studying the notoriously tough 12 beat measures
in toques like Alegrias, Bulerias, Soleares.

The main jist of the count is;

1 ( 2 3 ) 4 ( 5 6 ) 7 ( 8 ) 9 ( 10 ) 11 ( 12 )


TK

[Patrick]

Todd,

Actually Mundobeat isn't being made anymore. I think I got one of the last made.

flamenco fan,

Flamenco Master (as Todd mentioned) is the best in my opinion of the software products available. Todd and my buddy Ron M across the pond developed it for his own use and later offered it for sale. You can download a trial copy. It's only a few bucks to register it. It's so good a lot of guys use it as a backing track to record to.

Here is the link: http://www.guitartechnique.com/

Here is a little tip that really helped me. For Solea, tap 1, 2 with your left foot, now 3 with the right, 4 5 left, 6 right, 7 left, 8 right, 9 left, 10 right, 11 left, and 12 right. Just keep doing this until it becomes totally ingrained in you. After a while you will be able to tap only the beats (pulse) with the right foot without counting. Counting is fine, but you want to get to the point where you feel the beats without having to do so.

By the way I am in Portland if you happen to come this way, look me up.

Pat

[NGiorgio]

Hey Pat,

Are you still working with the Nunez material?

[Patrick]

Hey Nick,

Not as much as I should be. I got hooked on tabbing and learning a Buleria by Quique Paredes which has taken forever.

So did you get the whole thing mastered yet?!

Pat

[NGiorgio]

No way, Pat. I am working on the picado section now. It is such a great book and I am still absorbing it like a sponge.

[Patrick]

Nick,

It's a liftime of information.