Issue 56 - October 12th, 2014

I would like to invite you to be part of this Weekly Magazine by raising questions and giving me suggestions through e-mail so this magazine can become a good material for all flamenco lovers, researchers and musicians. Enjoy it!

A.-Paco de Lucía (Pictures)

B.-Comments, Questions and Answers:

QUESTION 1: Years ago I bought a guitar from a Spanish luthier who told me that his guitar was very easy to play but, in time, I realized it was not so. I even developed an injury on my left hand because of playing with such a high action, my question is: How can luthiers know about what we (players) need if they don’t play guitar? And, on the other hand, how come most guitar players are not very versed in knowledge regarding the guitar most important features and its construction?

QUESTION 2: I have been is Spain several times but, some times, I have stumbled with teachers/players who told me that I could never possibly play flamenco guitar well just because I wasn’t born there (in Spain, is it true? Please elaborate on that.

QUESTION 3: When I listen the tapado muted strumming it sound like a cajon flamenco to me, why is that?

QUESTION 4: Is it a good idea to tap the foot to learn flamenco rhythms?

QUESTION 5: I heard you saying that the order of the bracings inside the guitar cannot be the same for left handed guitars than for the right handed ones, can you explain this to me?

QUESTION 6: I heard people saying that you and Paco abuse the picado technique and that less notes are better than too many notes, what can you say about this?

C.- Videos of the Week:

1) Interactive Strummings - PART 3

2) Bulería Muted Strummings - PART 8

D.- Video Recommendations of the Week:

1) "Diet Racism" by College Humor

Paco de Lucía

In this picture Paco de Lucia wears a Mexican poncho(indigenous costume) as he happily lived for about 30 years in Mexico (in Playa del Carmen). He moved since 1977, right after he launched his revolutionary album “Almoraima” a year before. At the following link you can read an interview in whihc he explains the reasons why he moved there:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdmagazine48-08may14.html#specialsectionpaco5

B.-Questions and Answers

Assessment of a High Quality Flamenco Guitar CLICK HERE

Diet Racism in Flamenco CLICK HERE

Article About "Quinquilleros" or "Flamenco Pretenders"

Caja (Percussion Box) vs Tapado (Muter Strumming) CLICK HERE

About Tapping the Foor to Learn to Play Correctly in Compás (Flamenco Rhythm) CLICK HERE

Special Guitar for Left Handed Players CLICK HERE

Too Many Notes?... Or Just Can't Play Them...CLICK HERE

Interactive Strummings - PART 3 CLICK HERE

Bulería Muted Strummings - PART 8 CLICK HERE

Here is a nice video from “College Humor”, a popular YouTube channel. Their creative way to portray what could be considered as an even worse but veiled racism represented with acid humor.

ISSUE 13

ISSUE 53

ISSUE 55