Issue 7 - August 12th, 2012

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

1.- Comments, Questions and Answers: " Do you recommend me to radically change my right hand posture or should it remain as I learned it before?"

2.- Videos of the Week:
1) Tangos Mutted Strumming - Part 1
2) “Dear Alice” Theme (Rumba) by Chick Corea
3) Rehearsals at the "Onda Azul" Spanish TV Station

3.- Video Recommendation of the Week: Paco de Lucía, John McLaughlin and Al di Meola Trío Interview.

1.- Comments, Questions and Answers: "Do you recommend me to radically change my right hand posture or should it remain as I learned it before?"

QUESTION:

I learned to play “picado” (scales) more or less like “the Sabicas style”, NAMELY, playing more from my first knuckle and I was thinking about what you mentioned in the videos about Paco de Lucia’s placement of the right hand:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo502.html

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo503.html

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo504.html

and I really like the idea to play mainly from the second knuckle instead, just as you said.

Do you recommend me to radically change my right hand posture or should it remain as I learned it before?

ANSWER:

This depends on what you want to achieve regarding scale playing, and it also depends on how used you are to the former posture.

If you want to develop speed on Paco de Lucia’s technique as well as a deeper tone resulting from it then better you change your posture. There are two ways you can do that which are as follows:

1) To drastically change your posture (and possibly start from the beginning again)

2) Gradually change it by slowly becoming aware of the 10 things to avoid and trying to modify one thing at a time progressively transforming it into the way Paco play scales which -in fact- is the best in every aspect. This posture or technique also helps you to avoid injuries at short and long term, so it’s a good idea anyway.

From these two alternatives I recommend you the second one, hence with that I have seen more students succeed.

2.- Videos of the Week:

1) Rehearsals at the "Onda Azul" Spanish TV Station
2) Tangos Mutted Strumming - Part 1
3) “Dear Alice” Theme (Rumba) by Chick Corea

Ruben Diaz and students rehearsal at the "Onda Azul" Spanish TV Station
"Dear Alice" (Rumba) by Chick Corea

Ruben Diaz and students rehearsal at the "Onda Azul" Spanish TV Station
"Fuego Fatuo" (Jaleo) by Manuel de Falla

Ruben Diaz and students rehearsal at the "Onda Azul" Spanish TV Station
"Rio Ancho" (Rumba) by Paco de Lucía

Tangos Mutted Strumming - Part 1

“Dear Alice” Theme (Rumba) by Chick Corea

A very interesting video that shows the creative process and other important details the greatest guitar trío.