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20 points mazzystar | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.203s | source

I've recently become interested in Spanish guitar, particularly the Gypsy and flamenco styles, but I don't know how to get started. Are there any beginner textbooks or videos available? I previously bought a book that started with scale exercises, which I found very tedious, and ended up giving up. Thank you very much.
1. ramses0 ◴[] No.44401672[source]
My beginners journey: http://www.robertames.com/blog.cgi/entries/so-you-want-to-le...

From "Noad" there's a Spanish Study that is on track with your goals: https://youtu.be/p_YHVf_pan4

Flamenco (traditional) uses a unique rhythm called a "compas", 12 beats, and "should" be practiced with dancers stomping the counterpoints.

Flamenco Guitar Basic Techniques (Juan Serrano)

Flamenco Guitar Method (Gerhard Graf-Martinez)

...it's a loooong road, and the climax of it has you buying a new (specifically for flamenco) guitar, as it resounds better in a crowded dance hall or theater.

You have to decide to learn to play by ear, by tab, or by notes, and as I mentioned in my blog post, you have to struggle through a long period of time "nobody thinks I sound like anything worth a damn".

As an adult student, you may end up in a recital going up against 11 year olds and thinking to yourself "Damn! Their twinkle twinkle little star is kicking my versions ass!"

It's a loooong road, I've been an off and on student for ~15 years, mostly self-taught, classical with Spanish/Latin influences.

Malagueña (Juan Serrano) - https://youtu.be/18rSqD5My40

Guardame las Vacas - https://youtu.be/O-LzDvRRxNU

Antonio Briebesca, Paco de Lucia, Johannes Linstead (Para La Habana), Gypsy Kings (of course), Rodrigo y Gabriela are all (non-flamenco), and some are slightly more modern flavor of the direction your question was probably in.

Shoot for the stars and you'll eventually be able to bang out a few decent tunes after a year or two. Good luck!