Welcome! Subscribe for weekly uploads of my performances, lessons and tutorials, dedicated to everything that is Spanish Guitar and Flamenco! My mission is to spark interest in anyone who wants to learn guitar, no matter how young or old or how little experience you may have. I’m here to make it easy, fun and want you to enjoy the journey, while breaking plateaus and playing tunes you actually enjoy! My goal is to show you all the details and tips I wish I would have known from the start. I don’t think I was born with much talent, it’s something I’ve worked for endlessly. Let me guide you through the process!
David, thank you for this lesson very practical and helpful. I’ve seen some flaminco guitar players use three fingers when playing Picado, you use two, is one way better than the other? And why?
Hey James! Thanks 👌🏼So I would say about 98% of Flamenco guitarists do picado with the standard two finger picado. The three finger picado is more of a specialty thing I’ve seen a few players do. Some players use it only for exercises to help with finger independence and not depend on the two standard fingers (I & M). Some will also practice exercises with the I & A or M & A. I think Grisha Goryachev likes doing the three finger version on occasion, but not as his main one… So, if you’re curious about pursuing it, I’d say you can introduce it as an exercise first and experiment with it very slowly to start. But the main thing is to master the two finger version first. Especially when crossing from string to string, the three finger will be much more challenging than the two finger version.
Hey John! That’s awesome! Just saw that yesterday night. I’ll message you by tomorrow to touch base. Looking forward to connecting and guiding you through this!
Sounds great Neil! Glad you’re finding my content helpful. Wishing you the best on your Flamenco journey! Lmk what type of videos you’d find helpful or what topics you’re looking for guidance with…
I love Capricho Árabe ❤️🔥 I actually have a video with that piece on my channel too. I’ll have to check out Tango in D, not sure if I’m familiar with it.
I have just started to learn acoustic guitar but I also want to play classical guitar. So please advice me some good method /technique books that are relevant to me for learning classical Guitar. Austurias is my all time favourite. Thanks.
Hi! Thanks for sharing… Asturias is also one of my favorites too, I never get tired of it. 🙂 So I actually just launched my new e-course/program for beginners. It teaches the fundamentals to start playing classical and flamenco guitar. Plus I’m currently adding in a monthly group coaching zoom call for six months to help students that enroll. Check it out and see if it looks like a good fit for you… lmk if you have any questions.
@@DavidChiriboga I use a Cordoba C7 SP guitar, which is worth around 500 euros. It's not specifically a flamenco guitar, but I like its sound system and I love my guitar. However, if I were to buy a higher-end flamenco guitar one day, I would spend a maximum of 1,500 euros. I can't afford to spend more than that. There is an Alhambra 10F for 1,600 euros, but I'm not sure. I've heard its sound on RU-vid; I've never tried it, but it sounds nice. I look forward to your recommendations and thank you for your response. 🙏
Thank you so much for this video, I’m a white Australian with no cultural ties to Spanish or Latin music but Spanish guitar just speaks to my soul. I’m learning all of these.
Awesome! Love to hear that… especially the fact that you’re not culturally connected and still doing it and passionate about it. I’m of Latin heritage(Ecuadorian roots), but I didn’t grow up with Spanish culture from Spain, so I was a total foreigner to Flamenco and the culture that goes with it. Despite that, I think anyone can learn and adopt certain aspects, while remaining true to ourselves and not just trying to clone ourselves to a different culture. Wishing you the best!
Not sure if there’s a full recording streaming out there. The original is by Andres Batista. I’ll have to record the full piece soon 😉 Such a beautiful mesmerizing piece…
Those families moved to France to escape the Franco regime, although Sabicas was actually from Pamplona, on the other side of the Pyrenees in Spain ... great discussion!! 💯😎
@@tayrowell I would beg to differ… Yes, it’s not “Flamenco” as a whole. But they are primarily playing a branch of it. It’s not a jondo founding branch either, but the rumba flamenca is still a branch of Flamenco. So they technically play Flamenco. With the pre-text that everyone should always understand that that’s not all there is to Flamenco, it’s just a tiny piece. And also at concerts, they do usually jam out to a little Fandangos libre or another jondo style for one piece at least. But I agree with you, when describing them to someone, I wouldn’t say a “Flamenco” group, I’ use a “Rumba” group since that their main deal publicly.
The gentleman may prefer flamenco puro, but it is very challenging to make a living playing bulerias. On the other hand, rhumbas are a rhythm that is common to many cultures, and more easily accepted and appreciated.
Oh yea, there’s no denying that it’s easier and more commercial to make a living as a Spanish guitarist with Rumba Flamenca’s, than with the more traditional jondo styles. That’s one of the reasons I decided to not continue to go any deeper into the full spectrum of traditional Flamenco. The roi, as a professional musician wasn’t making sense and aligning with my goals. Actually I don’t think Jose judges anyone who prefers to go that route. He just personally is part of a traditional Flamenco family and enjoys following that route, from his heritage and as an artist. He also said, as long as it’s just correctly labeled and promo’d as a Rumba Flamenca performance/artist, then it’s all good. I think that makes sense…
Facts. I would add that beginning guitarists should practice, establish muscle memory, be humble, and utilize the free musical gold that pros like Chiriboga graciously offer.
Yup, in reality this principle is for learning any new skill or working towards any goal… I’m a big believer in not neglecting the power of mindset. It’s the foundation for everything we do 😉
After your podcast with Gohar Vardanyan I felt shamed into increasing my practice time to one hour a day! I've kept up with it every day so far. Thank you for your ongoing motivation.
Hey Phil! That’s great, I honestly think an hour can be very potent for adults with the rest of life going on. But don’t ever feel shamed into practicing longer 😉 As long as it works towards your goals and works with your daily routine, then go for it… My short recommendations in this video are for starters and newbies… Hope all else is going well!
Thanks! And that’s a song I recorded on and produced with a friend of mine, David Munoz who wrote it. Caminito en la Cueva: open.spotify.com/track/7g91qPXsD9lH0uEHiDbeiG?si=xl8XK18ZQC-_8R44E4soYA
Imo, flamenco is the more passionate and emotional style. Classical is more rigid and structured. Extremely generalized, I know. Flamenco utilizes rest strokes more and classical utilizes free strokes more. (Insert fact checks now).
I think that’s generally on point 👌🏼 I developed my taste for some specific Spanish Classical repertoire over the years. But purist classical culture can be so rigid and too micro structured for my general taste. I like taking classical pieces and playing/arranging them to my personal taste 😉
If I'm not mistaken, Paco De Lucia didn't read music? But I'm open to correction! Did learn some musical notation many years ago at school, wish I'd kept it up, feels like climbing a mountain now, tabs much easier. Dude, another nice shirt 👍🙏🥰😎
Yup, you are correct… in fact Paco learned the whole Concierto de Aranjuez by ear and memory when he performed that with an orchestra. And he himself admitted he felt intimidated playing with people Al Di Miola because he didn’t know theory concepts either… This can work for many, but also keep in mind he was Paco lol. I’m also a fan of Tab for convenience 😅 but I still read when necessary. And thanks, I like my flowery shirts… 😉
@@DavidChiriboga Ahh, the great Al Di Meola, I bought his wonderful album Splendido Hotel on vinyl many moons ago, his take on Spanish Eyes is one of the best I've ever heard. Paco and Al, my heroes!
Thanks… Pinky for Arpeggios no… I’ve never seen anyone use the pinky for arpeggios (not that I’m aware of) For rasgueados, yes, the pinky gets used occasionally.
We all go through phases of taste… I’ve always felt more connected with Flamenco music… and I had a very hard time developing an acquired taste for classical lol. But after studying it, I found a connection with a lot of beautiful repertoire specifically in Spanish Classical. There’s some beautiful and exciting pieces by Tarrega, Albeniz, just to name a couple… But you’re right, the passion in Flamenco playing is just so unique…
@@DavidChiriboga Thats how I started. Tarrega, Albeniz, and so on. But after many years I feel they all sound the same. And today the classical guitar sound evokes sensations of disgust in me. My guitar teacher tried 2 years in a row to get into the music conservatory in Denmark and two times he got the thumbs down cause he didn't sound classical enough. The second time they told him they could hear he was filing his nails wrong! Just goes to show they want the students to produce the exact same sound and tone. Not a fan of that at all. The flamenco sound on the other hand is much more expressive and vibrant to me. Have heard it all my life and have not gotten tired of it yet. And I don't expect that I will, since Flamenco is steadily evolving all the time. Cheers.
@@CT2507 I can totally agree with you on “Classical Guitar Culture”. I detested it the whole time I was at my university studying it and it was the main reason I never fully gave myself to the program at the time. So yea, I hear you on that… Especially with things like you specifically mention. Those micro details that some of them fixate on… Just to be fair though, there’s some things I don’t like about Flamenco Culture too lol, when you try to enter that world as a guitarist. But that’s a whole other story… I was actually thinking about making a video about this a while back, and you just reminded me.
@@DavidChiriboga Yea, I think I know what you mean. There are also some "dead horses" within flamenco it doesn't pay to keep beating on. Im not saying I love all flamenco, or culture. Just the guitar sound and the way the strings are attacked and worked. The different techniques that come together to describe the sounds, are just richer and more interesting to me. I once went to a concert with Paco de Lucia in Copenhagen and had something reminiscent of an out of body experience, just listening to his sound. Didn't appreciate some of his newer music all that much since it felt too jazzy and experimental to me. But the sound he produced just took me and the whole room just disappeared. For some moments I didn't know where I was. It was quite an experience. This never happened to me with classical guitar.
May I recommend "Duende: A Journey Into The Heart Of Flamenco" by Jason Webster, for a very different and unlikely obsession with flamenco by a young, white man.
Amazing content man, really like this series! Keep it up! Just trying to do Picade exercises from your video on how to do Picado and it's sooo hard to reach optimal speed! ahah
Thanks so much for the support! Glad you’re finding it insightful. And yea, take it slow, the speed will come naturally if you’re keeping good form and playing with no excessive tension… patience 😅
Jose was on of my Flamenco teachers and his mother Estrella Morena was my first Flamenco teacher 30 years ago in Miami. Incredible family with so much talent. Wonderful interview!!
That’s awesome! They are both just as amazing at the art of teaching as they are at performing. For me, it’s been a huge treat to get to work with Jose and learn from him as well! Thanks for listening 😉
Good advice. Here is how I hold the guitar. Put it on the right thigh, and put a low foot stool or guitar case under my right foot. Back in the day, I tried the approach for classical guitar, but it twists the body and puts a strain on the low back and shoulders.
I do the same 👍🏼 Usually cross my right leg or when I’m at home, I use a foot stool on my right foot. I also never could completely get into the classical form. Never felt quit right, plus I’m not a fan of how it looks, and lastly, it leaves you more dependent on having a footstool. With the Flamenco posture, you could either cross a leg wherever you’re at or use the footstool (or guitar case)
Hi, yea I’m sorry, I never updated that link with a custom pdf. I just put my general picado beginners checklist for download. Sorry for the confusion. I should make a pdf, but since they’re very short patterns, it’s also great to just learn them from memory… but I will put this on my list to make a pdf for it to make it easier
