# Guitar/Flamenco

!Paco de Lucia

## Introduction

Flamenco is one of the folk music genres of Spain. In Spain the word
flamenco is not just associated with the guitar but also the people,
songs and dances of Spain. The history of flamenco follows that of
Spain. When the Moors ruled Southern Spain they brought with them their
instruments and the most important of these was the
Oud. This eastern lute is still to be found all over
the world but in Spain it collided with European ideas and flamenco is
the product. Flamenco is woven into the life of the region of Andalucia
where it originated and the people actively engage in the songs and
dances. The guitar has always been the main instrument used in flamenco
to support the dancers and singers due its percussive timbre. The early
flamenco guitarists very rarely played solo; their role was purely to
provide music for the dancers and singers. The rise of the solo flamenco
guitarist is a late development and many of the great flamenco soloists
are also renowned for their ability to accompany singers and dancers.

## Flamenco Guitar

!The flamenco dancer Belen Maya in traditional costume. Image: Gilles
Larrain

The modern classical guitar and its physical development can be traced
back to the Spanish guitar-maker Torres. Alongside the classical guitar
is the flamenco guitar. The flamenco guitar has the same history and the
greatest luthiers in Spain have always made both types of guitar. The
main structural difference the flamenco guitar has in relation to the
classical guitar is a thinner body. This creates a timbre that is sharp
and percussive. This is considered the ideal sound with which to
accompany dancers. The flamenco guitar also has wooden tuning-pegs,
which is the traditional method of construction for all early guitars.
The need for the classical guitar to be able to be heard in a concert
hall and the demand for greater resonance from classical composers;
means that the classical guitar has left behind the use of wooden
tuning-pegs and its body size has increased in comparison to the
flamenco guitar. In many respects the flamenco guitar is similar in
construction to the guitars of earlier centuries.

## Flamenco Artists

Paco de Lucia and Sabicas are two flamenco guitarists that students of
the guitar should be aware of. Both have played a major part in the
changes of this evolving art form. Sabicas developed the technique of
tremolo and Paco de Lucia extended the harmonic framework with his use
of jazz chord voicings. Juan Martin is a flamenco guitarist who keeps
the traditional forms sharply in focus and provides the clearest guide
for beginners wishing to study the various flamenco forms.

## Flamenco Forms

The flamenco forms have been developed over a long time. There is a
distinction of terms when flamenco forms are described. When flamenco
vocal forms are described they are called \"cantes\" and the guitarist
forms are called \"toques\". Each flamenco form has certain rhythmic and
tonal qualities that encapsulate the form and flamenco guitarists are
expected to have a knowledge of the origin and usage of these.

-   Bulerías
-   Soleares
-   Seguirillas
-   Tientos

## Flamenco Chord Progression

This is a very common chord progression that most guitarists who wish to
learn flamenco start with.

```{=html}
<div style="font-family:'Courier New'">
```
File: A minor chord for guitar (open).png\|**A minor** File: G major
chord for guitar (open).png\|**G major** File: F major chord for guitar
(barred).png\|**F major** File: E major chord for guitar (open).png\|**E
major**

```{=html}
</div>
```
A descending one octave Phrygian mode starting from the note \"E\" which
can be played over the above chord progression.

!E Phrygian
scale.png "E Phrygian scale"){width="800"}\
==Flamenco Technique==

-   Golpe - the Spanish word for \"tap\". This technique involves
    \"tapping\" the body of the guitar to produce a percussive sound.
    The third finger of the right-hand strikes the table of the guitar
    with the nail and flesh. Flamenco guitars have a \"golpeador\"
    (plastic cover) which protects the wood of the guitar during the use
    of this technique

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Rasgueo - this is the most common strumming technique for flamenco.
    The right-hand is formed into a closed fist with the thumb resting
    against the guitar or low E string for support, and each finger is
    flicked out one at a time (4-stroke rasgueo) to sound the strings
    with the nails. A common variation is to use the technique with only
    the index finger. The index finger is also used for the up-stroke
    which only strikes the treble strings after the completion of the
    4-stroke rasgueo.

