Learn flamenco guitar - 10 easy steps to get started
So you’re interested in playing flamenco guitar, but where do you even begin?
Maybe you’ve been playing other styles of guitar music for a while, or perhaps the instrument itself is fairly new to you.
Even if you’re an absolute beginner, these ten easy steps will get you started with flamenco guitar.
1. Find a teacher
If you’re serious about learning flamenco guitar, you’re going to want to find yourself a flamenco guitar teacher. Are you in Australia? Make sure you check out our page of flamenco classes and teachers in Australia to find somebody near you. And even if you’re not local, many guitar teachers will offer online classes, so be sure to ask if that’s an option.
2. Start with any nylon string acoustic guitar
There are specific guitars for flamenco, but you don’t need one to get started. A normal nylon string acoustic guitar is fine for learning to play flamenco when you’re just starting out.
One of the key differences in a flamenco guitar is that it’s made to produce a more percussive sound, whereas the classical guitar produces notes that ring out for longer, resulting in a more mellow sound. For sure, this difference is important when you are playing faster, rhythmic flamenco styles such as bulerías, which require that brighter percussive sound. But this is not a deal breaker when you’re starting out. Investing in a proper flamenco guitar is something you can consider later as your playing progresses.
3. Get your nails ready
Generally flamenco guitarists play using their fingernails, so start by growing the nails on your strumming hand. You might need to experiment with the length and the shape of the nail, as this impacts the sound and the comfort of your guitar playing. Longer nails are weaker and break more easily, so get a nail file if you don’t already one. Some flamenco guitarists also use sand paper, artificial nails, polish or other products to keep their nails to a certain standard. The perfect nail is different for each guitarist.
4. Learn how to tune your guitar
If you don’t already know how to tune a guitar, now is the time to learn! You can start by using an electronic guitar tuner or a smartphone app, or use another instrument that will give you a reference for all six strings. A useful skill to learn as you progress is relative tuning, where you tune the fifth string first, then use your ear to tune each string relative to the fifth string. You can use a tuning fork to tune the fifth string to start.
5. Master some chords
Teach yourself some chords that are fundamental to flamenco. There are many flamenco styles played in A Phrygian also known as por medio, so you could start there and work on mastering A, B flat and D minor. There are also some flamenco styles played in the key of E Phrygian also known as por arriba. Here work on E, F, G and A minor. You will add more chords to your repertoire as you advance, but for now practise changing between these chords without breaking rhythm.
6. Familiarise yourself with different flamenco playing techniques
While the left hand is fretting, the right hand uses a variety of playing techniques to produce a flamenco sound. Here are some of the key techniques you will need to incorporate to play flamenco guitar:
Rasgueado or rasgueo is a strumming technique where the fingers flick our independently across the strings of a chord. There are different variants involving different combinations of fingers and sometimes the thumb in up and downwards movements.
Alzapúa uses the thumb to play a sequence of three movements: one string first, then a downwards and upwards motion across the two strings below. It’s played with a lot of speed giving a percussive sound to chords and melody.
Picado is played with two fingers, usually index and middle finger, alternating or ‘walking’ across a passage of single notes.
Arpeggio uses the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers to play the notes of a chord separately, in succession. There are also other arpeggio techniques that use different finger combinations. It’s a technique you might recognise from classical guitar.
Tremolo is another classical technique using a combination of fingers to rapidly repeat notes. You could think of it as an arpeggio on a single string. In flamenco the notes are repeated in quintuplets with a base note followed by four repetitions of a treble note. The sound gives the effect of more than one melody being played at the same time.
Pulgar means ‘thumb’ in Spanish. Unsurprisingly this technique uses the thumb to strike a note and rest on the string below. The technique also involves a movement from the wrist to get the force required.
Take time to explore and learn about these different techniques and practise, practise, practise!
7. Get to know different flamenco rhythms or compás
Once you can play with a few different flamenco guitar techniques, the next step is to play in rhythm or a compás. A lot of flamenco is played in twelve beats, and is counted starting on the 12, with accents on 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12. As this isn’t a symmetrical rhythm it can sound challenging at first, but the more flamenco you listen to, the more you will internalise the compás. Putting down the guitar and using your hands for palmas, clapping the beat, is a great way to cement the rhythm in your mind. A flamenco metronome, downloadable as an app on your smartphone, will also really help you to keep a consistent time and mark the accents.
8. Study different flamenco palos
Flamenco is made up of many different styles, or palos. There are many different interrelated styles and sub-styles. You can find an impressive visual overview of them on Flamencopolis.
Each palo can be characterised by the melodies sung by the singer, the key of the accompanying guitar, and the rhythm or compás. Studying the different styles is a lifetime’s work but there are some key palos that are most commonly performed. Start by listening to Alegrías (a type of Cantiñas), Soleá and Bulerías as three examples of very different palos that all use a 12 beat compás, and note the differences in tempo, style and verse. As you progress it will become easier to identify styles.
9. Learn a simple falseta
Flamenco guitar can be solo or accompanying singers and dancers. Even as an accompanist there are moments where the guitarist leads by playing a melodic falseta. If you are working with a guitar teacher they will no doubt teach you falsetas in different palos. And as you progress you can even venture into composing or improvising your own falsetas. To get started, try learning a simple falseta for Soleá. The ‘Cante y Toque’ website has a selection of basic soleares falsetas por arriba.
10. Watch and listen to online and live flamenco
Immerse yourself in flamenco! Use the terms from this article as a starting point to search online for techniques or styles that you want to learn more about. But don’t limit yourself to the technical side… enjoy flamenco as well! Watch and listen to guitarists, singers and dancers online, and take in as much live flamenco as you can. Live flamenco doesn’t even have to be performance flamenco… if you can volunteer your time at a local flamenco dance class you will learn a wealth of information from the experience. Many dance classes focus on one palo per term, which slowly exposes you to the flamenco experience and allows you to build your repertoire.
What are your tips for learning flamenco guitar? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we’re always sharing links and information about all things flamenco.
This article is an updated version of a post originally written by Paul French.