Recognized internationally for his interpretation and fluid, yet powerful flamenco and classic guitar technique, Adam del Monte reveals his practice methods and routine for achieving greater speed in executing picado or rest-stroke scales. From a reasoned right-hand nail filing system to the proper mindset while practicing, Adam lays out an effective plan for increasing speed while retaining accuracy. Endorsed by none other than Angel Romero, this book goes a long way in erasing the seeming boundaries between flamenco and classic guitar playing styles. When rest-stroke speed is no longer an issue, a bit of authentic flamenco fire may blend into your classical technique. The book ends with three concert-level flamenco selections demonstrating the breath of Adam’s musicality and the importance of developing faster picado scales.

Since the 19th century beginnings of the flamenco guitar style in Spain, the flamenco/classical guitar relationship has always existed; this 3-book method series—begun by Juan Serrano and Corey Whitehead and extended by Whitehead’s collaboration with Richard Marlow—is simply the first to point out and dive deep into what has always been a single cross-cultural relationship. In addition to the unique classical/flamenco repertoire included in this book, the flamenco history presented here is essential. It makes the origins of dozens of rhythmic flamenco song and dance forms crystal clear. Why, for example, does the Spanish word, palo (stick), continually pop up in flamenco literature? This book reveals that, even before the guitar was used in flamenco song and dance accompaniment, the actual stick from a butter churn was used to mark time. Most guitarists are familiar with the CAGED guitar chord system, i.e., the use of the five basic first-position key/chord patterns to explore the mid and upper regions of the fretboard with or without a capo. Volume 2 includes a comprehensive introduction to fretboard harmony and explores the CAGED system thoroughly with standard notation and chord grids. Whitehead goes so far as to develop an entire scale system based on the CAGED concept. Imagine what that system might do for your intuitive fretboard knowledge and sightreading ability. While unfamiliar with rasgueado (strumming) or alzapúa (“raise the thumb”) techniques, classical guitarists already have a head start in their approach to flamenco; good guitar technique is simply good technique in either style. Through its reasoned, progressive blending of history and flamenco/classical repertoire, this series removes the perceived barriers in thinking about and playing the two styles, revealing that they are truly one tradition as the series title clearly states. To encourage better sightreading, The Flamenco/Classical Guitar Tradition series is written in standard notation only; each book includes extensive online audio tracks for authenticity and ease of learning.

Flamenco Explained, The Guitarist's Survival Guide, is the first book that breaks down the inner workings of flamenco and helps the guitarist truly understand this this amazing art form. Flamenco Explained presents the underlying architecture of flamenco in a new way that is accessible to all musicians and prepares the aspiring guitarist to accompany flamenco dance and Cante and communicate with other flamenco musicians. Flamenco Explained has already been used as the foundation for Berklee College of Music's first ever flamenco guitar class.

This book and accompanying video provide a thorough introduction to flamenco guitar. What are the essential elements and techniques of flamenco guitar playing? How does one capture the real essence of authentic flamenco guitar? These are questions that Juan Martin, celebrated virtuoso flamenco guitarist and teacher, addresses in this first book of a projected three-volume series. The method is designed for the complete beginner and requires no prior knowledge of the guitar or flamenco music. It also provides invaluable insight and material for more advanced players who want to capture the essential sounds, rhythms and emotional power of true flamenco. The series begins with in-depth demonstrations of how the basic building blocks of flamenco guitar technique are used in actual flamenco music. The material then progresses to a detailed exploration of the individual rhythmic forms - the palos. In this book, the fundamental palos of Solea and Alegrias are presented to emphasize the basic rhythms and provide examples of falsetas - the melodic passages. Martin then shows how to apply these when collaborating with a dancer and singer. The music is transcribed in standard notation and tablature (cifra), and the online video contain over 3.5 combined hours of explanation and demonstrations. Provides a detailed introduction to basic techniques, using examples of authentic flamenco to show these techniques in action. Then progresses to demonstrations of the Solea and Alegrias, including music for the soloist and the guitar accompanying the dancing and singing. Includes access to online video.

The acclaimed first volume of this exciting series gave extensive insights into basic techniques of flamenco guitar playing and the two important rhythmic forms (palos) of Solea and Alegrias. This second volume continues on with an exploration of further essential rhythmic palos. The first of these is the Bulerias. Juan Martin brings his many years of experience as an internationally renowned flamenco soloist and accompanist for singers and dancers to unravelling its mysteries, explaining and demonstrating very clearly the different elements of its rhythmic structure and the various ways it may be accented and counted. He uses traditional and more modern examples of the different kinds of rhythm and melodic passages (falsetas) to provide an invaluable understanding of this wonderful palo. The second rhythmic form is devoted to the popular flamenco Rumba, then Tangos, Tientos and that most profound of all the palos, the deeply moving Seguiriyas. Juan's solo playing is complemented by demonstrations of the guitar's role in accompanying the flamenco dance (baile) and song (cante) with the help of outstanding dancers Raquel de Luna and Miguel Infante and singers Amparo Heredia (La Repompilla) and Carlos Brias. The music for solo guitar is transcribed in standard notation and tablature (cifra) and the online video contain nearly three hours of explanation and demonstrations. The series is complemented by two other best-selling Juan Martin volumes published by Mel Bay. These provide progressively graded solo material to extend the repertoire, from beginner to concert level. Includes access to online video.

These Juan Martín compositions are for flamenco, classical and any type of guitar players at intermediate and more advanced stages who already have experience of the instrument and techniques like arpeggios, tremolo and correct left-hand fingering, but wish to extend their knowledge of thumb techniques like alzapua, the many forms of rasgueo and flamenco rhythms such as rumba, vituosic guajiras and the mysteriously beautiful rondeña, dissonant and deep. If you master these 8 solos, you will be well on the way to become a concert soloist. Transcribed by Angela Centola. Includes access to online audio. Éstas composiciones de Juan Martín son para guitarristas flamencos, clásicos y de cualquier tipo en niveles intermedios y más avanzados que ya tienen experiencia en instrumentos y técnicas como arpegios, trémolo y digitación correcta de la mano izquierda, pero desean ampliar su conocimiento de las técnicas de pulgar como alzapua, las muchas formas de rasgueo y palos flamencos como la rumba, las virtuosas guajiras y la misteriosamente bella rondeña, disonante y profunda. Si dominas étros 8 solos, estarás en camino de convertirte en solista de concierto. Transcrito por Angela Centola. Incluye acceso a audio en línea.

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Designed as a comprehensive multimedia teaching set, this book with online audio/video present 42 solos, progressively graded in 6 levels from absolute beginners to more advanced, to suit players of all levels. It contains examples of eighteen different palos (rhythmic forms) of flamenco, with a wealth of melodic falsetas and rhythms. The music for all these is accurately written in notation and flamenco tab (cifra) in the book, and is also recorded on the online audio. The online video contains over 57 minutes of solo music, and also includes introduction by Juan Martín and brief scenes of Andalucia today, which help to place this profoundly exciting and deeply felt music in the landscape of its origins. Juan Martín has succeeded here in showing how even music which is simple and very easy to start with can express the essential sound and emotion of flamenco, to build step by step the skills necessary for the performance of concert solos. Written in English and Spanish. Includes access to online audio and video.

Classic and flamenco guitarists alike will benefit from these etudes as they bridge the gap between traditional mechanical studies and engaging practice and concert material. Although relatively short in duration, a few of these etudes could be combined in a medley to form an effective suite or set. In addition, fourteen of the twenty etudes are provided with chord accompaniment for harmonic analysis, improvisation, or performance with a teacher or second guitarist. The companion online audio for this book has been masterfully recorded by the author using a flamenco guitar to authentically render the typical picado, double-arpeggio, arpeggio-legato, and horquilla techniques as well as the quintuplet flamenco tremolo. Traditional classical elements like octave, interval and arpeggio studies are also thoroughly explored, with one piece in dropped-D tuning—all with a flamenco flavor. In addition to accomplishing its mission of offering a fresh regimen of appealing practice etudes, the truly unique feature of this book is that everything from basic technique to exotic harmony and modal scales has been aflamencado or “flamenco-ized”. Towards that end, a comprehensive glossary of mostly flamenco terminology is provided along with standard notation and tablature for each piece. As a bonus for those new to the flamenco genre, or for the serious aficionado or audiophile, a generous “Recommended Listening” list is included. Practice-related quotations from prominent guitarists in various styles complete this exceptional collection. Includes access to online audio.