Learn Flamenco Guitar

For those of us wishing to learn Flamenco guitar it’s a good idea to understand a little bit about its history and long tradition. This is after all, where all its red blooded passion and fire originates from.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the majority of Flamenco guitarists were in fact Spanish Gypsies. They were poor people and learned Flamenco guitar as an expressive art form passed down from one generation to another. During that time, the construction of Flamenco guitars were often simple to keep costs down however there was still a wide range of prices largely dictated by the kinds of woods used and the amount of decoration. Naturally, poor gypsies would buy the cheapest guitars at the time however the features used on those guitars, such as wooden pegs for tuners, were to become what all Flamenco guitars would be eventually known for. To those who wanted to learn Flamenco guitar it was a right of passage to storytelling and folklore. A means to enjoyment but also to preserving tradition.

In the construction of a typical flamenco guitar there are some time honoured practices which have survived the test of time and are still as valid today as they were 100 years ago. This is certainly true of the woods used to make Spanish guitars.

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This is normally of Spanish cypress or sycamore which is used for the back and sides while spruce is used for the top. The result is a guitar which is lighter than a classical guitar, has a brighter sound with more punch and also gives it a distinctive colour. When you learn Flamenco guitar the question of volume and projection becomes very important. You must be able to project the sound over dancers and rhythmical claps.

Since Flamenco is such a rhythmical form of music with many of its forms being completely defined by their accents and meters, learning flamenco guitar is as much about using the instrument rhythmically as it is harmonically. Taps on the guitar from the fingers while playing would eventually damage a Spanish guitars finish so flamenco guitars also have a tap plate made of transparent plastic to protect them. As we have already seen, early students of Flamenco guitar could only afford the cheapest guitars and they would often come with wooden pegs for tuners. Many high end guitars still employ this construction today as less weight in the headstock allows for a quick decay of the sound and a faster attack both of which are desirable in Flamenco music.

Making the decision to learn Flamenco guitar is one which should always be accompanied by the right choice of guitar. Another feature of Spanish guitars for Flamenco is their lower action in comparison to Classical guitars. This can result in increased fret buzz however it’s so common that it’s now just accepted as a natural part of the Flamenco sound. There are some hybrids being experimented with at the moment where guitar makers are trying to combine the greater sustain achieved by Classical guitars with the quick attack and volume of a Flamenco guitar, these are known as flamenco negra.

You can expect to pay thousands of dollars for a genuine Flamenco guitar from Spain, even one which is designed for students and not for concert play. My advice is to never buy a guitar your playing doesn’t really deserve. You have to earn the quality of your guitar as you gradually learn Flamenco guitar through practice and time. For a view of the real thing take a look at this famous maker in Madrid - Ramirez Guitars.