What are the differences between a flamenco guitar
and a classical guitar?
A traditional flamenco guitar has a spruce top and cypress back and sides,
and classical guitars have a spruce or cedar top and dark rosewood back and
sides. Traditional flamenco guitars are called "blancas" because
the spruce and cypress woods are light in colour.
The body of a flamenco guitar is a little thinner from front to back than
a classical, and the internal strutting is also different, with less wood
used to strengthen the sides, and generally a much lighter construction. The
strings are considerably closer to the frets, giving a lower and faster action.
The slight fret buzz that results from this is acceptable as it is part of
the percussive nature of the flamenco sound.
All this gives a flamenco guitar a powerful, generous, explosive sound,
with lots of volume but relatively short sustain. This suits the flamenco
style of playing and makes it easier to play flamenco techniques such as rasgueo
(strumming with the backs of the fingers).
All flamenco guitars have a "golpeador" or tapping plate, below
and often also above the soundhole. Made of transparent plastic, it protects
the face of the guitar from the fingernails when doing golpes (taps), which
are a part of flamenco technique.
Some concert flamenco guitarists have adopted a guitar that's a hybrid between
flamenco and classical, with a spruce or sometimes cedar top and rosewood
back and sides, and often a slightly thicker body, but built and set up for
flamenco playing. These guitars are called "negras" because of their darker
colour. They offer more bass volume, but only the very best have the crystalline
trebles of a good blanca.
Some consider wooden tuning pegs (clavijas) to be more "authentic"
than machine heads. They certainly are pretty, make the head feel nice and
light, and are another pleasing feature of the traditional flamenco guitar.
But they can be difficult to tune unless you are used to them. They can stick,
and make small, fine tuning adjustments while playing difficult. But a bit
of talcum powder or resin on the pegs often solves this problem. If that doesn't
work, a skilled guitar maker can re-bore the holes for you. If you fall in
love with a peghead flamenco guitar, experiment with tuning it first and see
if it is manageable. If not, get one with machine heads. Most modern flamenco
guitars are made with machine heads but many makers offer a peghead option.
If you come to Jerez for lessons,
you'll have the opportunity to buy a guitar directly from one of the many
world-renowned flamenco guitar makers in the region, for less than it would
cost outside Spain.
Why
go to Spain?
Where
are the major centres of flamenco?
What
is compás?
What
are palos?
What
are falsetas?
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flamenco-guitar-teacher.com 2006