| It's not very often that an entertainment genre has | | | | classical guitar, the flamenco guitar also necessitates |
| music, dance, and an instrument all specifically | | | | different playing techniques and patterns. To begin |
| designed for it, but this is precisely the case when it | | | | with, flamenco music is traditionally played using a |
| comes to the art of flamenco. Flamenco is a Spanish | | | | "capo," a device that is attached to the strings along |
| musical genre, arguable the most famous, which is | | | | the neck and which raises the pitch of the |
| probably due to the dramatic dance style associated | | | | instrument. The use of the capo, in addition to |
| with the art. Flamenco dance is an expression of | | | | increasing flamenco guitar's percussive qualities, allows |
| passion and is characterized by powerful, graceful | | | | the guitar player to match the key of the instrument |
| movements and intricate hand and footwork. The | | | | to the singer's vocal range. |
| music that accompanies such dance must be equally | | | | The playing of a flamenco guitar is characterized by |
| striking, which is why the music of the flamenco | | | | specialized techniques, the following five of which are |
| guitar is so unmistakable. | | | | the most significant: golpe, or the percussive finger |
| The flamenco guitar is an instrument designed and | | | | tapping on the soundboard in the areas above and |
| built specifically to play flamenco music. Other types | | | | below the strings; picado, or single-line scale passages |
| of guitar, such as the classical version, may be used | | | | performed with great attack and articulation; |
| for many different musical genres; the flamenco | | | | rasgueado, or strumming done with outward flicks of |
| guitar is used strictly as an accompaniment to | | | | the right hand's fingers; alzapua, or a thumb technique |
| flamenco singing and dancing, at least in traditional | | | | during which the right hand's thumb is used for |
| circles. It would perhaps be most accurate to say | | | | single-line notes and then strummed across the |
| that in traditional flamenco music, no type of guitar | | | | strings in quick succession; tremolo, or the playing of |
| except a flamenco guitar is ever used. | | | | a bass line underneath a treble line consisting of |
| The traditional flamenco guitar is made of Spanish | | | | rapidly repeating notes, often over a chord. |
| cypress and spruce, which lends a very distinct color | | | | Of course, most of the preceding information has |
| to the instrument's body. Such woods also make this | | | | meaning only if one is well versed in flamenco music, |
| guitar lighter than its classical cousin. The flamenco | | | | or at least in guitar terminology. The average fan of |
| guitar's design is also a bit smaller than that of the | | | | flamenco is usually drawn to the visual aspects of the |
| classical guitar, which gives this instrument's sound a | | | | art more than the musical. One will be aware of the |
| percussive quality. The ideal flamenco guitar must also | | | | striking poses of the dancers, the complex tapping of |
| allow for a quick attack, as the music of this art | | | | their nailed shoes, the swirling of the woman's |
| form is both rapid and intricate. | | | | costume. But underlying and controlling it all is the |
| In addition to its physical differences from the | | | | melody of the flamenco guitar. |