These flamenco techniques will elate your playing to a divine level

When Disney’s masterpiece ‘Coco’ rocked every theatre with its storyline and melodious tracks, many people dreamt of mastering flamenco guitar. And why not? It is something that straightaway awards you with the insignia of ‘a step ahead’. Its fluid notes weave listeners together and elate them to trace. Although the flamenco style is something that gets mastered with years of practice, there are a few techniques that will immediately make you sound like Miguel from Coco. So, what are these techniques?

The riveting Rasgueado

One of the most fundamental techniques in flamenco guitar playing is the rasgueado technique. It is when you sit like a pro and strike the strings with your fingers in a quick, rhythmic pattern. To achieve a crisp and powerful sound, the hand should be relaxed and the fingers should strike the strings from the knuckles with force. Know that there are several types of rasgueados, just as how god has many forms. If you’ve ever seen a YouTube video titled ‘Best guitar player in the world’ and got amazed by a specific section where he plays storm-like guitar, know that it was this technique.

Many people find it hard to master rasgueado. The secret lies in breaking down the playing and practicing thus.

The godly Golpe

Thurms and thrums and godly tunes, such is the beauty of golpe. It is a percussion technique, which means that you’ll also be striking your guitar with your finger to produce drum-like sounds while strumming string. This beautiful technique involves striking the guitar body with the fingers or the palm of the hand. What it does is that it adds percussion to the music and creates a rhythmic effect. But hey, it is not so easy to produce a fluid sound when you start playing it. For a clean sound, it is important to strike the guitar body with precision and control.

The alluring Alzapua

I know, I know, the very name seems so soothing as if it is some sweet dish that you cannot resist. And as euphonious this technique sounds, as melodious the music it creates. When you play this technique on your guitar, you use the thumb to pluck the strings while the other fingers rest on the guitar's body. This technique produces a bright and clear sound and is often used in conjunction with the rasgueado technique to create a dynamic contrast in the music.

The trilling Tremolo

It is one of my favorites and is all about producing constant sounds that seem if heaven is descending down to the Earth. Tremolo, a classic flamenco technique, involves rapidly plucking a single string with the fingers. This technique creates a beautiful and expressive sound and requires a lot of practice and control to master. To achieve a smooth and even tremolo, it is important to keep the hand relaxed and use a consistent finger motion. Many people keep their hands hard and rigid. It will yield you nothing but frustration and a badly sounding tune that feels like stuck in the throat.

The ardent Arpeggio

Arpeggio, the signature technique of flamenco: a mesmerizing display of speed, dexterity, and passion. In this, the guitar strings are plucked individually, producing a cascading, harp-like effect that echoes through the soul. The notes fly off the strings like sparks from a fire, creating a hypnotic rhythm that entrances both the performer and the audience. This intricate technique allows fingers to dance freely upon the strings. To understand is, know that arpeggio means playing each note in a chord individually, one after another, as if flowing like some waterfall.

Know that few of these techniques remain common in numerous musical instruments because of the melodious pattern. For example, you can play an arpeggio on a piano also. Also, try these on classical guitar, not on the steel one. If you don’t have any, buy one from an eBay alternative and start practicing. The way to mastery goes through regular practice. So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your guitar and see which technique suits you best.