Exploring Flamenco: Seguiriyas, Bulerias in A Minor, and Garrotin
About Exploring Flamenco: Seguiriyas, Bulerias in A Minor, and Garrotin
Learning contrasting pieces of music at the same time is a great way to broaden your technical abilities and interpretive skills. In a variation from previous “Exploring Flamenco” editions, we’ll explore three palos.
Seguiriyas is an intense, tragic, and mournful palo. Melodies are simple and soulful, and rasgueos are harsh and powerful. The compas of Seguiriyas is in a unique rhythm that can be counted in 12 or in 5. To pull off Seguiriyas successfully, you’ll learn to access a new level of intensity in your guitar playing.
Bulerias is one of flamenco’s most complex and diverse palos (musical styles). On stage, it brings an intense, dramatic close to dances like Alegrias and Solea, and it’s also the music of choice to play and sing at flamenco social gatherings. Its quick, sometimes joking mood injects a shot of energy into any setting. Bulerias in A Minor has a light, festive flavor and features somewhat easier chords than other variants. For guitarists, it’s an incredibly fun palo to play. Some falsetas (guitar solos) are surprisingly simple -- that’s what makes it possible to play them at high speeds. The rhythm is complex and takes a lifetime to master, but it’s not hard to get started with simple material.
Garrotin is a lesser-known palo that brings a playful, lighthearted contrast to more serious flamenco styles. Originally from northern Spain and later adopted into flamenco, Garrotin is sung in a major key and follows a straightforward 4/4 rhythm. For guitarists, Garrotin offers a chance to work on crisp, rhythmic strumming and melodic falsetas that are fun and approachable. It’s a great vehicle for building confidence with compas and phrasing, especially if you’re new to flamenco.
You’ll end the course with a collection of compas variations and falsetas for Seguiriyas, Bulerias in A Minor, and Garrotin. We’ll cover how to arrange your repertoire into unique guitar solos.
What's Needed
Class Materials
Guitar - nylon strings recommended
Playing Experience
One year of playing experience (any style) is recommended. Ideally, students will already know basic chord shapes and be able to change chords smoothly. Being comfortable with barre chords will help.
Less-experienced guitarists are welcome but may find this course overly challenging.
No knowledge of music notation is needed. I’ll teach using a combination of TAB and demonstration.
Class Goals
- 1. Learn compas (rhythm) and several falsetas for Seguiriyas and Bulerias in A Minor.
- 2. Arrange your Seguiriyas and Bulerias material into unique solos.
- 3. Get a taste of Garrotin by sampling a few famous solos, which you can pursue further if you choose.
- 4. Recognize Bulerias in A Minor, Seguiriyas, and Garrotin when you hear them.
- 5. Expand your technical abilities in flamenco guitar.
- 6. Deepen your understanding of flamenco compas in three different rhythms.
- 7. Enjoy playing new palos with flamenco guitar enthusiasts all over the world!
Contact the Teacher
Send a direct message from the teacher's profile page with any questions you might have about the class.
When
The class will meet for twelve weekly live online sessions.
Enrolled students receive lifetime access to the video recordings of the classes.
How It Works
Enroll above to save your spot in the class. Lessonface will send you a confirmation right away, and a Zoom link 24 hours before each session's start time. You can log into your Lessonface dashboard to access class materials, communicate with your instructor, join the live Zoom session, and access the class recordings and chat transcript afterward. Contact us with any questions. This class, and all lessons and classes on Lessonface, are covered by the Lessonface Guarantee.
Book 1:1 online lessons with Leah Kruszewski on their Lessonface profile.
Leah Kruszewski
Welcome, students! I’m a flamenco and classical guitarist based in Seville, Spain, with seventeen years of teaching experience. I specialize in teaching flamenco compás, technique, and repertoire and in guiding classical guitarists in developing their technique, repertoire, sight-reading and interpretive skills.
About Lessonface, PBC
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