This book and accompanying video provide a thorough introduction to flamenco guitar. What are the essential elements and techniques of flamenco guitar playing? How does one capture the real essence of authentic flamenco guitar? These are questions that Juan Martin, celebrated virtuoso flamenco guitarist and teacher, addresses in this first book of a projected three-volume series. The method is designed for the complete beginner and requires no prior knowledge of the guitar or flamenco music. It also provides invaluable insight and material for more advanced players who want to capture the essential sounds, rhythms and emotional power of true flamenco.The series begins with in-depth demonstrations of how the basic building blocks of flamenco guitar technique are used in actual flamenco music. The material then progresses to a detailed exploration of the individual rhythmic forms - the palos. In this book, the fundamental palos of Solea and Alegrias are presented to emphasize the basic rhythms and provide examples of falsetas - the melodic passages. Martin then shows how to apply these when collaborating with a dancer and singer. The music is transcribed in standard notation and tablature (cifra), and the two DVDs contain over 3.5 combined hours of explanation and demonstrations. The first DVD provides a detailed introduction to basic techniques, using examples of authentic flamenco to show these techniques in action. The second DVD progresses to demonstrations of the Solea and Alegrias, including music for the soloist and the guitar accompanying the dancing and singing.

Introduction by Juan Martín                 
Key to Symbols and Notation                
Tuning the Guitar                         
First Rumba                              
Simple Rumba with Ami chords              
Alternative Simple Rumba Patterns            
Second Rumba                            
A Modern-Style Rumba Technique            
Index Finger and Apagado (Bulerías from Lebrija)  
The -Stroke Rasgueo (in Verdiales)           
Verdiales Falseta                          
Verdiales Song                           
por medio Chords                         
Tientos Chords and Rhythm                 
First Tientos                             
Ligado Exercise                           
Falseta for Alegrías por Rosas                
-Stroke Rasgueo in Tangos                 
Tangos por arriba (El agua se va)             
Song Tune (picado)                        
Picado Exercises                          
Zapateado Falseta                         
Another Zapateado Falseta                  
A Fast Triplet Ending                       
More Picado Exercises                      
Ligado in Taranto                             
The Arrastre                                 
Taranto                                     
Comparing the -Stroke, -Stroke and -Stroke Rasgueos  
Introduction to the Soleá                       
Alegrías Escobilla                             
p, i, m Arpegio                               
Back and Forward Arpegios                     
Campanela Arpegio                           
Campanela in Zapateado                       
Arpegios in Farruca                            
Continual Rasgueo, Alzapúa                     
The Triplet Rasgueo                            
Rasgueo followed by the Thumb                  
The Flamenco Trémolo                         
Exercises for Trémolo                          
Fandangos por medio (SLOW)                   
The Compás of Soleá                          
Continuing the Rhythm of Soleá                  
Chords for Soleá de Alcalá                      
Adding Interest                               
Adding Syncopation                           
Simpler Ritmeo                               
Transition to Falsetas                          
Bass-side Golpes                              
Simple Falseta                                
Thumb Falseta                                
Repeated-Note Falseta                         
Arpegio Falseta                               
Wistful Falseta                               
Falseta to Open the Fingers                     
Another Arpegio Falseta                            
Picado and Arpegio Falseta                          
Trémolo Falseta                                   
LA CAÑA                                       
Falseta for La Caña                                
Polo                                           
Soleá por medio                                  
More Soleá por medio                             
Basic Alegrías por arriba                           
Chords and Ritmeo for Singer                       
‘A More Advanced Form’                           
A Modern Entrada                                
Subida                                         
Silencio to Escobilla                               
Escobilla                                        
Transition to Bulerías                              
Bulerías Falseta                                  
Bulerías de Cádiz                                 
The Silencio in the Dance                           
Falseta A                                        
An Alternative Ending for Falseta A                    
Falseta B                                        
Trémolo Falseta                                  
Falseta C                                        
Falseta D                                       
More Falsetas                                    
Falseta de Niño Ricardo                            
Falseta de Ramón Montoya                          
About the Author                                 
Juan Martín’s Other Publications