Flamenco guitar
Flamenco is passionate Spanish guitar: the descending Am, G, F, E, fan strums with the fingers and fast runs. Below are the chords, scale, techniques and an accompaniment you can hear and practise.
19th century80–200 BPMrasgueadoAm–G–F–E
What is flamenco
Flamenco took shape in southern Spain, in Andalusia, in the 18th and 19th centuries from Roma, Spanish, Arabic and Jewish musical traditions. It is singing, dance and guitar, and over time the guitar also became a solo instrument in its own right.
A flamenco guitarist plays with the fingers, without a pick. Typical techniques are rasgueado (a fast strum where the fingers open one after another like a fan), picado (fast single-note runs with two alternating fingers) and taps on the top. The sound is sharp and bright.
Signature chords
The central move in flamenco is the Andalusian cadence Am, G, F, E. The bass steps down A, G, F, E, and the final E chord sounds like home rather than tension. The half step between F and E gives the unmistakable Spanish colour.
Scale for soloing
Flamenco often sounds in the Phrygian mode on E: the same notes as A minor, but centred on E. Below is the natural minor from the 5th fret; over the E chord the melody usually uses G sharp instead of G. The run on this page is played near the nut.
Techniques
Rasgueado
The fingers of the strumming hand open one after another like a fan, from the little finger to the index, and the strokes merge into a fast roll. That is how the three quick strokes on beat two sound in the accompaniment below.
Picado
Fast runs with the index and middle fingers alternating, each resting on the next string. Every note sounds full and clear. The run below is played this way.
F to E
The F chord is a half step above E, and moving from F to E is flamenco’s main “Spanish” sound. Tap F, then imagine it sinking into E.
Accompaniment in the flamenco style
Four bars: Am, G, F, E. A strum on one, a quick three-stroke rasgueado on beat two, then strums on three and four. Play slowly at first and keep the roll even.
Flamenco-style run
A descending sixteenth-note run from A down to A, then G sharp, A and G sharp again, resolving to E with vibrato. Play it picado: index and middle fingers alternating.
The riff opens as a draft: change notes, tempo and tracks however you like.
Open in RiffonicWhat to listen to
Listen to these recordings and pay attention to what is described next to each one.
- Paco de Lucía - “Entre dos aguas”. A rumba: rhythm guitar, bass and percussion with fast picado runs on top. One of the best-known flamenco guitar recordings.
- Gipsy Kings - “Bamboléo”. Rumba flamenca: energetic strumming from several guitars with rasgueado that is hard to sit still to.
- Camarón de la Isla - “La leyenda del tiempo”. The classic flamenco voice meets a rock band: a bold album that changed the sound of the genre.
Every riff and solo on this page is an original exercise in the style of the genre, not the notes of someone else’s song.
FAQ
What guitar is flamenco played on?
A flamenco guitar with nylon strings: lighter than a classical guitar, with lower strings and a sharper sound. You can start on an ordinary classical guitar too.
What is the Andalusian cadence?
A descending four-chord move: Am, G, F, E. The bass steps down and the final E chord sounds like the main chord. It underlies a huge number of Spanish melodies.
How do I learn rasgueado?
Start without the guitar: make a fist and flick your fingers open one at a time. Then do the same on muted strings, slowly, and only then on a chord.