The Keys to Flamenco Guitar Volume 1

Having just purchased a classical guitar, I knew what I wanted it to sound like, and so purchased this book. I have never played guitar before, but spent a week or so learning "Progressive Classical Guitar Method: For Beginner to Intermediate Students [Book 1] by Jason Waldron", and was feeling braver now, so I started this one now. What I found was an extremely clear, patient introduction into Flamenco playing. From the 1st hour, I was astonished to hear myself playing basic Farruca!!! Once you've started upon the basics, Dennis keeps building upon those points, adding a little bit more to the items you just covered, until you surprise yourself even more with the sounds that you're making. The book clearly explains what the tune should sound like, it has notations AND tablature below it with annotations that indicate a strong stroke or soft, and the CD itself is a wonderful accompaniment because he plays each lesson, then again plays it 1/2 speed so you can understand the nuances that are being introduced. Dennis also places Solo Performances for each of the great Flamenco sounds in the book as well, so you can actually perform full solos once you've tuned your skills. Overall, an excellent book that starts with basics, enhances every new skill you've just learned, and keeps the challenges coming. THANK YOU Dennis Koster!!!!

Good book. i really like how the author introduce at the beginning the different flamenco forms (tangos, alegrias, soleares and farruca)and develop the SAME exemples with new `vocabulary` (rasgueos, picados...) through the next chapters. it is good because you can understand how is the structure of the exemples and how he make them richer. I really feel it is how it should be. If you are beginner in flamenco guitar this book is going to take you busy for a while. The studies at the end of the book sounds already like profesionnal solo concert. i didnt put 5 stars for only one thing, and it is the quintuplet rasgueos that he shows in the chapter one (the only rasgueos shown in this book), it is a beautiful rasgueo for sure but it is also one of the hardest to master, so unless you have already a good training of flamenco, you will spend weeks moving you fingers in a taichi style and counting 1- 2 - 3 -4 -5 in your head... Anyway like the author put it, to be patient is working better than to force things. and thats right, so all in all, this is a really good book... thanks M.Dennis Koster!

I am a student of Maria Zemantauski's Under the Lemon Tree and she studied under Mr. Koster and uses this book as part of our curriculum. It is challenging and builds using very popular Flamenco songs and compas and growing them in complexity over the chapters. Mr. Koster introduces the quintuplet rasgueado early on in the book and builds all the former pieces using this method. The book is accompanied by a CD that plays through each piece and then plays the first line at half speed. I use a guitar trainer Tascam CDGT2 Portable CD Guitar Trainer to listen to and slow down the CD to speeds I can use to catch all the special innuendos and dissonant chords (which my ear is just getting used to). This book is a great curriculum and would be good for self-study or use with a Flamenco guitar instructor. Maria did tell me that she thought that some of the techniques that Dennis presents towards the beginning (a Tangos with quintuplet rasqueados) is a little more advanced for placement towards the beginning of the book. But the book is really great and I am definitely having fun with it.

As someone who first learned music through the flute, there is a steep learning curve for me as I learn flamenco guitar. The book covers the basic forms and techniques with diagrams. This makes my learning process much easier as I'm still learning tablature. My flamenco guitar teacher approves of this as a good introduction for any beginner flamenco guitarist.

Ok, but I would get the Juan Martin series if you want to learn Flamenco guitar.

This is the book I have been looking for. This has the feel of flamenco trying to teach even though the book clearly says its music notations have some limitations in expressing the flamenco feel but it still tries to bridge the gap.

this book is exellent,but...........!!!! I only wish that Dennis Koster considers providing the next publications with a DVD containing videos and mp3 of his lessons,because this method is now taking the lead in Flamenco didactic lessons worldwide, and the mp3 files on CDs are becoming old times learning method also I advice dear Dennis to put a diagram of the chords on top of the tablatures so that one can get used to taking the right position of the left hand,

This book is excellent! The exercises are well thought out and the musical content is beautifully written .

No se puede leer las partituras , la letra es super pequeña

Firstly, this is not a guide book for someone just starting out playing the guitar. There is a lot of knowledge/skill that is assumed you already have when going through the lessons. If you already have a foundation with the guitar then this is the perfect guide to accompany you through learning flamenco compas. The tuition is spot on for me and is quite clear with pictures that describe the various hand/finger movements required of you. The online audio is great, exactly what I needed to get a grasp of the rhythms required for each compas. Excellent guide for flamenco if you already know how to play the guitar!

Une très bonne méthode pour apprendre l'art du Flamenco à la guitare. Claire et efficace, cet ouvrage convient aussi bien au débutant qu'au guitariste confirmé ( CD inclus ). Je veux le volume 2: "Advanced Flamenco guitar" !

La forma de estructurar el material es excelente, aunque la plataforma del audio no esté tan buena. Definitivamente no sirve en su versión Kindle por quedar muy pequeño e imposible de leer. El empastado debiese ser con resorte porque es difícil mantener el libro abierto.

This is an excellent book for flamenco guitar.