Play Solo Flamenco Guitar with Juan Martín, Vol. 1

This is my second copy of this book, bought for my son (20). I'm still using my copy :) which I've had for some years. Not made it through all 42 solos yet but getting there (should practice more often ;) The book is suitable for complete beginners but very quickly progresses, in normal guitar terms, to fairly advanced techniques and musical concepts. It is very carefully conceived and expertly put together to make this all progressive. You dont realize until you are well into the book just how well thought through it is. The CD's, actually online mp3s and videos in this version, cover every solo. So you can really get the feel and timing of the music and the techniques. The first level can be quickly worked through if you have some experience but still has the essence of the forms so is worth the time. I should note that I was very lucky to see Juan Martin in concert, during which he played the final solo in level 0 beautifully. He looked around the audience with a cheeky grin. The rest of the audience was, I can assure you, none the wiser that a "level 0" piece had been played. This is a fantastic book, the pieces are a joy to play. Flamenco is without doubt a unique artform all of its own, that takes tremendous effort and skill to become fluent in. This book provides a realistic and manageable way to start that journey and if, like me, you maybe don't find the time to practice as much as you could, you will still stumble your way through and be quite astonished by how far you get and how much fun you have had getting there. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Bought as a gift for my son and he is looking forward to learning from this book. I will be buying the next one for him next year

This a superb. You start off on easy songs on Grade 0 (harder than playing green day) and then all the way up to grade 5. If you are genius enough, you might be able to play the grade 5 songs. Thats when you earn a ****load of money for playing in the street! I can't believe how good this is. I'm now at Grade 3, but it is not very easy! It's fun to try. Eventually I'll get to Grade 7. When you complete this book he has another one called Grados 5 -7 or 6-7 and its for the really advanced players. An important thing is to be able to learn Spanish percussive techniques with the right hand and strumming techniques like the Rasgueado.One slight flaw. Juan won't show you how to play with certain techniques, he'll just play you the pieces on a dvd and you can watch him and try to copy his technique. I got The flamenco Guiar techniques book that comes with a dvd and it has helped me get to Grade 3. But this was after struggling with right hand techniques after just buying this book only with no prior knowledge and physical ability to be able to perform such techniques.So if I were you, buy another book with this to teach you flamenco techniques and you'll be fine! This book is a must buy!

Starts of quite basic if you know a little flamenco technique already. Difficulty of the pieces quite steep as you go up the grades. Something for most levels of flamenco players I'd say.

this book has been great for teaching me the flamenco style as a classical guitarist. There is so much included here so one is not left wondering exactly what to do, it shows everything one needs to do. I like the way there is plenty of detail in the written music ( a bonus for music readers). For those who dont read music yet it might appear a little daunting but it isnt really its just the fact there is a lot of information contained on each page which is precisely what I wanted.The CD is also a good help for getting the feel of the way the music should be played. Ideal for self-instruction. I have the 2cnd volume also as volume 1 was so good. Love the selection of tunes here, they are really good traditional flamenco pieces great with which to boost any guitarists repertoire!

I am a total beginner at Flamenco, so this book is a real challenge!It is designed for those wishing to progress through a more 'formal' educational path from Grade 0 to Grade 5 inclusive. There are brief instructions at the start explaining the techniques and notation and excellent Video/Audio discs to accompany it. It takes you through music academy style 'levels' of playing ability with 7 set pieces for each Grade (42 pieces in all) covering all 'flavours' of Flamenco.I have managed to learn the first piece in the book and can play it badly, which is why I have ordered the author's more explanatory book with easier music. Juan Martin And Patrick Campbell: Essential Flamenco Guitar - Volume 1 I would recommend that other beginners start there too.I have played other forms of guitar quite badly for around 40 years, so that should give you an idea how tricky this beautiful Flamenco can be.

I've been half-heartedly playing guitar, mostly chugging along with three-chord rhythm and blues and folk for 50 years. Apart from trying my hand at classical for a while, although I avoided Flamenco, I knew deep down that for those six strings to truly hit you in the heart, then it had to be Flamenco. I learned a few simple pieces watching various exponents on You Tube, but from day one, when I received Juan Martin's course, the door opened. It's the way, via the DVD, that Juan becomes your friend. Sounds silly, I know, but it's like he's in the room with you, and the way the pieces are graded lowers you into the music easily. In addition, I'm not very good at reading music, so the fact that all these pieces have cifra (tablature) as well makes things a whole lot easier. It's a great thrill, just practising with Juan every day, and getting through the first 0 level exercise, Prima Solea, gives you a fine sense of achievement. What looks and sounds totally beyond your ability on screen, with a little discipline and enthusiasm, soon becomes possible. Picking up the guitar now and actually 'sounding' Flamenco gives you a great buzz. Thanks, Senor Martin, and I'd recommend this to any struggling guitarist who's looking for some fire and passion - because that's what Flamenco is.

Bueno

Bel manuale fatto molto bene e molto curato con livelli che vanno a gradi...bravo Juan.

I'm giving these books five stars, but before I do so, I will admit that I read some of the bad ratings and they do have some validity. Those who say that the video instructions are not helpful are perhaps correct. But, if you have some---not necessarily a lot, but some---ability with the basics of the classical approach these books are great. The CD is vidal, without it one---without some very real flamenco experience---will probably not get much out of it. But with the CD these books are priceless. I tried learning from U-Tubes videos but it's only with these books that I was able to enter into the world of flamenco guitar. The writings are also helpful and interesting and I like the Spanish/English for those of us who are either more comfortable with Spanish or who would like to become better at the language. There is both standard notation as well as tablature for those who aren't too interested in sight-reading, but it also gives these individuals the opportunity to begin learning if they so choose.

Great book. Easy to follow.

Es gibt sicher auch gute Bücher mit interessanten Solos ,etwa von Juan Serrano oder Paco Pena,aber das sind kene Lehrbücher.Sie setzen schon viel Fähigkeiten voraus.Unter den Lehrbüchern für Flamenco ist es wirklich unvergleichlich.Die Stücke starten sehr leicht,sind aber dennoch von anfang an echter Flamenco.Es macht einfach Spass.Man freut sich aufs Üben. Wer dieses Buch besitzt wird alle andere Lehrbücher für Solo-Flamenco wegwerfen(im hohen Bogen)