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Location: Seoul, Korea | Picked up a Guitar Pro 5 file on Mediterranean Sundance by Al Di Meola. Has anyone here ever played this piece? The speed and moving up and down the neck seem to be key to playing it well. Can anyone give me a few pointers since I am trying to learn this new piece? Thanks.
Simon |
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Location: Chicago | Hey there, Simon! Jeff and I play it at every gig, in the version with Rio Ancho... I'm not sure what to say exactly. The first figure should be played strictly and tightly. The B minor seventh figure is a bit looser and then you hit the rasgueado on E minor with full force.
I could talk for an hour about the tune. Why not start for some really specific problem and move on?
PS: always practice with a metronome or drum machine!! |
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Location: Russia | This piece is not so easy like it can be seems for the first time listening.
Metronome - yes!! |
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Location: Chicago | Nikak dlya novichkov, Roma, eto tochno!
Grisha |
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Location: Russia | Is my english the same like you Russian? :) |
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Location: Chicago | Yes! And the good news: only GUITAR spoken here! |
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Location: Canada | I don't know, a certain Russian guitarist seems to do pretty well on this YouTube video playing with the master himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZjJIVXfuEg
Nice job Roman! |
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Location: Russia | :) |
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Location: Seoul, Korea | izvinite ya ne govoryu po russki. spasibo. :D
started playing the notes but realized it is more difficult to play this if you are fingerpicking. Easier with a pick, which I am not good at. Will keep on trying, though, with or without the metronome. |
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Location: Chicago | похоже, ты все-таки кое-что понимаешь. Молодец! А насчет техники, то для "Sundance" обязательно нужен медиатор...так все: Димеола, Роман, De Lucia :)
In other words, yes use a pick if you can! |
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Location: Chicago | PS CORRECTION: I'm wrong (smoking my OFC crack) :(
Paco De Lucia plays Mediterranean Sundance-Rio Ancho without a pick (DUH). My guess is that the rapid-fire clusters of five (notes) will be very difficult finger-style unless you have an advanced classical or flamenco technique. As you know, there are virtually NO successful Paco De Lucia clones or note-for-note imitators. |
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Location: Russia | Paco is Great! |
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Location: Seoul, Korea | No can do; my name is not Simon De Lucia. Dobro, you and Jeff, are you playing at full speed? |
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Location: Chicago | Yes, full speed. We used to even rush it a bit, like the "Friday Night In San Francisco" version. But lately we've been letting the tune "breathe" a bit more like it does on "Elegant Gypsy": I think it should have a bit of the Latin mid-tempo groove which comes out at a moderate tempo. There is a lot of room to explore. One thing we especially like about it is the quiet Amin to Bmin to Amin to B7 solo section. It contrasts nicely when you "heat up the solo" with the longer "cycle of 4ths" progression (Emin Amin D7 G F Emin D C B7).
I'll see if I can dig up our MP3. Watch Roman M.'s and Al's version on YouTube: You will learn a lot! |
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Location: Russia | Originally posted by STK:
No can do; my name is not Simon De Lucia. Dobro, you and Jeff, are you playing at full speed? Full speed - sounds like about Formula 1 RACING :) |
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Location: NJ | Happy Christmas btw!!
(to anyone over there of the EasternOrthodox persuasion . . .) |
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| I thought Eastern Orthodox was a New Jersey back rub ointment.
You learn so much stuff on this site. |
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Location: Chicago | Thanks guys! Yup the Christmas tree is still up. It TOO is going full speed. :)
BTW, Simon, if you like the "Mediterranean Sundance" idea there is also it's fancy cousin "Splendido Sundance". Lately, Jeff and I have taken to ending "Med." with the snappy intro to "Splendido"--just to keep people on their toes! |
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Location: Chicago | Simon (STK), in case you are curious, here's our version of the Sundance , warts and all :) |
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Location: Canada | I agree with Dobro, that even if you've been classically trained or have an excellent flamenco technique (i.e. world class) it is impossible to imitate Paco in this respect.
IMO, this piece is nowhere near as difficult as Paco's most challenging compositions in its complexity and difficulty, but its certainly much easier playing it with a pick. That's taking nothing away from Al Di Meola (or Roman or Dobro for that matter) but Paco is really a once in a lifetime phenomenon.
I know a bit about the situation as I'm involved in a Flamenco guitar line to which Paco has served as a mentor, advisor and key supporter. |
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Location: Seoul, Korea | You guys are making me depressed on one hand. On the other, your input has also made me want to challenge and master this piece. Really appreciate the input and the links. Impressive guitar playing, fellows. :D |
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Location: Chicago | Arc Angel is right. Listening to Paco fires me up and makes me want to study, practice, and practice some more.
About "Mediterranean Sundance": you do have to deal with the rapid-fire notes, but most of the tune is sweet and rewarding.
Don't forget that, the music is also VERY much about IMPROVISING. There are several available progressions there to work with that really make up the long middle section. These should give you some inspiration and a chance to explore the tune in a personal way:
1) Emin - D - C7 - B7 (basic flamenco harmony)
2) Amin - Bmin - Amin - B7 (sweet & slow)
3) Emin - Amin - D - G - F - Emin - D - C7 - B7 |
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Location: Russia | Originally posted by dobro:
Simon (STK), in case you are curious, here's our version of the Sundance , warts and all :) |
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| The basic flamenco riff is
Em D7 C B7
at least that's how Paco plays it. ;) :p |
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Location: Chicago | Yes Roman it is rhythmically TERRIBLE! :( You can see why I don't post the it as a "show" piece.
Good news: it sounds much better now after two years of practice!
Schroeder: Yes D7 indeed (as always with the bVII). I like to match that particular chord with the 4th mode of the melodic minor, in this case, D mixolydian flat six: really cool sound! |
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Mediterranean Sundance by Al Di Meola
