In the second lesson we look at the first letra and the Coletilla and how to accompany them. These two sections of the cante generally follow the exact same chord progression, but they feel different. From there we get into the falseta and then the Llamada for the second letra.
It’s traditional to have 2 letras, but you can also have just one, or you can even have more than two. However many there are, the letras will generally follow one another with falsetas or footwork in between them, and llamadas to tell the singer to start the next letra. After the last letra things start to change, but that’s for a future lesson!
You can find the tutorial and notation/TABS for the falseta I play here:
https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/alegrias-falsetas-playlist/videos/alegria-fals-1-lesson
But of course you can play any falseta that feels right when the times for that comes.
Here are a few resources and review materials for you to look at as you learn to accompany Alegrias:
Alegrias compás - https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/alegrias-playlist/videos/alegrias-compas
More Alegrias compás - https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/alegrias-playlist/videos/7-8-9-phrasees
Accompanying the Cante in Alegrias - https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/videos/cante-alegrias
Palmas:
Alegrias Palmas https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/palmas-playlist/videos/palmas-overview
Solea - https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/palmas-playlist/videos/palmas-solea
Our Alegrias playlist on Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/y5r37sjo
Up Next in Alegrias Explained
-
Alegrias Explained - Episode 3
In this week’s episode we look at the second letra of the danced Alegrias - how to get into it, the letra itself, and what happens after. The accompaniment of the cante is the same as in the first letra - you can review that here: https://learn.flamencoexplained.com/videos/cante-alegrias - but ge...
-
Alegrias Explained - Episode 4
In this week’s episode we look at the Silencio and the transition into the Castellana. The Silencio itself is pretty standardized - it’s essentially a mini guitar solo that is slow, lyrical and in the minor key, and it’s one of those things you can actually have prepared beforehand. The Castellan...
-
Alegrias Explained - Episode 05
The Escobilla - in Alegrías is all about giving the dancer a pulse for their footwork. The tricky bit is knowing what pulse they need. Normally a lifetime of playing for dance class will prepare you to know this, but here at Flamenco Explained we’re all about giving you the cheat-sheet, so we br...
3 Comments