Which Guitar? - Beginner Pro Tip by Kai Narezo

We get a lot of people asking what kind of guitar they should get to start playing flamenco. In this video we explain what makes a guitar a flamenco guitar, and what guitars are best for starting out your flamenco adventures!
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[@guidodezwaan]

My classical spruce guitar transformed into a flamenco guitar 6 years ago by letting a luthier add the golpeador. The action was lowered a bit, but i missed the tension on the higher action so reverted back to standard classical action. Thanks for the vid.

[@qhodave]

"one of them.. It's blue" I hardly ever laugh out loud when watching videos, but you got me there! Thx

[@Aalii6]

very clear explanations, thank you!

[@eldiabloramon]

Dude! Thanks for the info on the nyloncaster i check it out. I totally want one of these!

[@bronxemail7180]

kai narezo is the best for understanding all things flamenco, bravo

[@qhodave]

Additionaly there are silent guitars that don't fit either. At a flamenco workshop one attendee brought a silent guitar and hardly could participate. That being said I'm still using one myself to get an extra hour of practice when watching TV, practicing tremolo, rasgueados and scales.

[@aminebenflamenco7085]

Thanks 🙏🙏

[@jakesauvy1872]

Love my Prudencio Saez G36👍

[@zayadali5816]

I have a classical guitar «mugel valencia», and i'm learning alot of flamenco thinks on it like taranta granaina and it sound good .. Do you advise me to low down the White peace ?

[@zarcero21]

“It’s blue.” Lol!

[@Order4627]

All your videos are great because of the humour.

[@juanarocha8629]

I have a spanish guitar from Madrid

[@dulshanweerasinghe1833]

Great explanation 😊 I want to clarify one thing regarding strings, are there any differency between flaminco guitar strings and classical guitar strings? (I mean tension of the nylon strings )

[@FlamencoExplained]

There shouldn't be any difference between the tensions of strings labeled classical or flamenco. And there's also not too much difference in the strings themselves. I use La Bella 2001 Flamenco most of the time, but I also use the La Bella classical sets sometimes and they all sound great.

[@dulshanweerasinghe1833]

Thanks a lot for the information 👍👍

[@maestropatron]

What are your thoughts on using the new thin line cross overs as Flamenco guitars such as Cordoba Fusion 14 or Yamaha NTX1?

[@FlamencoExplained]

If you're used to a smaller neck, then the crossovers can be a great solution. They might not always sound quite as big (loud, full) as a full size guitar, but there's nothing actually wrong with them to get started. If you get serious about flamenco you may want to move into a more traditional guitar, but it's not required or anything. And if you're more into rumba than traditional flamenco then they can be perfect. Cheers, Kai

[@firubbi]

Dear Kai Narezo, please do a youtube about the various price ranges of flamenco guitars out there. is those pricy guitars are way better then cordoba f7? thanks

[@FlamencoExplained]

The short answer is yes, in general the hand-made guitars are simply better. There are always exceptions of course, and there's nothing wrong with the F7 at all. If/when you get a chance to play some of the more expensive guitars you'll see for yourself if you feel the difference is worth it. But at the same time just because a guitar is expensive doesn't always make it good! Cheers, Kai

[@shooting.street]

Hey Kai. Quick question re strings. I have a Goya Model 6 guitar which from your explanation just about matches the criteria to potentially be good for Flamenco. It currently has 3 nylon stings (GBE) and 3 steel (EAD). Would you advise changing the steel strings so they are all nylon? Thing is, all I can find online are strings that say nylon, but silver plated, which I assume means metal? Any advice on a good set of nylong strings I can buy from Amazon for instance would be amazing.

[@FlamencoExplained]

Andrew Turner The bass strings on a nylon-string guitars are metal wound, so it’s quite possible those are nylon. Take a look at the bridge. If the strings are tied in a knot they’re nylon. I can’t be sure without looking, but there’s a good chance those are nylons.

[@shooting.street]

@@FlamencoExplained That's great news. I have all I need then. Great tutorials, you have inspired me to pick up the guitar after a long time of not playing. Many thanks. Stay safe.

[@FlamencoExplained]

@@shooting.street Yes - And my mom's old Goya was my very first guitar! Apparently in the 60's after The Sound of Music came out everyone ran out and bought Goya guitars, so there's tons of them out there.

[@shooting.street]

@@FlamencoExplained Thanks Kai. Just signed up for the course - looking forward to finally doing this after so many years.

[@FlamencoExplained]

@@shooting.street That's great - Keep us posted on your progress (and be patient!).

[@hayesdabney]

Hey Kai, is it possible to buy a real Flamenco guitar for left-handers? The guitar stores Iˋve been in here in Seville donˋt sell left-handed guitars.

[@FlamencoExplained]

Hi Hayes - Honestly I don't think it should matter at all as long as you adjust the nut and saddle. While technically some guitars are built asymmetrically so that there's a bass-string side and a treble-string side, I'm certain that no one playing a guitar would really notice that the strings were 'wrong'. So just find the guitar you like and have them fix the saddle and nut and you should be good to go. The actual bummer is that you don't get to try all of the guitars because they're set up for right-handed players... Cheers, Kai

[@janmanusleupert7606]

I'm currently struggling: Should I get a Burguet 2F (2007) for starters, or a Sanchis Lopez Solea (2015) or even a Felipe Conde EF4 (2007) (all in similar, near perfect condition)? I've been playing electric guitar for many years but am new to nylon string guitars and playing without a plectrum. I'm already getting started with my cheap classical guitar that someone once gave me as a present and am determined to keep on studying flamenco, but with a better instrument. I would also be interested in your thoughts on a 1972 Kazuo Yairi GF350. I have a strong connection with Japan so would be kind of cool to have if it's any good at all. Thanks a bunch. Appreciate your videos!

[@FlamencoExplained]

Hey Jan - Without playing them what I can say is that assuming they're all in more or less the same condition and price is similar, then go for the one that feels and sounds the best to you. You'll be the one playing it, so you're the one who has to dig it. If you can't see them before buying then you have to go with your gut, though I'd choose one you can return if you don't love it. All of those makers are well respected and tend to put out good guitars. Cheers, Kai

[@arthurtigreat8929]

Take a spanish one. Felipe Conde doesn't have a good sound, avoid them.(people have a confusion with Hermanos Conde who made sometimes great guitar) Japanese guitar are a no-go. A guitar seller told me that they does not worth it. And if you have plenty of money, well buy a Manuel Reyes (padre, his son does not make good guitar) Always try the guitar before buying. Don't get scammed. Good luck !

[@janmanusleupert7606]

@@FlamencoExplained Thanks a lot for your thoughts. I'm mentioning those because they're all available near me and I'll be able to play them (actually already played the Conde which was pretty nice). I probably won't buy anything I can't test before buying. I'll see what the other two feel like and decide from there. Cheers!

[@janmanusleupert7606]

@@arthurtigreat8929 Thanks for contributing your thoughts. I'm not sure what you mean by confusion with Hermanos Conde since the label actually says "Conde Hermanos", and then "Felipe V No. 2" on the bottom left. It sounds and plays great for my taste, but I'll definitely try the others as well. Though I'll probably pass on the Yairi anyway. Money is definitely an issue, which is why I won't be able to go for more expensive ones, but a Reyes would be lovely some time in the future for sure.

[@qhodave]

@@arthurtigreat8929 "Felipe Conde does not have a great sound" woooow what a generalization. I know of some phenomenal Felipe Conde guitars. With well build guitars good sound comes down to personal taste. Try before buy!

[@robertbrawley5048]

You answered the reason i clicked on the video for . I can use an electric guitar to practice flamenico. Im in the cheap market . Flamenco guitars , chesp are 600 dollars and electric guitars and classical can be hsd in the $ 150 range! So i could get a cheap $150 hollow or semi hollow body electric guitar and introduce myself to the strumming flamenci practice as i practiced Gypsy jazz or whatever else comes down the pike. The right hand strumming of Flamenco is on top of my list and imprivision music theory is my other interest, top priority . And if push comes to shove i can re string the eletric with nylon. Yea sore finger tips will make me lose interest before i get started and believe you me i have already experienced that sore finger feeling . . Im not a 12 year old that has to contend with what my mommy decided to buy me i have a wider choice than that . . You offer a very thorough explanation that answered my concerns about what i could get by with to practice Flanenco strumming

[@FlamencoExplained]

Thanks Robert - so glad this was helpful!

[@manuelfresco6879]

You can't raise or lower the string height at the nut. The nut has to be perfect in relation to the frets. You can work to a certain point on the saddle. But usualy a flamenca has a different angle of the neck in relation to the body what lowers the action above the fretboard and, very important, above the top of your guitar. You wanna have the top close to the strings to make your golpes easyer..... apart of that, thank you for your videos..........

[@FlamencoExplained]

It's definitely more work to adjust the nut, but it is something that's done quite frequently. I've seen it done countless times as part of a setup. Much easier to work on the saddle, of course, so many may try to avoid it if possible. Cheers, Kai

[@subathrasakthivel8273]

I want to know what flamenco guitar he is using

[@FlamencoExplained]

That’s a 1989 Stephen Hill flamenco.

[@yazidkhodri5563]

The beard suits you better

[@FlamencoExplained]

Thanks!

[@user-ct8gx3ri7u]

Best flamenco guitar for 2000$ ?

[@FlamencoExplained]

For 2K I'd go with the Camps Primera Blanca - they're consistently great guitars.

[@user-ct8gx3ri7u]

@@FlamencoExplained Ok thank you for answering, what do you think about carmen negra ?

[@FlamencoExplained]

@@user-ct8gx3ri7u Not sure I know what guitar you're talking about

[@user-ct8gx3ri7u]

@@FlamencoExplained I saw it on GSI its a nice looking guitar just wanted to know whats the best one but i really liked the camps primera blanca might go with that one.

[@user-ct8gx3ri7u]

@@FlamencoExplained Or the Martinez MFG-CS ?