How to Play Picado | Flamenco Guitar

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Hi, so I'm going to explain the technique of picado. Picado is a very unique technique and it's very characteristic of flamenco guitar. It's done by alternating your index and middle finger on a particular string, usually to play a scale or passage. It doesn't have to be something very fast, but it can be something very fast. But it's got a couple of tricky spots and we're going to explain them. Okay, the key word is alternate.

You have to alternate between index and middle all the time. Also, it's a restful technique, which means you strike the string and you lean on the string right above it. Yeah, one finger after the other, and thumb is usually relaxed and leaning on the sixth string, and the hand kind of comes out a little more. It's also relaxed, but it's got to play with a certain amount of attack. That's how you do picado.

Now the tricky part comes when we switch strings, okay? Because like I said again, the key word is alternating and this is what happens with picado. When you're hanging to one string, it's okay, because you're alternating and going at a slow tempo. Now what happens when you have to go to a new string. This is what happens and this is what gets people confused. If I played my last note on the first string and I'm doing a free stroke technique, my index finger is already leaning on the second string.

So now my next note, I have to play it on the second string, now since my index finger's already leaning on there, I might as well play it again with my index. I mean that's the first thing your brain tells you, especially when you're learning this and you're playing very slow. And if you're playing very slow it might not make a difference, so you would go...

So that's the first mistake people make when you learn picado, even though yes, you're index is leaning on the second string; you have to alternate and you have to have your middle play the next note, because the index was the one that played the last note, regardless of what string you play it at. So one more time. I'm going to do an exercise, we're going to play three notes on each string.So it's going to be index, middle, index, and then the last one I played was index. Now the next string I start with the middle.

Now I'm going to go to the next string and my middle is leaning on the third string, but that's not the one that's going to play the third string. It's going to be my index and so on. If you don't alternate your picado, it's almost like trying to run with one foot. Like taking a couple of steps with two feet, and then hopping on one, you're not going to get very far, very fast. So learn how to alternate from the beginning, okay?

I'm telling you it's very tempting to repeat the finger, especially when you're going slow, but when you start speeding up, it's going to be a big inconvenience to correct this. So correct it from the very beginning, always alternating, and program your brain to alternate, so you don't have to think about it. So always alternate and then you can push forward.

[Bojanmarsetic]

This 4 minutes are one of the most precious I have ever seen for learning picado. Thank you.

[learnflamencoguitarapp]

Hi everyone, This is Dan Garcia from the video. Learn Picado step by step with my new app w/ complete method "Learn Flamenco Guitar" for iPhone and Android.

[johnrodriguez]

I've been playing the guitar. Thanks to all u teachings.

[Vanelsia]

Best teacher on youtube! Thanks for these videos!

[matthewramroop]

So I need to grow talons out of my picking hand to do flamenco?

[kbkesq]

Very true and just work out the left hand fingerings to make it as easy as possible for the right hand to keep alternating even if it means moving out of positions.

[azzurres]

very good teacher indeed! very helpfull the part with the false movement when changing the strings..!!

[StanleyLDN]

ok and let's say i want to go down the srings...what am i gonna do? the same technique?

[qhodave]

Picado is another word for apoyando, right?

[chiragshivnekar]

This guy seems to be like no nonsense guy . Very particular to his training .

[porkyo]

dirk digger, I never knew that. Thanks!

[richielek]

God, i still get no answer, what i wanna know what scale does picado uses? Anyone can link me a video tutoriak about picado scale?

[carloszarate]

El rey del picado y la Paco de Lucia....

[danyavilaoficial]

I'm in completely disagreement with your concept. Since I've started in electric guitar learning alternate picking first and then economy picking (also known as frank gambale technique), "that" created in my mind the "path of least resistance", I use both techniques when playing live or recording but I must admit that economizing movements make me faster. What I mean is, why you suppose to make 2 movements when you can do just 1? In this video is clear, you already have one finger ready to pluck the note yet, you chose to bring another one that is further away to pluck the note. This distance makes the picado slower by default.
My respects to you, you sound very good !

[porkyo]

I like the speed but hate the tone! Why does Spanish Guitar not have the same round tone that Classical Guitar has?

[luisbeinstrong]

Using the same finger when you switch the strings is a common technique... You dont have to do it but it isnt false...