How to Determine if a Flamenco Guitar Is a Good One

Flamenco originated in Andalucia, Spain.

Flamenco is a folk art form that originated in Andalucia, Spain. In its most complete form, it is comprised of a song and dance accompanied by guitar. The root of flamenco is commonly considered to be the song, or cante. Purists often feel that solo guitar played in the flamenco style is not truly of the flamenco art form because it lacks the full ensemble. However, as does all art and music, flamenco has evolved, and today there are many flamenco solo guitarists. A flamenco guitar is an acoustic guitar similar to a classical guitar with a few differences.

Instructions

1. Determine the type of wood of the guitar. A flamenco guitar is often made entirely of cypress, though it is also common to have only a cypress back and sides with a spruce top.

2. Measure the body depth of the guitar. A flamenco guitar is more shallow than a classical guitar. Whereas a classical guitar's depth will be roughly 3.5 to 4.3 inches, a flamenco guitar will often be 3.3 to 3.7 inches. This slightly raises the pitch.

3. Observe the thickness of the top of the guitar. The top of a flamenco guitar should be thin, which helps add a more snare-like sound when the guitar is played in the percussive manner common in flamenco.

4. Observe the fan braces within the body of the guitar. Flamenco guitars have shorter braces than classical guitars. This lessens the length of the tone, adding to the percussive nature of the flamenco guitar.

5. Observe the top of the guitar. Many flamenco guitars have tap plates. Tap plates protect the wood and finish of the guitar. As stated, flamenco guitars are played in a percussive manner, and tap plates keep the guitar from becoming scratched or otherwise damaged by the player.

6. Observe the action of the guitar strings. Action refers to the height that the strings are from the fretboard. The action of the strings of a flamenco guitar is lower than the action of a classical guitar. This helps the player to strum and tap more quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Ultimately, you must be pleased with the sound of the instrument. Play the guitar that interests you and compare it to other available guitars.

References

• Zavaleta's: Frequently Asked Questions
• Daniel Roest Classical Guitar; What Makes a Flamenco Guitar
• Guitarist: What is Flamenco?
• Classical Guitar Illustrated History: What is Flamenco?

Resources

• Andalucia: Flamenco -- The Guitar