Roy Clark was a pretty good guitarist, but he's been in over his head every time he's tried to play this.
Here's an example played properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ8rUUnpJp8
A critical difference, not apparent in the example, is that with Spanish guitar the strings are individually plucked by each of the individual fingers, not heavily strummed with a pick.
That's a great version, Eric. I kinda think Roy just had his own take on it. As good as he was, I think he could have played it the traditional style if he'd wanted to.
In any case, this is a fun short -- 10 levels of Malagueña:
Gut strings (traditional Spanish and European) versus steel strings (Americas) also makes a difference. Spanish guitar masters in the 1800s-early 1900s sometimes sneered at Americans as "barbed wire players" because of the use of steel strings. Guitarists in Latin America didn't have ready access to gut strings.
It's astonishing, but you should look up the "Mountain Dew" bit from this episode too.
ReplyDeleteRoy Clark was a pretty good guitarist, but he's been in over his head every time he's tried to play this.
ReplyDeleteHere's an example played properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ8rUUnpJp8
A critical difference, not apparent in the example, is that with Spanish guitar the strings are individually plucked by each of the individual fingers, not heavily strummed with a pick.
Eric Hines
That's a great version, Eric. I kinda think Roy just had his own take on it. As good as he was, I think he could have played it the traditional style if he'd wanted to.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, this is a fun short -- 10 levels of Malagueña:
https://youtube.com/shorts/ZGKqr1XcKUs?si=5QnCRBbgIubv4oHL
That is a cool short.
ReplyDeleteEric Hines
Gut strings (traditional Spanish and European) versus steel strings (Americas) also makes a difference. Spanish guitar masters in the 1800s-early 1900s sometimes sneered at Americans as "barbed wire players" because of the use of steel strings. Guitarists in Latin America didn't have ready access to gut strings.
ReplyDeleteLittleRed1