Farruca Handbook for Guitar

by Thomas Whiteley
Table of Contents

Introduction 3
History
Structure
Handbook
Terms Used

Basic Compas 4

Basic Llamada 5

Combining cording compas and llamada 6-7

Cording Patterns1-16 8-23

Introductions 1-4 and pre introduction 24-34

Falsetas 1-9 35-54

Endings 55-58

Putting it all together 59

Farruca 60-81

Conclusion 82

copyright 2002
All music notation and tablature created by Thomas Whiteley
Introduction

History
The Farruca was created in Galicia, in Northern Spain and found its way to Andalucia. Originally
the Farruca consisted of cante and baile which developed around the middle of the 19th century and
was danced exclusively by men. There is a story that the dance was at one time used to determine
who the King of the Gypsies would be. These days the Farruca is not sung and men as well as
women dance this form. It is also used as a solo guitar piece.

Structure
Traditionally the Farruca is played in the key of A minor and is in 4/4 time. A phrase consists of
eight beats of two measures. The 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th counts are accented. It is said that at first the
Farruca consisted of rasgueados to accompany the cante and baile. Playing the same rasgueado over
and over is not very interesting so falsetas were added. By using a variety of rasgueados and cording
patterns with falsetas more musical interest is provided.

At first two or three compases were played and one falseta was used followed by two or three more
compases. In more recent times several falsetas are played one after the other and then the compas is
played and this pattern is repeated. Frequently the Farruca ends in a Tanguillo in A major or Rumba
in A minor. Changes of key or rhythm are called cambio and are common in flamenco music.

Handbook
The purpose of this document is to provide information for flamenco guitarists interested in the
Farruca. The compas is discussed as well as a number of cording paterns to make the music more
interesting. This is followed by examples of introductions, falsetas and endings. Finally a Farruca is
constructed from some of the parts presented. By following the structure and using your imagination
you should be able to create your own cording patterns as well as a segment or an entire piece.

Terms Used.
Indice = Index = I
Medio = Middle finger = M
Anular = Ring finger = A
Meique = Little finger = m
Pulgar = Thumb = P

Parada = Stop strings

G = Golpe

3
Basic Compas
The basic cording compas of the Farruca consists of two phrases of eight beats each.

4
Basic Llamada
The basic llamada of the Farruca consists of two phrases of eight beats each.

5
Combining cording compas and llamada.
One or more cording compas patterns may be played and are ended when a llamada is added.
Example 1.

6
Example 2.
Here is an example using doublets with the pulgar for the up stroke. The indice, Medio, anualar and
meique, combinations or all four may be used for the down stroke. The indice can be used for up
strokes.

7
Cording Patterns.
By changing the left hand fingering as well as the rasgueado patterns more interest is added to the
Farruca. Besides these examples you should be able to create your own.
Pattern 1.

8
Pattern 2.

9
Pattern 3.

10
Pattern 4.

11
Pattern 5.

12
Pattern 6.

13
Pattern 7.

14
Pattern 8.

15
Pattern 9.

16
Pattern 10.

17
Pattern 11.

18
Pattern 12.

Parada

Parada

19
Pattern 13.
An example of the use of cord inversion to give a different flavor to the pattern.

Parada Parada

Parada

20
Pattern 14.

Parada Parada

Parada

21
Pattern 15.

Parada

22
Pattern 16.

23
Introductions.
When played in the traditional key of A minor introductions to a Farruca normally begin in E 7.
However, that is not always the case as the first example shows. You can combine elements of
cording compas and llamadas anlong with falsetas to create your introduction. As a matter of inter-
est I have included a falseta which may be played before an introduction to a Farruca. Your imagina-
tion can be used freely at this point.

Patterns 10 and 12 can also be used as introductions to a Farruca. You can play them as written or
add to them to suit yourself.

24
Introduction 1.

25
Introduction 1 cont.

26
Introduction 2.

27
Introduction 2 cont.

28
 Introduction 3.
Based upon Pattern 10.

29
Introduction 3 cont.

30
Introduction 4.
Based upon Pattern 12.

Parada

Parada

31
Introduction 4 cont.

Parada

32
Pre introduction.

33
Pre Introduction cont.

34
Falsetas.
Falseta 1.

35
Falseta 1 cont.

36
Falseta 2.

37
Falseta 2 cont.

38
Falseta 3.

39
Falseta 3 cont.

40
Falseta 3 cont.

41
Falseta 4.

42
Falseta 4 cont.

43
Falseta 5.

44
Falseta 5 cont.

45
Falseta 6.

46
Falseta 6 cont.

47
Falseta 7.

48
Falseta 7 cont.

49
Falseta 7 cont.

50
Falseta 8.

51
Falseta 8 cont.

52
Falseta 9.

53
Falseta 9 cont.

54
Endings.
Ending 1.

55
Ending 1 cont.

56
Ending 2.

57
Ending 2 cont.

58
Putting it all together.
Now we will take some of the elements that have been presented and create a Farruca. If you wish
you can look for other sources of information such as Juan Serranos Systematic Studies for
Flamemco Guitar Mel Bay MB96871 (available with CD) for additional falsetas. Feel free to use
such sources to create your own Farrucas. Simply replace any part of a piece with one that you like
and enjoy playing.

Additional sources and examples of Farruca may be found in the following publications:
1. El Arte Flamenco - Jack Buckingham - U.C. Berkeley - Spanish Music Center
2. Flamenco Guitar - Ivor Mairants - Latin American Publishing Company.
3. Escuela del Flamenco - Mariano Cordoba
4. Flamenco Guitar - Mariano Cordoba - Oak Publications
5. Traditional Flamenco Guitar Volume II - Mariano Cordoba
6. Flamenco Guitar Basic Techniques - Juan Serrano - Mel Bay MB93632BCD
7. Sabor Flamenco - Juan Serrano - Mel Bay MB95321
8. Flamenco Concert Selections Juan Serrano - Mel Bay MB93698CD
9. The Keys to Flamenco Guitar - Dennis Koster - PJN Publications
10. You Can Teach Yourself Flamenco Guitar - Luigi Marraccini - Mel Bay MB95358BCD
11. Toques Flamencos - Paco Pea - Musical New Services
12. El Arte Flamenco de la Guitarra Volume II - Juan Martin - United Music Publishers Ltd.
13. La Guitarra Flamenca Video II Lesson 5 - Juan Martin - Patrick Campbell & Cordhart Ltd
14. Manual Didactico de la Guittara Flamenca Volumes 3 & 4 - Manuel Granados - Ventilador
15. Flamenco Guitar 4 CD version - Chuck Keyser - http://members.aol.com/buleriaChk/private/
flamenco.html
16. Hechizo - Libro de Partituras - Oscar Herrero - RGB Arte Visual

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81
Conclusion.
I hope you have learned something about the Farruca that you enjoyed and will explore this flamenco
palo. It is fun to play the Farruca on guitar as a solo or to accompany a dancer.

82