'Por el medio' Flamenco Chords Visually (Em tonality, Chord Tab)

There are important styles palos in flamenco as tangos, tientos, siguirillas o bulerias that are performed in the guitar by using de A tonality and Andalusian cadence. That means a descendant round around the next tonal grades. IV, III II, I in the Phrygian mode. For A tonality that means : Dm > C > A# >A. The IV chord the chord that name the tonality, That is Dm. A is the Repose Chord

Within classical falsetas A tonality is usually the starting point and the circle change in this way: A > A# > C > #A > A.

Both, flamenco rarely has clear chord. Dissonances are inherent part in flamenco and even chords like the A chord as above has variations in fingering. Here, I am going to show, visually, usual chord for these styles. These chords and their derivatives as a whole are usually named as 'toque por el medio' because of the prevalence of finger positions in the strings 2, 3 and 4.

Chords are usually referred as ‘positions’ or ‘postures’. This is because one thing is the chord and other the individual movements of fingers that build and enhance the melody.

As we commented in other post chords does not provide the most important part in flamenco guitar that is rhythm and good skills in the right hand. But I think it is really interesting for beginners. Here, there are basic chords 'por el medio' and some variations. There are more of course. As you will see, you have to change your mind with respect to rock or classical guitar.

A chord and variations. (Actually, A Flamenco)

The basic position is A, but not as is usually played in rock or clasical. This position is very especial. Index finger is used to press both the  3º and 4º strings at the same time, as it is showed below:

002220









ring finger and little figer are totally free for press other strings such as:

002320




Only whith these two chord a good intro for bulerias can be performed.

A# Chord and variations.

This is the 010220 position for A# sometimes 012020


     

Some times middle finger is used for 310220 as below

C postition and variations.

C Chord can be played as usual: 

032010. Or C7 as 032030

But,  Chord is usually played in this way

 032332

C7 as 335353 is other usual position in flamenco.

D minor position.

D position is used (and sometimes variations of the the parallel Chord F7)

000231



D minor is usually performed in an especial way 

000221




I'm sure that this post help you for facing flamenco tablatures, but remember again that rhytm (compás) may go before chords.

Best regards.