One of the distinguishing elements of the flamenco guitar style is the use of rapid-fire linear passages known as picados. Aside from the rasgueado strumming technique and accented beats within simple and compound time signatures that give rise to the essential compás of the various flamenco forms, it is the picados that contribute to the melody and its adornment.

An important new book by Spanish flamenco guitarist Jorge Berges opens the door to authoritative picado technique, but 47 Picados is much more than the scale book its title suggests. Berges is not interested in cultivating only the technical aspect of the flamenco style; rather, he goes for the whole package leading to artistic and technical proficiency.

To begin, Berges offers basic instruction on filing the nails to the right curvature for maximum advantage in executing scale passages. As one might expect, with the palm down, the thumb, index and middle fingernails (p, i, and m) are slightly more full on the right side, and shorter where the fingertip and nail first contact the string. Berges recommends that the ring fingernail (a), however, be kept more or less symmetrical. This shape allows the nail to resist breakage when executing the golpe or tap technique that graces many flamenco pieces.

Next, Berges offers a detailed description of the proper rest stroke scale technique including "locked" joints of the slightly curved fingers. It follows that this position makes for a forceful, controlled attack as the full musculature and mechanical advantage of the finger is brought to bear on the string. The author also introduces the idea of the adjoining string serving as a springboard providing a "rebound" effect for the rest stroke attack. This is the first time I've seen this concept in print, and both flamenco and classic guitarists should benefit from it.

Minimal left-hand coaching is also provided with only two preliminary exercises before launching directly into the flamenco scales in the following order:

A Major Phrygian Mode
A Major
A Minor Phrygian Mode
C Major
D Major (in drop-D tuning)
Various Forms of compases in Phrygian mode
E Major
E Minor
Phrygian Scale

This book sets itself apart from other reference scale listings in that each mode is demonstrated in a passage that might be applied in a Bulerias, Tango, Rumba, Guajiras, Alegrias, Fandangos, Granainas, or Tarantas - very much like a book in Mel Bay's Gig Saver series. I have a feeling that it's going to be tough to keep this book in stock.

The picados are written in standard notation and tablature with text in Spanish, English, French, German, and Japanese. By special permission of the publisher, RGB Arte Visual S.L. of Madrid, here are the first five exercises in the book in the A major Phrygian mode.

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