A modern master flamenco guitarist, whose name I cannot recall now, recently stated that the technique of muting a chord with the little finger or parada is obsolete. I beg to differ! I use in in the Bulerias and Alegrias on occasion, but today I decided to learn one of Diego's Tango rhythms from a video. I found my parada was weak and needed work to get the right dynamics. How many of you use parada and in what palos? Here is a clip of my paltry attempt at the basic tango rhythm using parada. I tried it without parada and it just didn't have the same effect.

Oh I always teach it to my students.
What is the reason why he says it is dead these days?
Saludos

Tomás

Tomas, I cannot find the article again, but will keep looking. The writer mentioned that none of the online flamenco terms and vocabulary sites mention parada. I found six sites on flamenco vocabulary and that is true, parada isn't listed. To me this is a very important technique that adds dynamics and defines compas if used correctly. Maybe it is like the 4 finger sami rasqueado and doesn't fit into the modern latin jazzy sound. Why he thought it was obsolete I am not sure.

Parada is an important technique that I teach to all my students. It adds a great deal to Bulerias, and also in places to Siguiriyas and Soleares. I don't know why anyone would say something foolish like that. Parada will always be with us. Statements like "Parada is dead" fall into the category of similar statements like "God is dead," and "the novel is dead," both of which have proven to more tenacious than these people would like us to believe.

I was taught not long ago by a friend on a farruca , and it does gives a nice feel to the piece .
I had no idea it had a name so today i´ve learnt something new , cheers .