I highly recommend this DVD/book set. This series (La guitarra Flamenca de x or y tocaor) is excellent, but problematic because guitarists like Pepe Habichuela and Tomatito will show and explain their falsetas which are very very advanced often.

Merengue de Cordoba however takes us on a trip through tons and tons of various palos and explains their lineage a little, and then shows very basic right hand strumming methods and chords so you get the basic rhythm and aire of each palo. Next, he will give a few simple falsetas. Usually only at the end will he perform variations of what he has explained with a percussionist. He is not a flashy player at all, very simple but full of compas and aire which are the most important things in flamenco. Please check out his material if you can find it. It is a perfect introduction to flamenco guitar and also a foundation that we can build on.

I like Merengue not least because he spoke well of me at La Unión some years ago
Saludos
Tomás

Wow,

Tomas I am jealous of this news! I am here in the flamenco desert where without the internet I would starve completely. I think I need to get myself to Spain pronto.

Tocaor:
What would you recomend after Merengue of that series?

Hello,

hmmm that is not an easy question. The Merengue is nice and simple so it is good for beginner to intermediate. Then when you hit the others it gets very advanced. I would recommend after Merengue the Paco Serrano one because it is excellent in terms of giving you techniques and also typical falsetas. The 3d one after this probably would be Pepe Habichuela. Remember that these DVDs come with tablature as well! There is also one by Tomatito which is very advanced, Gerardo Nunez who is crazy advanced with his technique, and also Rafael Riqueni and Chicuelo. I would say the Merengue and Paco Serrano are the best because they focus on both rasgueaos and compas as well as traditional falsetas. The others have a more modern toca and they focus exclusively on their complex falsetas.

Not really a method but the Paco Peña book has many beautiful pieces and so I think it is inspiring and that is also important to encourage students to play.
Tomás