What is the Flamenco Fandango?
Compared to other toques, flamenco fandangos have a shorter rhythmic cycle that may feel more familiar to musicians trained in classical or other Western music styles. Fandangos are an early form of flamenco music, influenced from Arab-Moorish music and Portuguese fado music. Flamenco Fandangos are generally festive and upbeat.
Fandangos have a 3/4 rhythm (previously 6/8, now 3/4 or 3/8), with an accent on the first beat. Most Fandangos are very metric and appropriate for dance. A common compás that can be felt is made up of 12 beats (2×6). However, others may have more of a free-form feeling (known as en toque libre or “very freely”).
There’s also a variety of regional Fandangos, known as fandangos locales, each with their own style and character. There are many regional sub-styles that could fall into this categorization, but the most prominent include:
- Fandangos de Huelva
- Fandangos de Málaga
- Fandangos de Granada
- Fandangos de Almería
- Fandangos de Cadíz
- Fandangos de Córdoba
Flamenco Fandangos Examples and Links
Below are some of my favorite Fandango guitar examples by Sabicas, Paco de Lucía, Paco Peña, and more!
