Flaco Jimenez Tex Mex Video

[David Gordon Burke]

I have started to workwith the Flaco Jimenez instruction video. Here are the pros and cons.
Pros.
1. Using this system will get you to play more in and out style.
2 Using this system could get you started reading music.
3. Using this system you will start to transpose songs into different keys.
4. There are various tricks you can pick up from the video that are not included in the book or CD.
5. Once you know the songs you can play with the balance on your stereo and remove the accordion part, giving a great backing track to play along with.

Cons
1. Some of the transcriptions are written in different keys that the recording or video.
2. The playing is traditional so where many players play 90% opening the bellows, they play a lot in and out. The songs can be rearranged to suit your style.
3. The camera angles are sometimes a little hard to see exactly what is happening.

This instructional package doesn't give you the songs on a silver platter. You have to work at it, but I feel it is worth the money.
Stoney

[Jr Salinas]

All That And More Stoney. This Tape Is THe Best, It Was The First One I Bought. I Have To Watch It Later. The Only Thing Is That The Camara Doesnt Show Alot Of What They Are Doing. That Was The Only Thing Wrong. But I Guess Its Good In A Way, You Can Build Up Your Ear For Music. I Had To Listen For The Sound Alot When I Was Learning Those Songs.

All In All I Think This Tape Is Exelent For Begginers Or For Those Who Want The Tex-Mex Style.

Jr Salinas

[David Gordon Burke]

One thing to keep in mind on this video is that the Flaco style is definitely old school. In Flaco's father's day the accordion played the bass part. Then they added the bajo and stopped playing the basses. But by routine they continued to play a lot of in and out. It is not necessary.
If you get the book and CD that go with the system it is great because they play each tune twice, once at normal speed and a slowed down version. Makes learning by ear very easy.
Stoney

[KWA]

I think Flaco moves pretty quickly on the video and the angles aren't the greatest. I also noticed that what he was teaching and then what he was actually playing varied at times. I feel the video is targeted for an intermediate player who has a strong grasp on scales.

Also, in regards to playing IN and OUT, I'm a BIG fan of that. It's a lot more efficient to play that way...after all, it is a diatonic...not a chromatic. Too many people get wrapped up in pulling the bass blocks so the can have a quicker push to start on the out again. Why? Learn the notes on the PUSH and PULL. I've watched players only open the bellows 6"- 8" the whole song and play very smoothly.

Maybe for 2005 the players that have mastered the pull should place some emphasis on learning the push and move to the next level of playing. It's a lot of fun. Give it a shot.....

KWA

[David Gordon Burke]

I agree 100%. Even though I will always be a Pull player and will take that aproach to the box, there is a lot of great tricks that can be done on the push and it shouldn't be ignored.
Stoney