Alzapúa

Flamenco Guitar Method, Vol 2:

The alzapúa is probably one of the most interesting Flamenco guitar techniques. Since it doesn’t exist in any other kind of guitar music, colleagues from other genres often ask me how it works. And since it is mostly played very fast, it is absolutely impossible to see the sequence of strokes.

”Púa" is the plectrum and “alzar“ means “to lift“ or “to raise.“ Since the alzapúa is only played with the thumb, this means that p plays downstrokes and upstrokes across one or more strings.

More often than not, the alzapúa is played across three strings. The best way of describing the sequence of strokes is as a threefold movement, which doesn’t mean, however, that it has to be a triad.

Movement 1: p begins with a ...

See also the techniques of treat flamenco guitar players