mick laBriola

Soleá is a fundamental, slow, and solemn 12-beat flamenco form(palo), known as the “Mother of Flamenco,” characterized by its deep emotional expression, use of the Phrygian mode, and complex rhythmic cycle (compás) with accents on beats 3, 6, 8, 10, & 12. For guitarists, it’s a gateway to mastering flamenco’s rhythmic feel, using techniques like rasgueados (strumming) and picado (plucking) to convey themes of solitude, loss, and passion, often played “por arriba” (fundamental on the 6th string).