Malagueñas (flamenco style)

Malagueñas (Spanish pronunciation: [malaˈɣeɲas]) is one of the traditional styles of Andalusian music (flamenco), derived from earlier types of fandango from the area of Málaga, classified among the Cantes de Levante.

Its guitar accompaniment is normally played in open position first inversion giving E for the tonic, which can be transposed by using a capo.

Malagueñas derive from local variety of the Fandangos, a type of dance that, with different regional variations and even different names, became very popular in great part of Spain in the 18th century.

Some of these primitive fandangos from Málaga, called Verdiales are still performed nowadays at folkloric gatherings by large non-professional groups called "Pandas", which use a high number of guitars, "bandurrias" (a sort of mandoline), violins, and tambourines.

After his influence, the rhythmic pattern of the malagueña guitar accompaniment was lost and it became a "cante libre".

At that time its function was merely rhythmic and limited to the use of one technique, the strumming pattern called "abandolao".

As malagueñas slowed down their tempo and professional guitarists came into place, short solos and ornaments were incorporated.

The great revolution of the malagueña guitar playing came together with its transformation into a "cante libre": flamenco virtuosos like Ramón Montoya started introducing classical guitar techniques like arpeggio, scales, tremolo, and enriched it with a wider variety of chord positions.

A minor often appears in guitar interludes (or even during the singing, as in the case of the Malagueña del Mellizo).