RIP to one of the greatest men to ever play a six-string, Paco De Lucía

[Eschaton]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26351251


Paco De Lucia was one of the most talented guitarists to ever live. As a teen growing up, his flamenco CD's showed me the upper limits of what guitar playing could be. I got my first CD of his in 10th grade? Before that, I thought that the best guitar players were all in Death Metal, Classical, and Jazz. He shattered my conceptions of what a six string player could be. He was dextrous, fluid, and precise but still managed to play with a measured level of feeling and passion. A lot of highly technical guitar players lose sight of that, but he never did. He was literally my favorite guitarist of all time, so please take a moment to appreciate a master. He wasn't just a virtuoso; he helped move flamenco into the new era with jazz collabs as well.

[Rufus]

Man, younger than expected. That's just about retirement age.

[HiResDes]

Heard some of his work in plug and went and gathered the early part of his discography, twas a masterful technician.

[Rufus]

I gave up trying to get good at guitar playing, specifically classic. My shitty fingertips are only good enough for bass playing, but I neglect even that pretty hard these days, so...
Devote an ungodly amount to the pseudo-hobby that is vidya games instead, brehs.

[Rufus]

Don't knock. I could have used some strict parenting, to be sure. Or any parenting, for that matter.

It's definitely a satisfying hobby, even if you only play yourself. Nothing quite like being able to play something at speed that you have struggled with for weeks. But it's also frustrating, especially if you're trying to do it without a teacher (and run screaming from anything to do with notes or theory). Too much for my frayed mind these days. Guthrie Govan likes to say that he's saving classical guitar for prison. Pretty much my feelings on the matter.

[Phoenix Dark]

RIP, amazing guitarist/musician.