Bulerías
![Flamenco Bulerías with emphasis as [12] 1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11](/uploads/202501/02/-Flamenco_Compas.theora.ogv2827.jpg)
Bulería (Spanish pronunciation: [buleˈɾi.a(s)]; interchangeable with the plural, bulerías) is a fast flamenco rhythm in 12 beats with emphasis in two general forms as follows:
It may also be broken down into a measure of 6/8 followed by a measure of 3/4 counted as such:
[12] 1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11
An interesting counting method has been used by Pepe Romero, in his book Classical Guitar Style and Technique, which is 2 measures of 3/4 time followed by 3 measures of 2/4 time. This puts the emphasis on the last beat of each measure:
When performed, the bulería usually starts on beat twelve of the compas, so the accented beat is heard first.
It is played at about 240 beats per minute, most commonly in an A-phrygian mode, with a sharpened third to make A major the root chord. A typical rasgueado (a strumming pattern that sets the rhythm) involves only the A and B-flat chords as follows: