Featured guitarist, Irina Kulikova performing my composition Valsa Negra.
I’m Sergio, join me on the path towards guitar mastery!
Dominic
Brenda
“My One and Only Love” is a romantic ballad composed by Guy Wood with lyrics by Robert Mellin, first published in 1952. It’s known for its rich, lyrical melody and has become a jazz standard, famously recorded by artists like John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Sting. Its slow tempo and […]
I am continuing my spotlight on classical arias and arranging them for the nylon guitar. I have been playing this aria for a while but in a different key and without much detail so I decided to try a more detailed and in depth version in the original key of D major. The second […]
Here is a video discussing the mixolydian scale applications, namely over the D dominant chords.
The Habanera is one of the most famous arias from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, composed in 1875. Officially titled “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (“Love is a rebellious bird”), it is sung by the character Carmen in Act I. Bizet based the melody on a Cuban dance rhythm known as the habanera, giving the piece […]
In this video I go through some ideas around the Lydian scale as it rallies to Latin jazz guitar and flamenco. I use the loop pedal to set up a lydian loop and show some lydian scale ideas. Then talk through some different improv options.
The Libertango full tutorial is now available in the Members Portal! You can visit the tutorial and sheet music here
Here’s a fun arrangement of Beethoven’s famous piano piece Fur Elise. I was playing around on a Godin guitar synth with a piano sound and started trying to play it. Then I realised that it works quite well on guitar! Interactive Play-Along Track
Here is the second instalment of my Four Seasons by Vivaldi guitar arrangements. This is the presto from Summer which I have modulated to Am from Gm minor. It is quite advanced, I hope you enjoy! Interactive Play-Along Track
Astor Piazzola was an Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player, and arranger. His works revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. One of his most famous pieces is called Libertango which roughly translates to freedom tango. The Tango feel should be brought out […]
This is a new composition written in a Zapateado triplet feel. It’s a great work out on the hands as it pushes through constant dance like quaver feel. There are also some stretches and great cross string passages. Hope you enjoy! Sheet music and TAB
Here is a new arrangement of this beautiful Latin Jazz standard made popular by Dean Martin and Laufey. Sheet music and TAB
Here is my new arrangement of Winter by Vivaldi. To be precise it’s Concerto No 4 in F minor , Op 8 RV 297 “Water”. First movement Allegro Non Molto. I have changed the key to D minor which works better on guitar. Sheet music and TAB
Here’s a new composition I have been working on the last two weeks I call Pleiades. It features alternate tuning D A D F# B E. This tuning opens up interesting possibilities of harmony and resonance. The sheet music is below and available to LGM Members. I am still tweaking it and will finalise the […]
00:00:00 Hi, welcome back to the channel. In this episode, Latin Guitar Mastery Podcast Episode 5, I’m going to be covering topics around Paco Pena, his visit to Australia and my interview with him. Also, some collaborations that I’ve been doing with guitarists online. We’ll also talk a little bit about updates to the blog, […]
Here is a new Rumba I wrote in B minor and also with F# tuning. It has some tricky bar chords and stretches but I think the opening minor 6 chord really captures a mood! Sheet music and TAB
After my recent performance of Nightless Night, some people have been asking me for tips to improve their guitar tremolo. So I have made a tutorial on this and included some exercises below (for LGM Members). Sheet music and TAB
I recorded the duet by Ralph Towner called Duende.
Back To Menu/Course Here is my new called Nightless Night, inspired by the long nights in Finland and Northern Europe. It is a tremolo piece in B minor with G on the third string tuned down to F#. There are quite a few stretches and it’s a bit of a work out on the […]
0:00 Intro 0:16 Common Latin Guitar Chord Progresssions 5:32 Common Latin Guitar Modes 6:00 Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian 12:01 Thumb Positions 15:01 Oscar Ghilgia passing 7:06 Final Thoughts
Here is a new piece I wrote in the style of a waltz or valsa. It’s a melody that came to me and I built a piece around this haunting melody. It has a few stretches and technical challenges but if you approach it from a romantic perspective you can be quite fluid with […]
In this tutorial I explore the Bossa Nova chord voicings and also how I would approach improvising over the chord changes. Below is the soundslice sheet music/notation of: Bossa nova chord progression. Written out improvisation Sheet music and TAB
I have a new YouTube podcast show which will be continuing into 2024 called Latin Guitar Mastery podcast. In the show I answer audience questions relating to guitar and also Latin guitar styles and also give some insights into the content on the blog and YouTube channel. I am hoping to have some guests on […]
Carlos Jobim and Vicinius de Moraes collaborated in writing this song for the movie Black Orpheus. The name A Felicidade means ‘happiness’. I have adapted the key to suit the guitar better in the key or A minor. Sheet music and TAB
Astor Piazzola is an icon of Tango and Argentina. Oblivion is a haunting piece of music which has often performed on guitar. This is my arrangement of Oblivion in E minor. Sheet music and TAB
El Vito is a traditional Spanish folk song and dance that originates from the Andalusian region of Spain. The song’s origins can be traced back to the 19th century and many versions have been made for both solo guitar and also with lyrics in song form. This version is based on the one […]
Here is my new guitar arrangement of Summertime by George Gershwin. I turned it into a Tango in E minor, and will suit intermediate players. It features rolled chords, arpeggios phrases, and a variety of other techniques which should provide an good challenge! Sheet music and TAB
“Meditação” is a beautiful bossa nova song composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim, one of the most influential Brazilian musicians and composers of the 20th century. Jobim, also known as Tom Jobim, was a key figure in the development of the bossa nova genre, which blends traditional Brazilian rhythms with jazz harmonies. “Meditação” was written by […]
Here is a new piece I have written in the style of the zapateado. It is essentially a fast 6/8 dance in B minor. I have dropped the 3rd string from G to F# creating an open B minor chord. This allows for some interesting and at times haunting textures. I am posting the sheet […]
Here is a new arrangement I have made of the beautiful Cole Porter song I’ve got you under my skin. I have moved the key down one semitone to E minor which fits a lot better on guitar. It features a flowing arpeggio style feel and also some Bossa Nova elements. Sheet music and […]
This arrangement of this beautiful classic is not too difficult I think though there are a few stretches, bar chords and positions changes. It will definitely challenge you but it is rhythmically fairly straight forward. The rhythms can be more improvised so don’t feel that you need to be too strict with that. LGM Members […]
Here is a short piece I have called Tremolo study as it used the tremolo technique. I will discuss how this technique works and also the technical aspects of the piece in the tutorial video. LGM Members can have look at the sore below in preparation for the lesson. Sheet music and TAB [restrict paid=true] […]
In this week’s tutorial we will look at Agua de Beber chords and melody. Written by Antônio Carlos Jobim and lyrics written by Vinícius de Moraes. I have made a finger style Bossa Nova arrangement of this previously which you can find here. Sheet music and TAB [restrict paid=true] [/restrict]
Here is a new piece called Sentimento. It has a Bossa/Latin feel in D major with a small modulation to B minor. It is very melody driven with chordal and bass accompaniment. Video and tutorial coming this week! Sheet music and TAB
Nature Boy has a beautiful melody and really suited to the nylon guitar. In this arrangement I have shifted the key up to E minor which suits the guitar well. It also allows me to add some open string harmonics and utilise some classical style textures to fill in the gaps of the harmony. […]
I have made a fun arrangement of the famous Latin Jazz tune Blue Bossa. Blue Bossa is normally in C minor but I transposed it up a third to E minor which is also a better guitar key. It has a Latin groove mixed in with some Bossa Nova. Member’s can have access to this […]
This piece has a choro feel mixed with Andalusian rhythms. There is lots of syncopation and a variety of chord progressions including, II-V-I, circle of fifths and Andalusian cadences. Can you spot where they are? The tutorial will reveal: Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Here is a new piece I wrote to celebrate the changing of the seasons, it is actually summer in Melbourne but it’s only now that the better weather is coming. Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
This week’s lesson is on Baden Powell’s beautiful prelude and slow samba Samba Em Prelude recorded in 1962. It features and arpeggio style first section and a more lyrical second part. The tutorial will be posted this week! Members get access to the full score below: Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Here is a latin waltz I wrote in E minor. It features a melody that moves along the first string, and quite a lot of arpeggio work. This is suitable for intermediate players and will help you to develop a 3/4 dance feel that is featured in so many Latin American pieces. Members get access […]
Here is a new Bossa Nova I wrote this week, called Bossa Bacana. It has some influences from Jobim and other Brasilian pieces. Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Here is a new guitar Tango that I wrote this week. There is quite an Italian romantic flavour to it especially in the middle section. Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
I wrote this piece last week and performed it recently for the first time. It features an unusual tuning with drop Eb and a raised G# third string. Sheet music is shown below for LGM Members, a tutorial will go up soo too! Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Here is my arrangement of the famous song Sway by Demetrio and Pablo Beltrán Ruiz first recorded in 1953 and made famous by Dean Martin some years later. I have been experimenting with the melody and adding some arpeggios in a flamenco style. I like to play this with capo 2 to add some brightness […]
New lessons include: Wave Bossa Nova Chords Quizas, Quizas, Quizas Manha De Carnaval Bossa Nova Chords Corcovado Bossa Nova Chords New in Learn Latin Guitar Vol.3 Allegro by Giuliani Picado Practice – Natural notes Harmonic Minor and Phrygian Dominant Improvising with scales Tangos Latin Jazz Chord Notation Bossa Nova #2 – Decending Melody Bossa Nova […]
Here is the chord progression to Waves by Carlos Jobim. These are the voicings I would use as accompaniment. Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Here is my new arrangement of Quizas, Quizas, Quizas also known as Perhaps. See below for sheet music/soundslice. Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
In this lesson we will work through the famous Bossa Nova – Manha De Carnaval by Luis Nova. This chart will show you the guitar chords and chord voicings I use when I accompany a singer or another guitarist in performance.
Back To Menu/Course Here is a new Latin guitar piece I wrote this week, it features a Rumba rhythm and also some fun triplet arpeggios. Tutorial coming this week! Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Here is an arpeggio study that I wrote to help develop the RH and also work on LH slurs and position shifts. LGM Members can get the tutorial and sheet music below: Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Back To Menu/Course Hearts is an original finger style piece I wrote a few years ago and have finally notated it. It has an E Lydian feel, with a lot of open string resonances. Sheet music and tutorial below for members: Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Back To Menu/Course Here is a new piece I wrote recently which has a distinct Brazilian flavour. It’s in the key of B minor and features a fun syncopated melody and Latin Jazz chords and harmony. The tutorial will be available soon for LGM Members. look in the members area for the sheet music?TAB. Interactive […]
Back To Menu/Course This is new original piece I wrote inspired by the Rumba Flamenco form. I have also added a Brasilian/Latin feel in the middle section. See below for the music or you can also purchase it in the sheet music shop. Guitar tutorial coming this week! Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
One of the most magical and fun techniques I have learned form flamenco is there Alzapua technique. In this lesson I will show you how to play a smooth and even Alzapua technique. Alzapua is a flamenco technique which is played with the Rh thumb. The RH thumb will play a sequence of down and […]
In this video I will take you through the chords for the main section and also some solo ideas. I have covered the intro and melody in a previous video (here). This section is loosely in the key of D major but having some idea of the modes you can use will help expand your […]
“El Choclo” which means The Corn Cob in Spanish, is a popular song written by Ángel Villoldo, an Argentine musician. It is one of the most popular tangos in Argentina. The piece was premiered in Buenos Aires in 1903 at the elegant restaurant El Americano on Cangallo 966 by the orchestra led by José Luis Roncallo. […]
La Cumparista is a famous song written by Uruguayan composer Gerardo Matos Rodríguez in 1916. It is one of the most popular tangos ever written. I have arranged it here for solo guitar and transposed it to E minor from the original G minor. The tutorial will be posted this week but members can get […]
This week on LGM: I had a gig at Paris Cat this week so I wasn’t able to publish a tutorial. If you would like to see footage form the gig you can watch it here. The performance was with Nathan Slate and Jaime Carrasco from the band La Rumba. I have re-arranged the LGM […]
Here is my arrangement of Luis Miguel’s famous Bolero – Became Mucho. My version has a Bossa Nova feel. The tutorial is coming out this week but members have access to the sheet music and play along track below:
Available for members: Full score/TAB and interactive sheet music you can print
In video we will explore the scales the you can use over The Girl From Ipanema. Improvising blends your knowledge of harmony, scales, voice leading and technique. The scales that I use here are only one option but I think they work well in a Latin Jazz context. I have included a backing track for […]
This is a popular Bossa Nova by Carlos Jobim also known as Jazz ‘n’ Samba. I have changed the key to A major which works well on guitar. Guitar Tutorial and Interactive Sheet Music/TAB
Tico Tico (full title “Tico Tico no tuba”) is a popular Brasilian song written by is a Brazilian choro song written by Zequinha de Abreu in 1917. The most popular guitar version is by Paco De Lucia which includes a backing band. In this arrangement I have tried to capture the Brazilian flavour with […]
Members Content below: Video Lesson Tutorial Sheet Music/TABS
Title: One Note Samba Key : C#minor Time : 4/4 Style: Bossa Composer: Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994) Writen by famous Brasilian song wirter and composer Carlos Jobim, this sog rose to fame in the 1960s. It has an unusual chromatic descending bass line and very simple (one note) melody. Played with the open E this […]
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Title: Black Orpheus (Manhã De Carnaval) Key : A minor Time : 4/4 Style: Bossa Nova Composer: Luis Bonfa (1922-2001) was a celebrated Brasilian guitarist famous for this particular song Manha De Carnaval which was featured in the production of Orfeu da Conceição also known as Black Orpheus. Bonfa worked alongside the likes of Jobim, […]
Baden Powell was a leading Brasilian guitarist and composer. He wrote in many styles including Bossa Nova and Samba, Popular Brasilian and Latin Jazz. He toured internationally for many years especially Europe and collaborated with many well-known artists including Vinicius de Moraes, Billy Blanco and Paulo Cesar Pinheiro. Here is one of Baden Powell’s slower pieces, it […]
The flamenco Rumba is one of the most popular forms and also one of the simplest. Though many of the flamenco styles os palos are based on counting to 12m the Rumba is in 4/4. We count 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2 with the 1 being accented. The first beta usually is accented with a golpe, the 4th beat […]
The Malagueña is a Spanish dance that originated in the Spanish city of Malaga. It features a 3/4 feel and a familiar bass arpeggio that returns throughout. There are many versions of this dance and it is found in both Spanish classical and flamenco as well. This version offers some fun and challenge for intermediate […]
This song was released by the Spanish pop group Navajita Plateá. It has a nice melody which I wanted to capture on the first string so I transposed it to G and I am using a drop D and drop G tuning. The sheet music/Tab is available below or in the sheet music page […]
This is quite a well known piece in the classical guitar repertoire written by Joao Pernambuco. It translates to “sounds of bells”. Pernambuco was a respected and successful Brasilian guitarist and composer. The piece has the following features: drop D tuning in 2/4 time some tricky bar chords and scale passages It is in the […]
Here is a beautiful prelude by Brasilian guitarist Garato. He lived in the first part of the 20th Century and was an icon of Brasilian guitar. He wrote in many South American guitar styles including choro, samba and bossa nova. His guitar music is complex and rich in jazz harmony and challenging guitar techniques. This […]
Armando’s Rhumba is considered a jazz standard, it was written in 1976 and appears on the Chick Corea album My Spanish Heart. The original key is C minor but I have transposed it to A minor for guitar, you can also use a capo on 3 to get the original key sound. I have also […]
Daniel Fortea was a Spanish guitarist-composer and educator. He was one of Tarrega’s students along with Emilio Pujol and Miguel Llobet. He founded his own guitar school in Madrid in 1909.
Mas Que Nada was written and originally recorded by Jorge Ben. It was later covered by Sergio Mendes in 1966 and has gained a popular status amongst the Latin repertoire. The title translates to “yeah right” or “No way”.
“Sabor a Mí” is a bolero written by Mexican composer and singer Álvaro Carrillo. This is generally regarded as a standard of the Latin repertoire and I have made a guitar arrangement here that features a romantic melody and Latin jazz chords. The original key is G major but I have moved it up to […]
A beautiful choro by Italian guitarist/composer Mario Gangi. Gangi was a respected Italian guitarist, composer and teacher. It has some challenging techniques including bar chords and arpeggios up the neck but the final result is quite magical. Interactive sheet music for members below:
This week’s lesson features a beautiful samba-canção by the celebrated Brasilian guitarist and songwriter Luiz Bonfa called Sambalamento.
This week’s lesson is Wave by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Released in 1967 this is a lively Bossa Nova syncopated rhythm and some great Latin Jazz chords. This is an intermediate-level arrangement that combines the famous melody with the Bossa NOva accompaniment.
I have arranged Tom Jobim’s Chega De Saudade for this week’s lesson. In this arrangement, I have opted for a more arpeggio approach as there are long gaps between the melodic notes, you can also shape the chordal accompaniment with interesting dynamics to create compelling phrasing. I have put accents on the melodic notes so […]
This is a popular Latin piece by Marcos Valle often played as a Bossa Nova. I have made a solo arrangement featuring some extended chords and a melodic line that moves up the fretboard. Interactive Play-Along Track
This is the fourth lesson in my series on Concerto Aranjuez, so far I have covered the opening of the Allegro and I also did a post on the first cadenza of the Adagio. I am now continuing the Allegro bars 61 to 200. This is the part where the guitar enters after the first […]
Besame Mucho is regarded as one of the most famous Latin songs. Written by Mexican songwriter and concert pianist Consuelo Velasquez, the melody was inspired by the start of a Granados piano piece. The song style is a Bolero which, unlike the Spanish Bolero, is a popular Latin song form that originated in Cuba. It […]
The Bolero is a popular Spanish dance of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. It originated from the folk dance the Seguidilla from Madrid and Andalusia. One of the palos (styles) of flamenco is derived directly from the dance, the Seguidillas Boleras. This piece moves from a dance feel to a more melodic feel, […]
This Brasilian dance is by Argentinian guitarist and composer Jorge Morel’s and his most famous piece. It has a fast and lively tempo with a samba feel, and there are also elements of choro found here. Let’s explore the first half of the piece including the technical and musical challenges. Full Score, Interactive Play-Along […]
In this lesson, we’ll look at how I created a solo over a circle of fifths chord progression. We’ll look at the chord tones and modes that I am using so that you can work out how to create your own solo improv ideas. Here’s the chord progression: Here’s the solo with a description above […]
Astor Piazzola was an Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player, and arranger. His works revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. One of his most famous pieces is called Libertango which roughly translates to freedom tango. We’ll look at the first part main melody and […]
Interactive Play-Along Track
In this video we will look at what the Latin jazz chords are in a major key. We will also look at how these chords are constructed and give a few examples of common jazz progressions. For this example, we’ll explore the chords in the key of C major. We derive the chords in a […]
We’re going to look at the start of Manha De Carneval and use chord tones to do get you thinking about improvising. Chord tones will give you a starting vocabulary of notes you case to improvise with. This lesson will help to famillarise you with where along the fretboard you can find certain chords […]
Água de Beber by Antônio Carlos Jobim This song was featured on the album The Composer of Desafinado, Plays released in 1963. The title means “Water to Drink”. Music written by Antônio Carlos Jobim and lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes. The song was inspired by a walk that Jobim and Moraes were having in the governor’s house in Brasilia looking for somewhere […]
With many years of teaching and performing experience under my belt, I have found that there certain exercises that have improved my guitar technique the, most. In this video I’ll show you what these exercises are and why they are important. Pressure As you get more advanced your hands will become stronger, it takes time […]
In this lesson, we’ll look at the first half of Desafinado by Antonio Carlos Jobim (full version available for LGM Members below). The Bossa Nova pattern will be as follows with the bass note on beats 1 and 3. We start with F maj7 with the bass note on the 6th string, this is over […]
Our next lesson will involve practicing picado or rest stroke. Picado is used for melodic passages and scale work. It’s important that the right hand fingers are always walking or alternating. Keep practicing this walking as talked about in lesson 2. Here are some exercises and scales to practice your picado. We will put picado […]
Counting down my top 5 mistakes guitarists make. Note that these mistakes are not entirely just guitarist mistakes but are still very important things to try and improve on: 5. Right Hand Organisation I often see guitar students pay a lot of attention to their left hand but not enough to their right-hand work. It’s […]
Latin Guitar Scales you need for know (Great for improvising) Harmonic minor played over Am – E7 The A harmonic minor is a natural minor scale with a sharp 7th degree. This scale has a dark and moody feel and is characterized by a minor third interval which gives it a lot of tension. The […]
Sheet Music Download / Play-Along Track / Lesson Notes