Many players are taught to keep their left hand thumb in a fairly stationary position behind the neck of the guitar whilst playing. In some ways it makes sense that in order to stay in position you need to have a reference point which is usually the thumb. The reference point refers to the lateral […]
Rodrigo’s Concerto De Aranjuez is an very well known spanish guitar work, though it’s the Adagio theme which people are most familiar with. Today we are going to be looking at the into to the first movement. The concerto starts with a series of rasguedo chords which are played in a 6/8 and 3/4 time […]
Here are the main major chord shapes you can play on the guitar: Root 6 (Tonic on the 6th String) Root 5 (Tonic on the 5th String) Root 4 (Tonic on the 4th String) There are other major type chords with can often also be used like 6, maj 9, 6/9 etc depending on the […]
Here is the next instalment of the Segovia Guitar Scales, G major and E Harmonic Minor (3 Octaves). There are many ways to practice these scales, I would recommend a variety of Right Hand fingerings. Here are some suggestions: im, mi, am, ma, ia,ai, ip, pi, imam Rest Stroke or Free Stroke
Matteo Carcassi Summary Born in Florence, and lived in Paris, and Germany. Virtuoso guitarist and composer. toured Europe extensively Friend Meissonnier published many of his works. Wrote an important method The Carcassi Method Op 59 (Paris 1836) Op 60 : 25 studies are popular classical etudes. Contemporary of Carulli, Sor and Giuliani.
Batucada has been around for some years now having been written by the great Brasilian teacher/guitarist Isaias Savio. I first heard the piece at a Milos concert last year. Here is a great version by Brassilian born guitarist Carlos Barbarosa Lima. A Batucada is a Brasilian dance often played in a group and forms part […]
The music Girl from Ipanema (also known as Garota De Ipanema) was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1962. This song became an international hit by the mid-1960s after it was recorded by Stan Getz with Joao Gilberto on guitar and his wife Astrud on vocals.
The Soleares is one of the fundamental flamenco forms. Here are some basic facts about the Solea or Soleares: Compas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (accent on bold numbers) Originated in the mid 1800s Share the same compas as Allegris and Buleria Use the Phrygian Mode in E major or […]
I spend a lot of time explaining my take on correct right hand classical guitar technique. In truth there is no one correct way but here we can go over the basic ideas. I will also show some examples of different players’ right hands and what I like about them. 1. The arm sits on […]
It’s as important to think about how to practice is what to practice. You will become efficient at learning new guitar music if you follow a simple and effective process. I have outlined below the one I use with many of my guitar students. Be sure to have a metronome with you and give yourself […]