Classical Guitar

Online Classical Guitar Lessons

2009-11-01T13:17:00.001-08:00

The classical guitar is the prototype acoustic guitar. It's the model all other acoustic guitars are based on. The difference is the classical guitar usually has a much wider fretboard and uses nylon instead of steel strings. Also strumming the strings does not feature heavily in classical guitar. It's usually plucked. The first few lessons in your classical guitar course will probably center around your posture and how you hold the guitar. You will be shown how to move your fingers, thumb and forearms economically. You're probably familiar with the distinctive upright posture of the classical guitar player with his foot on the stool. You will learn to play the guitar with the instrument balanced on your left thigh and held against your chest. After learning the rudiments of music you will probably begin to play simple pieces. These short, simple pieces of music are designed to get you accustomed to playing the instrument. As your technique progresses the pieces you learn will be more complex and you will begin to appreciate the harmonic possibilities of the classical guitar. As well as playing music on the classical guitar you will be told how to string it and how to tune it. As your classical guitar technique progresses you will be faced with the question of whether to be a nail player or a flesh player. Some classical guitarists grow the nails on their right hand to pluck the strings. Others use the flesh of their right hand fingertips. There is no right way to do it, it's just your choice between two distinctive sounds. At first you might think it's easier to play using the nails but, as with all physical skills, once you have chosen one way to play, after practice it will be second nature. Even though practically any piece that you could name is available in guitar tab format, if you take classical guitar lessons it will be understood that you will be learning to read conventional music notation. No classical guitar teacher is going to let you off that. You will learn about time signatures, half notes, whole notes, scales and accidental notes. If you don't know what I'm talking about your head is probably swimming already, but don't worry, it's easier to do than it is to think about. With online classical guitar lessons the process is simple - you log in, if you view the lessons and if you have any questions you can get help on the site's forum or by e-mail. There are other ways of learning to play the classical guitar but if you join a membership site that features online lessons you have the advantage of the teaching material being constantly updated.

Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.

Classical Guitar Tablatures

2009-10-30T20:16:00.001-07:00

A classical guitar is slightly different in shape from an ordinary guitar (i.e. rhythm guitar, bass guitar, Hawaiian guitar, etc.) The fret board, also known as the neck of the guitar, is slightly broader than that of other guitars. As a result the strings are more distanced from each other. The guitarist must stretch his fingers a bit more than when he is playing an acoustic or an electric guitar. When it comes to the string, the difference is that a classical guitar uses nylon strings instead of metal ones, making for a mellower sound.
Classical guitars are based on the classical mode of music and follow classically oriented instructions. But the modern day guitar tablatures follow a slightly different course from that of classical notations. Playing classical guitar is more inclined to figure work and plucking. Therefore, these classical guitar tablatures are more meticulously structured and they are much more complex and intertwined with more uses of notes (i.e. C, Bb, G, A, F, F#, etc) than others.
If we track back the history of tablatures, they have been used in the Western world for the last six centuries. They were mostly a horizontal grid read from left to right with letters and numbers written over them signifying the construction of pitches, and rhythmic signs above. Then by the 17th century various systems of tablatures existed in Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Nowadays tablatures, guitar tabs in particular, have vertical lines which represent the strings of the guitar (no matter what kind of guitar it is), horizontal lines for the frets, and dots signifying the position of the figures.
Guitar Tabs provides detailed information on Guitar Tabs, Free Guitar Tablatures, Classical Guitar Tablatures, Bass Guitar Tablatures and more. Guitar Tabs is affiliated with Guitar Tabs.

Guitar: How To Improvise The Classical Guitar Way

2009-10-30T20:15:00.003-07:00

When I was a fifteen years old guitarist playing rock solos and classical guitar pieces I remember that I had a desire to be able to improvise on my guitar in a classical manner. Nowadays I have developed this skill and I love to improvise in the style of composers like Sor, Tarrega, Paganini or others or just trying to find myself somewhere among the notes. These special moments are a form of meditation that clears my mind and also helps me as a composer to stimulate my creative abilities.

The most important reason for learning classical guitar improvisation is that it's fun! If you learn classical guitar improvisation it will also help you memorizing sheet music, it will be easier for you to compose your own guitar pieces in a classical guitar style, you can make up your own techniqal exercices on the go and it will help you understand your guitar in a better way.

There are many ways to develop this skill. You can start with major scales, experiment with easy chords, or easy classical guitar pieces. The most basic requisite is that you want to learn this art and with this desire you will find ways to practice improvisation in all your guitar playing. I will just mention using classical guitar pieces in this article.

May I suggest that you begin with a very easy melody with just one voice or maybe a two voice piece with bass notes on open strings. Learn a couple of bars by heart and play the melody over and over again and try to change the melody slightly without losing the classical touch.
The ultimate exercise is to use advanced classical guitar solos. If you think about it you will realize that classical guitar pieces are filled with wonderful licks, more or less complicated. These licks can be developed and added upon to give you material that will help you developing your improvisational skills. For example, take a two bar passage in a classical guitar piece that you like and practice it until you master it and then memorize it. Now you can play around with it and break it down, change it, analyze it and so on. If you want to improve as an improvisational guitarist and musician you can regard classical guitar pieces as collections of very musical licks just waiting to be used.

I hope you feel motivated to try these hints and reap the benefits from improvising the classical way. I described how I was affected by this type of guitar playing and I guess you might feel the same. Good luck!
Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music educator. He is the proud owner of Capotasto Music with free sheet music, tablature and learn to play resources for musicians and music students. http://www.capotastomusic.com

Classical Guitar Lessons

2009-10-30T20:15:00.001-07:00

Classical guitar is a beautiful instrument that helps in transforming your feelings into music. You can express grief, melancholy, cheerfulness, distress, faith and love among other feelings as you strum through the various chords of the classical guitar. It is also known to some as the Spanish guitar.

The basic body and style of the classical guitar is similar to that of a normal acoustic guitar but does have its difference. The classical guitar generally has a wider fret board and utilizes nylon strings than other guitars. A notable playing style difference between the classical guitar and its relatives is that it is played by picking the strings rather than strumming.

A classical guitar lesson will not only teach you how to play the instrument but also let you deeply involved in it. If you want to learn how to play the classical guitar well, weekly classical guitar instruction under the guidance of a good instructor is the way to go. Whether you\'re a beginner or an advanced player, good classical guitar teachers and daily practice are great assets. Quality classical guitar lessons will save you time and frustration. And it will keep you from acquiring bad playing habits that will eventually hold you back.

The initial (first) phase of classical guitar lessons will focus mainly on the fundamental sitting position, how to hold your guitar, left-to-right and right-to-left hand motions, and the motion of thumb. These are essential to learning how to play the guitar flawlessly. Once you start learning how to hold the guitar and use it, then I will be convenient for you to go ahead with the second stage which brings more excitement.

The second phase will be focusing more on beats, notes, and sound of the guitar. Beats basically refers to of the sound that comes out when two different notes are played together. Depending on how you play it, beats can vary in speed. The notes are of primary importance as you will learn to get used to playing each and every note individually, simultaneously and finally together. After acquiring understanding of the basic notes, the phase three will start. It includes free stroke and the rest stroke and will throw light on understanding artificial harmonics.

Phase four of classical guitar learning is quite important as you will start to understand the difference and similarity between the pitch, dynamics, rhythm, and timbre. Each of these has to be understood in detail and practiced in order to achieve perfection in playing the classical guitar. Last but not the least, you will learn to understand and play the various scales including common scales and their application.

Regular classical guitar lessons will help you stay focused and motivated. Advanced classical guitar players, including concert performers, can learn an incredible amount by studying with other musicians too. Accomplished musicians, other than guitarists, are a gold mine of musical knowledge and inspiration.

Visit the guitar classroom for your online classical guitar lessons

Classical Guitar Set Up

2009-10-29T22:42:00.005-07:00

Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to the music embedded in the traditions of every art and culture. It spans over a time length ranging from 9th century and the 21st century.

The term is often used as a synonym of Western music traditions and includes within its fold a vast range of music styles, an traditions ranging from compositional techniques to issues related to entertainment. Classical music has included within its genre also classical instruments especially the classical guitar, which has finally carved a niche for itself and has become a name to reckon within the world of music.

Guitar is perhaps one of the most alluring musical instruments whose charm has spread far and wide. Surpassing other musical instruments guitar has found a unique niche for itself. The set up of a guitar is very important. Even the most high sounding, sophisticated guitar may be hard to play.

Traversing a long interesting road guitars have emerged as the most popular musical instrument. It has become an integral part of the entire musical journey globally.

The most important aspect of the classical guitar set up is its playability factor. Touring concert artists now mostly prefer guitars, which are easy to handle. Classical guitar set up is similar to that of the steel strings or electrics. There is only a difference in tension, bridge and neck design. Only the principles differ a little in certain respects.

A good classical guitar set up should have the following elements in it

Good tension in the strings.
Good adjustability of the nut.
Capability to adjust with the nut.
Thickness in the neck.
Good pitching in the soundboard and the bridge.
Adjustability according to the player's style.
Tone production quality.
String's active vibrating length.
Freedom of performance it gives to its guitarists.
It should have low tension in the strings of the neck and should be made entirely of wood and not of steel struss rod.
It should have greater volume and longer sustainable capability.

There are various types of classical guitars. The most common of them are

Multi-string classical guitar
Classical electric guitar

Some of the famous classical guitarists who have dominated the musical landscape globally are as followed

Francisco Tarrega
Fernando Sor
Jose Feliciano
Christopher Parkening
John Williams
Julian Bream
Carl Volk
More Resources
Marcos Vinicius
Sharon Wayne
Maro Razi
Lynn Harting-Ware
Aniello Desiderio
Andrew York
Progetto Avanti
John McLaughlin
Sharon Isbin
David Tanenbaum
Eliot Fisk
Nigel North
Pepe Romero
Richard Alcoy

Classical guitar has always dominated the traditional musical scene for ages. Its history is almost four centuries old. Classical guitarists are capable of producing great music with excellent sound quality at one single stroke of the hand. A perfect classical guitar set up usually assists in adding that old world charm.

Therefore, having a proper classical guitar set up is absolutely essential for the beginners. Many classical guitar museums offer excellent classical guitar set ups for guitar enthusiasts. They host many a unique collection of playable instruments.

Tips To Learn Classical Guitar

2009-10-29T22:42:00.003-07:00

Learn Classical Guitar Today!

A classical guitar has a different anatomy than regular guitars. It has six strings, with the bass strings made of nylon wrapped in brass wire and the treble strings made from nylon. The body of the guitar is symmetrical and made of wood. It includes no electronics.

A classical guitarist is not just a person who plays a classical repertoire. It is also very important the way he plays. A classical guitarist plucks the strings with the fingers from his right hand and doesn't use any pick. There are also some recommendations about the position of the body that make a classical guitarist different from other guitarists.

How to Learn Classical Guitar?

The best way to go is definitely a private teacher. They will provide you with personal attention and teach you all the technical points of posture or hand position better than any other method. You can learn classical guitar from books as well, but it will probably take longer and you may develop bad habits that are more difficult to break after a long time.

The main disadvantage about taking up private lessons to learn classical guitar is that they cost about $20 an hour. A solution would be to find a teacher that teaches group lessons to a group of students at once. This way you will pay much less, as well as benefit from observing your classmates. You can take up private lessons later if you feel the need to do it.

Finding the classical guitar teacher

His/her qualifications: Is he/she a performer as well? What kind of degree does he/she have? What is his/her teaching experience, in years as well as number of students? Are the students satisfied with the lessons? Does he/she specializes in teaching classical guitar or teaches all kinds of guitar? Although these questions don't necessarily reveal whether he/she is a good teacher or not, you can use the information in your final decision on whether you can learn classical guitar from him/her.

Approach to study: The prospective teacher should be able to clearly explain what you will actually learn from the lessons. If you really want to learn classical guitar, you will easily identify a teacher who seem to provide vacuous entertainments most of the lesson, just point out your mistakes and give assignments or cannot provide much advice other than practicing harder. Be careful not to choose a teacher who doesn't take immediate and firm measures to correct any painful condition that you might encounter.

As a general advice, try to find a music tutor whose competency you believe in and give your best effort to learn classical guitar from him/her. After several lessons, evaluate whether you are actually progressing - you should actually get what you're paying for.

Although a professional guitar teacher is definitely the best way to learn classical guitar, you may choose other methods too. If you don't have enough time or can't afford private lessons, a theory book can also help. If you are serious about playing better, you should be able to learn classical guitar from a well-written and informative book as well.

How Andres Segovia Changed The World Of The Classical Guitar

2009-10-29T22:42:00.001-07:00

There is no disputing that Segovia was one of the greatest classical guitarists that ever lived but his impact on the world of the classical guitar extended far beyond just his ability to play. He had a profound impact on every aspect of the modern classical guitar.

Before Andres Segovia the classical guitar was considered an instrument for the common people. It was deemed to be something played in bar rooms and taverns. This reputation was well deserved for several reasons. There was no solid repertoire for the guitar, no good transcriptions of traditional classical music, few composers writing for it, and no instruments with sufficient volume and sound quality that could play in large concert halls. Andres Segovia addressed and corrected all of these issues and in the process he elevated the classical guitar to its modern status of respected solo and ensemble classical instrument.

Segovia as Classical Guitarist

His approach to how he played classical guitar was a microcosm of his approach to the art and music of the guitar as a whole. Since the begininings of the classical guitar a debate has been raging, and will continue to rage, as to whether a classical guitarist should play with the fingernails or fingertips of his right hand. Segovia, true to his ability to break new ground, developed his own unique approach to this. He played with both! He had the unique style of using both a part of the nail and a part of the fingertip to pluck the guitar strings. This gave him a very distinct sound and it gave him the ability to play in a very broad range of tone.

Segovia as Guitar Maker

Not only did he transform the way guitars were played but he also transformed the way guitars were made. And while he didn't make any guitars himself he did work closely with leading guitar makers in the early years of the twentieth century to create and design guitars that were better suited to playing classical music and better suited to playing in larger venues. He worked with guitar makers to find and select better woods and to achieve shapes and sizes that better expressed the volume and tone needed for larger concert halls. He also championed and popularized the use of nylon strings, which is what all classical guitars use today. He is generglly attributed as being a major contributor to what is now known as the modern classical Guitar.

Segovia as the Bridge between Classical Music and the guitar

One of his most important contributions to the world of classical guitar was his tireless transcription of traditional classical music pieces into works for the classical guitar. This brought many of the popular composers and works to the repertoire of the classical guitarist and it gave audiences a fresh new look at some of the old classics of the genre. Before him there was very little repertoire for the classical guitarist to choose from and among his many transciptions that of Bach's Chachonne is considered to be one of the finest and most difficult works for the guitar. As he found fame and the guitar grew to new heights of respectability contemporary composers turned their eyes and their ears to the guitar and wrote compositions specifically for it and for him. Heitor Villa-Lobos was one of the foremost composers taking this new instrument to new heights and he wrote many works specifically for Segovia.

His Legacy

Because of the tireless work and lifelong passion of Andres Segovia the classical guitar has taken its place as one of the premiere solo and ensemble instruments in the realm of classical music. He addressed and overcame every obstacle that faced the guitar and brought it to the height of respectability it now holds. Famous students that studied directly under him such as Eliot Fisk, Christopher Parkening, and John Williams carry on the tradition of this wonderful instrument.

Guitar lesson: How To Improvise The Classical Guitar Way

2009-10-29T01:04:00.005-07:00

When I was a fifteen years old guitarist playing rock solos and
classical guitar pieces I remember that I had a desire to be
able to improvise on my guitar in a classical manner.

Nowadays I have developed this skill and I love to improvise in
the style of composers like Sor, Tarrega, Paganini or others or
just trying to find myself somewhere among the notes. These
special moments are a form of meditation. They clear my mind and
also helps me as a composer to stimulate my creative abilities.

The most important reason for learning classical guitar
improvisation is that it's fun!

If you learn classical guitar improvisation it will benefit you
in many other ways too:

1. It will be easier for you to memorize classical guitar sheet
music.

2. You will find it easier to compose your own guitar pieces in
a classical guitar style.

3. You can make up your own techniqal exercises on your guitar
on the go.

4. You will understand your guitar better.

There are many ways to develop classical guitar improvisation.
How?

You can start with major scales, experimenting with easy chords,
or easy classical guitar pieces. The most basic requisite is
that you want to learn this art and with this desire you will
find ways to practice classical guitar improvisation in all your
guitar playing.

I will just mention using classical guitar pieces in this
article. But how do you begin?

May I suggest that you begin with an easy melody with just one
voice or maybe a two voice piece with bass notes on open
strings. Learn a couple of bars by heart and play the melody
over and over again and try to change the melody slightly
without losing the classical touch.

The ultimate exercise is to use advanced classical guitar solos.

If you think about it you will realize that classical guitar
pieces are filled with wonderful licks, more or less complicated.

These licks can be developed and added upon to give you material
that will help you developing your improvisational skills.

For example, take a two bar passage in a classical guitar piece
that you like and practice it until you master it and then
memorize it.

Now you can play around with the passage, break it down, change
it, analyze it and so on. If you want to improve as an
improvisational guitarist and musician you can regard classical
guitar pieces as collections of very musical licks just waiting
to be used.

I hope these hints will motivate you to reap the benefits from
improvising the classical guitar way.

Classical Guitar Pieces - Greensleeves

2009-10-29T01:04:00.003-07:00

Of all classical guitar pieces, Greensleeves is the most recognizable to the greatest number of people. This makes it a great piece for beginner guitarists to learn to play because, to friends and family, the measure of your progress as a guitar player is how good a job you do on a familiar piece of music. The other advantage to Greensleeves is that it is extremely easy to play. As with many classical guitar pieces, Greensleeves is a simple arrangement of four chords with a repetitive bass line. For an experienced guitar player the simplicity of this piece lends itself to unlimited possibilities for variations on the original theme. For the beginner it means your mistakes can be dismissed as attempts at improvisation. Greensleeves is a pleasant melody which has lyrics telling of the dejection and rejection felt by a powerful man who fails in his attempts to attract a lady. If you ask anybody about Greensleeves they will tell you that it was written by King Henry VIII of England when he was trying to attract the romantic attentions of Anne Boleyn. Anne apparently did not take kindly to Henry's overtures, so he wrote the song expressing his utter despondency. Some experts say that Henry merely built upon an already existing song. Others say he did not compose the song in any way, shape or form, and the whole Greensleeves thing is a myth. If you want to go the whole hog and learn the words to Greensleeves here are a few verses. Of course, there are other verses and other songs set to the same tune. If the sentiments in Greensleeves do not appeal to you, you can learn the words to What Child s Alas my love you do me wrongTo cast me off discourteously; And I have loved you oh so longDelighting in your company. CHORUS:Greensleeves was my delight,Greensleeves my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joyAnd who but my Lady Greensleeves. I have been ready at your handTo grant whateverÂ thou wouldst crave;I have waged both life and landYour love and goodwill for to have. CHORUS Thy petticoat of sendle whiteWith gold embroidered gorgeously;Thy petticoat of silk and whiteAnd these I bought thee gladly. CHORUS So if you are looking to learn some classical guitar pieces, Greensleeves would be an easy start. The chords you use to play Greensleeves are A minor, C, G and E. Even if you don't have any classical guitar skills you could experiment with strumming the full or partial open chords.

Learn Guitar Quick - What is a Classical Guitar?

2009-10-29T01:04:00.001-07:00

Most non-guitar players put guitars into just two broad categories: acoustic and electric. They unknowingly lump the classical guitar in with the folk guitar. But there are several important distinctions between classical and folk guitars which will be discussed in this article.

Like the folk guitar, the classic guitar is a six-stringed acoustic instrument. The name "classical" suggests that this instrument has been around for many centuries but this is not the case. The instrument, in its present form, did not appear until about the middle of the nineteenth century.

One immediately noticeable difference between the classical and folk guitars is the composition of the strings. Folk guitars are traditionally strung with metal strings and are often played with a pick or plectrum. Classical guitars, on the other hand, are strung with nylon strings and are picked with the thumb and first three fingers of the right hand.

The higher register strings are made wholly of mono-filament nylon. The three bass strings are made of very fine metal wire wrapped around a multi-filament nylon core. Nylon strings tend to have a much lower tension than the folk guitar's steel strings. As such, they are easier to play and also have a less-harsh, mellower sound than metal strings.

The neck and fingerboard on a classical guitar tends to be wider and less tapered than a folk or electric guitar. The headstock is quite different from the folk guitar headstock. To begin with, machine heads or tuning pegs on a classical guitar are perpendicular to the face of the headstock and point backwards - toward the player. While, on a folk guitar, the machine heads are mounted parallel to the face of the headstock and three machine heads point upward while the other three point toward the floor.

The scale length is the nominal vibrating length of the strings. It can be calculated by measuring the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and doubling this measurement. The classical guitar has a scale length of about 25.6-inches. For reference, this is about the same scale length as a Fender Stratocaster (25.5-inches).

Another difference between the classical and folk guitars is how they are played. The folk guitar is either worn with a strap or supported by the right leg when in a sitting position. The classic guitar (when held in the proper classical guitar posture) is rested on the left leg. In this position, the neck can more easily be angled upward which presents a more natural and relaxed angle for the left hand. As mentioned earlier, a classical guitar is played with the fingers rather than with a pick.

Although it is associated with classical music, the classical guitar can be - and often is - used to play popular or folk music. Very often classical guitars are purchased by non-classical musicians who simply like the feel and sound of the nylon strings. In these cases, the guitar is played just like a folk guitar (held on the right leg) and played with a pick. In fact, the softer nylon strings often make it a good choice for the beginning guitarist.

Robert M. Matthews (better known as Bob Matthews) is currently retired after more than 30 years of engineering and management experience. As an avid guitar player for more than 35 years, Bob has created a website specifically for guitar players and future guitar players. The site is packed with a wealth of information and articles on guitars, music theory, guitar tips and lessons, as well as many entertaining and instructional videos.

Feel free to visit the site at http://www.Learn-Guitar-Quick.com for great guitar-related information. While there, be sure to claim your free guitar lessons available on the front page. And be sure to follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GuitarBobb.

Classical guitar dealers

2009-09-06T05:31:00.001-07:00

classical guitar
Classical guitar dealers launch revolutionary website Miles was keen to deliver the richest possible experience for anyone looking to purchase a classical guitar and after working closely with a local web design company, re launched the website.

New classical guitar features include a gallery section that shows classical guitars being built that are available on the website. Other additions include a photo gallery popup allowing people to view the guitars in more detail and a music player so you can hear a commentary on each guitar from Miles along with a sound recording of the classical guitar you are viewing. Kent Guitar Classics deal in the finest quality of classical guitars, new, second-hand and vintage.

Over the years they have amassed a legion of followers looking to chose from some for the most exciting makers in the classical guitar world offering extensive advice to those who are not fully aware of the levels of choice available in relation to the range of styles of guitar. Kent Guitar Classics have become representatives for many of the finest artisan makers some of which include Rohan Lowe, Richard Newman and Oren Myers in the UK, Andrea Tacchi in Italy, Tobias Braun in Austria, Fritz Ober in Germany along with excellent classical guitars from Otto Vowinkel, Juan Hernandez, Cashimira, Camps and Prudencio Saez.

Choosing the right classical guitar is never easy, so customers are always welcome to visit Miles and try a range of classical guitars within Miles’ collection in quiet and unhurried surroundings. For those who are not able to visit Miles in person, every effort is made to describe the classical guitar along with being offered sound files and photos plus a detailed description of the classical guitars current condition. Classical guitars are routinely sent abroad using FedEx - International Priority service and Kent Guitar Classics are very experienced in the packing of guitars, which ensures damage is very rare. Insurance is always taken out to the full replacement value insurance for each specific classical guitar, working with an independent carrier company.

Miles is passionate about hunting down the much appreciated and rare makes of classical guitar, scanning private sales and auctions looking for the finest guitars from makers who had since died or emigrated. Now stocking guitars that span the ages, Miles has amassed one of the finest collections of classical guitars in the world. If you are passionate about the classical guitar then why not view the new website?

Classic Guitar Pedals: The Fuzz Face

2009-09-06T05:30:00.017-07:00

The Fuzz Face is a classic guitar pedal, originally produced in England by Arbiter in the mid-1960s. The company was later sold and became known as Dallas-Arbiter, and they continued to produce the pedal under that name.

The original (Arbiter England) Fuzz Face pedals first began being imported into America in 1966. A strong argument could be made that it's introduction contributed greatly to the burgeoning hippie movement, and the psychedelic rock scene that first took shape in the late 60s.

So what made the original Fuzz Face so special? One of the most unique aspects of the pedal is its smooth, transistor-based fuzz sound. It produced this rich, smooth tone with the use of the (now rare) PNP germanium AC 128 transistors.

Later editions of the pedal began using more modern components, and replaced the original germanium transistors. Unfortunately, modernizing the components of the pedal also took away much of the warmth and color of its original sound. For this reason, original Arbiter England models are now considered rare finds. A unit in good condition can sell at auction for more than $1000. Pretty expensive guitar pedal, huh?

Fortunately, you can also find good deals on these vintage guitar pedals if you shop around at online auctions, or local pawn shops. Many times an individual will have an old Fuzz Face pedal lying around and decide to sell it without knowing how rare and prized this classic stomp box actually is.

In these situations you might be able to buy one in great shape for as little as $100 or less. Of course, you have to do some shopping around to find bargains like this, but it is possible.

Tone-wise, the original Arbiter Fuzz Face is an amazing guitar effect. Legendary guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townsend have immortalized the this pedal on recordings from the 1960s and 70s. Many modern rock players also go ga-ga for its "creamy" transistor produced sustain. In fact, the Fuzz Face is probably more popular today than ever.

Unfortunately, there is a great deal of confusion about what an original Fuzz Face pedal actually is. Various companies produce stomp boxes that use the name "fuzz face," but are in fact very different pedals, using completely different components.

For example, Jim Dunlop produces a "Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face" pedal that is quite popular, but is NOT the original. Like the Dunlop model, many manufacturers produce a reissue or "reconstruction" of the classic Arbiter English version. And although some of these "remakes" are very good, and have established solid reputations in their own right, none are as revered as the original English version.

Even the Dallas-Arbiter version is slightly different from the original English model, and lacks a certain "bite" that is difficult to describe. Mind you, they still sound pretty great -- just not quite as great as the original.

Trying to get your hands on original English Fuzz Face is not always easy, but with a little bit of persistence you can usually find one at a decent price by searching around. If the price tag of an original English model is a bit out of your league, consider one of the many high quality reissues such as the Cornell AC 128. Next to an authentic English-manufactured Fuzz Face, it's one of the sweetest sounding fuzz boxes you're likely to hear.

Profiles in Classical Guitar: Fernando Sor

2009-09-06T05:30:00.015-07:00

Fernando Sor was a classical guitarist and composer who was born in Spain and he lived from 1778 to 1839. He was a contemporary of Beethoven and is often referred to as the "Beethoven of the Guitar". He wrote many different works for the guitar including his famous Sor Method for the Guitar and his 20 Studies for the Classical Guitar. Both of these works are still in use today.

His Life

Sor grew up in tumultuous time is Spain. It was during the time that Napoleon and the French were attempting to take over Spain and Sor spent time in military service. For a period of time the French successfully occupied Spain but eventually they were ousted. After the war was over and France had been successfully ejected from Spain Sor moved to Paris (around the age of 35) and he never returned to his homeland. He also spent time living in Russia and in London but he eventually returned to Paris where he would live out the remainder of his years. It was during this time in Paris that he achieved a significant amount of fame as a composer, a teacher, and a performer, and he spent many years touring the great cities of Europe.

As a Performer

In Spain during his younger years and early adulthood he achieved an amount of fame that began with a performance of his opera "Telemachus on the Calypso's Isle" and this lead to a short lived sponsorship by the Duchess of Alba. While living in Europe he reached the height of his fame as both a composer and performer and he performed concerts all over Europe including Paris, Russia, and London.

As a Composer

As a composer of music he had a remarkable wide variety of pieces that ranged from instructional in nature to songs, duets, vocal music for voice and guitar, and even an opera. His style of music ranged from sheer classical to very Spanish in sound.

Some of his more famous work

Much of his work is no longer played and some of it is lost but he does have some pieces that have withstood the test of time and are still regularly performed to this day. Or course there is his method for guitar and his twenty studies; and while these are instructional works they are also comprised of many pieces and arrangements that stand alone on their own right as legitimate performance pieces. A couple of his more famous individual pieces include his Opus 35 number 22 in B minor which is often called "The Moonlight Etude" and his Opus 9 variations on a theme by Mozart (The Magic Flute). Both these pieces are remarkably beautiful and perennial favorites of modern guitarists.

Recordings and More

Many contemporary classical guitarists have incorporated Sor's compositions into their repertoire and you can readily find works. There are many CD's by current performers that are devoted solely to the work of Sor. There is also a book about him (Fernando Sor: Composer and Guitarist). It is written by Brian Jeffery and it is a comprehensive and detailed account of Sor's life. The first edition was published in 1977 and a second edition published in 1994.

Fernando Sor was a remarkable multi-talented man who was a gifted performer, a teacher, and a composer who wrote across many forms and genres of music. His music still lives on today, and through his methods for guitar he is still teaching students over 150 years later.

Classical Guitar on Fire

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The Classical Guitar has the reputation of being a soft, sweet, and gentle instrument. While it deserves this reputation because it is all these things, it is also an instrument capable of tremendous fire and passion. Here is a selection of some fiery and passionate classical guitar pieces that will add power and raw emotion to your repertoire.

None of these pieces are particularly rare. Transcripts and videos of all these pieces can be readily found by doing a web search.

Spanish Guitar pieces

Villa-Lobos Prelude #1 - This piece has a great melody, is very Spanish, and has some wonderful chord phrasings that just can't be found anywhere except in the deepest Spanish guitar pieces. It moves at a great pace, is sometimes slow and easy that burst into some great chord phrasings at a good speed. This piece will transport your audience to Spain.

Leyenda (Asturias) This is a very popular and very powerful Spanish Guitar piece. It is also one of my personal favorites. Although it takes time to learn this piece it is well worth the effort. There are some wonderful bass runs and alternate picking patterns with this piece. It revolves around a wonderful central theme.

Zapateado – This is just another awesome Spanish piece that has some great bass lines and some terrific melodic phrasings.

Traditional Classical Pieces

Bolero by Ravel – This piece is the ultimate performance piece when it comes to passion. It isn't a fast piece it is all about the passion. Since the movie 10 with with Bo Derek this piece has come to symbolize passion.

Fuoco by R. Dyens Just a great short piece about a minute. It is not a well-known piece but well worth the effort of learning. It burns bright and fast.

Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Everybody knows how this piece goes and it is not associated with the Classical guitar but is perfectly suited for the instrument. This piece doesn't exhibit passion but it does exhibit fire simply by the sheer speed that it is played at.

The Classical Guitar has been called "The Little Symphony" for a reason. It is an instrument of incredible range and reach. And while it is often most associated with pretty melodies it is capable of some very fiery and passionate expressions. As you are building your classical guitar repertoire make sure you select pieces from this whole spectrum of capabilities.

How to Care for a Classical Guitar

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Todays classical guitars are reasonably durable and easy to care for but they are musical instruments that are carefully assembled from exotic woods; and there are some basic rules of care you should follow to insure your guitar gives you many decades of outstanding sound and performance. Here are some simple guidelines.

Classical Guitars are made predominantly from wood of varying types, and wood, being a living breathing thing, can be very strongly affected by changes in both temperature and humidity. This is because different types of wood will expand and contract at different rates with temperature or humidity changes. This expansion and contraction can adversely affect the performance of your instrument or even make it unplayable.

To avoid any problems from temperature or humidity you should always store your classical guitar in your home in a moderate temperature. Never store it in the attic, basement, or some other place that is not climate controlled. This is usually not a concern if you are playing the guitar on a regular basis but if you plan on putting it away for long periods of time find a place in your home to store it.

When transporting your guitar be aware of changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it with you inside the car, don't transport it in the trunk, particularly if the weather outside is unusually cold or unusually warm. And when it has arrived at a new destination open the case and allow it to adjust to the new environment for at least an hour before tuning and playing it. I also recommend that you don't use a soft-shelled case when transporting it. You should keep it in a hard-shelled case. This will help prevent damage.

One of the biggest concerns you should have is the risk of accidental breakage of the neck or tuning head of your guitar. One fall, even from ground level can break it literally in half and to avoid this you should always be aware of how you keep your instrument around the house. I recommend you never lean it against a wall. You should always keep it in some kind of a stand when not being used. And if you have a lot of foot traffic, or small children in your home, you should probably put it on a wall mount stand which will keep it up and out of the way. If you are going to store it on a floor stand be sure to keep it in a corner of a room, and away from doorways and foot traffic. One fall off a stand can break the neck of the guitar and render it useless.

Oils and dirt from your hands and fingers can have an adverse affect on the strings and wood of the guitar and I recommend you change the strings every three months as a minimum and every month if you play it on a daily basis. And when you have removed the old strings you should take a little time to inspect the instrument, fretboard, and tuning pegs for any signs of problems. And before re-stringing it be sure to wipe it down gently with a soft, lint free cloth. And never use any type of furniture polish on your guitar. Only use cleaning solutions specifically designed guitars. You can get them at any instrument shop for only a few dollars.

Caring for a classical guitar is not a hard thing to do but there are a few common sense guidelines to remember and if you follow these guidelines you can expect your instrument to continue giving you its best sound for a lifetime.

Beatles For Classical Guitar

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One of the big events in fingerstyle guitar playing many years ago was the publication of a music book called "Beatles For Classical Guitar". This was the world's first attempt to mix the simplicity of the Beatles' tunes with the complexity of classical guitar technique.

One of the first things that fingerpicking guitar players who were not trained in classical guitar playing noticed was that the fingerings to some of the tunes were much more difficult to execute than they had been used to. But no pain, no gain. The trickier arrangements indicated how much more musical richness had been found in these more complicated arrangements of familiar songs.

Some guitar players thought that a book of classical guitar arrangements of the work of The Beatles was just a gimmick. They expected that a minimal amount of work went into these arrangements just to produce popular music for the "egghead market". In fact the songs are all substantial arrangements that many classical guitarists find extremely satisfying to play.

People who loved the Beatles' music found that the songs had not been rendered unrecognizable in the process of arranging them for fingerpicking. The songs were arranged for guitar players who could read standard musical notation and they were not the kind of arrangements that could be played right through on sight the first time you saw them. The pieces asked you to pay some attention and make some effort. Once you get the feel of the way the songs have been interpreted you can let your familiarity with the songs guide you as you play.

Some guitar players are going to feel cheated by the fact that there are not tabs but the pieces are a bit too complicated to be translated into tab effectively. Guitarists who are used to playing using sheet music will be gratified that the music is not made more complicated by the addition of a tab line.

Here is the list of songs:

Across The Universe
Ask Me Why
Come Together
Cry Baby Cry
Day Tripper
For No One
From Me To You
Hello, Goodbye
Here Comes The Sun
I Don't Want To Spoil The Party
I Will
I'll Follow The Sun
I'm A Loser
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
I'm Only Sleeping
I'm So Tired
In My Life
The Long And Winding Road
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
No Reply
Nowhere Man
P.S. I Love You
Penny Lane
Something
Things We Said Today
This Boy (Ringo's Theme)
Two Of Us
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Yesterday
You're Going To Lose That Girl

You might be surprised by the inclusion of some of the tunes in a collection of guitar solos. So go ahead and try them out.

Learning To Play Classic Guitar Music

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Classical guitar music appeared on the scene in the 16th Century and since then has evoked great interest in the music loving public. Classical guitar music is one of those few styles of expression through music which arouses sentimental reactions from the listener. It is that type of music which provokes one to learn and play guitar music on watching a maestro perform.

Learning about classical music and how to play it is fairly simple these days. There are quite a large number of dedicated websites just for this purpose. Some of these websites offer guidelines on how to play classical music along with comprehensive courses of how to play like a professional quickly. Depending upon the site there are find offers available for courses on payment as well as for free, though these are limited. Reading classical music is pretty tough and understanding it is even more tough. Such courses are quite exhaustive at times and even provide notations and marks to teach you how to read music and how to play such notes on your classical guitar.

Fingernails are an integral part of playing classical guitar and it is important to learn how to and how much of fingernail you need to grow on your strumming hand as well as how to care and groom them in the proper manner.

Lots of music is available for free. Thanks to the copyright rules under which music becomes public property certain number of years after the death of the original composer. As classical music has been popular for many many years generations of sheet music is available for free in great abundance on internet. Although some companies try to charge for intricate music compositions, perseverance while searching does bring about positive results eventually for free sheet music, MP3 and midi files of your most favourite compositions.

Like any other musical instrument, learning classical guitar music too requires persistent determination and a lot of good practice. Acquiring skill or knowledge in classical guitar music is a good choice for someone looking for a new hobby or profession. A great deal of material is available for free online to help you to get started and with a bit of luck and determination, except for investing in a good guitar you may not have to spend anything much at all to achieve your goal.

Learning Classical Guitar the Right Way

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Beginners can sometimes feel overwhelmed when they start learning classical guitar. The technique, sight reading, interpretation and the whole complexity of the experience can make one feel a bit anxious about what proper steps should be taken to gain visible results. It doesn't help that classical music as a whole conjures up images of snobbish people that aren't very interested in letting someone in their private circles.

Well, it's not like that at all. Learning classical guitar can be fun and rewarding if you keep in mind the things we will be discussing in this article. and no, it's not mandatory to wear your tuxedo, pull out a monocle and start speaking in a "highbrow" tone.

Jumping straight into complicated material is one of the biggest mistakes that beginners make and it leads only to frustration. Imagine for a second that you are trying to work on your car's engine with the blueprint in front of you. Now, if you have never taken an auto mechanic course and don't know much about how engines work you won't get very far. You might be able to figure out where certain parts are by looking at the blueprint but you'll have no idea what exactly they do and how you should fix them.

If your car engine would be your guitar playing, then your blueprints would be the sheet music. But there is another component that must be brought into the mix for things to work. Either take classical guitar lessons or teach yourself using a classical guitar method such as the one by Mateo Carcassi or Sagreras.

These books have been written in such a way as to gradually give you tangible results. Because they are method books, they teach the student in a progressive and correct way, and as a result you may find yourself tackling your favorite piece easily and with great results. They use exercises as well as "studies" (musical pieces devoted to teaching you a certain technique) to build your technical as well as interpretative skills. Besides teaching technique, methods also facilitate intimate knowledge of your instrument, which is just a fancy way of saying that you will know your guitar inside and out. But can you really teach yourself classical guitar? Yes, you can. Two of the greatest classical guitar players ever, Tarrega and Segovia, where self taught.

In the beginning it is a good idea to spend at least half of your practice time doing exercises. This will help you become more limber on the guitar and you will also see great progress in the pieces you're working on.

After you get a classical guitar method and you start working it, the next step is getting some material so you can build your repertoire. Pick carefully so that you balance your own personal taste with the level of the piece. In other words, the piece you choose should be one that you like and at the level that you can handle technically.

You may go to a gym wanting to be Arnold Schwarzenegger, however trying to weight lift 250 pounds when you can barely get 70 pounds off the ground isn't the way to do it. If you do attempt it, instead of bigger muscles you will probably end up in the hospital. It's the same thing that's happening when you attempt to play pieces that are way above your current level. Having said that, it should be noted that it's good to get pieces that challenge you a little bit. This makes you grow. You will have to use your good judgment as to what constitutes challenging. Just like getting a hernia isn't a muscle building technique, playing way above your level will only lead to failure and frustration.

Because of the nature of baroque music and of his compositions, Bach's works are extremely conducive towards gaining great balance and technique on the instrument. Therefore, any student would benefit immensely by learning from the master's material. Bach's pieces are also great for developing great tone and they are fun to play. For example: Prelude BWV999 (originally for lute), while incredibly beautiful in its sound is also great for working with the fretboard hand because it is based on a series of chord progressions combined with a loosely melodic bass line.

If you don't own a metronome, GET ONE! Learn to play slow and in time with it. This way you will form all the right reflexes and once you move the material up to speed the difference will be clear. Arguably, mastering rhythm with a metronome is an essential quality that will separate the amateur from the pro. To the people that may scoff at this and not understand the true importance of working with a metronome, think of it this way: imagine something as simple as a person walking across a hallway. If I ask you to describe them you would probably tell me what they looked like, what they had on and so forth. Now imagine another person walking across the hallway, but this guy is very shaky on his feet, he sometimes double steps, stumbles and flails his hands about trying to keep balance while walking. If I asked you to describe this guy, you'd probably tell me that he had a crazy walk, and he couldn't walk straight etc.. That would be the impression that would stick with you. Same with your rhythm skills. If you don't master them, people won't be able to remember or appreciate your playing because their attention will constantly be distracted by the tempo stumbling and bumbling about.

If you follow the steps noted above you will see great improvement in your overall classical guitar playing. Not only will this affect your playing but also your enjoyment of the instrument. As you follow this route you will see results and feel satisfaction. Like a veil being lifted, you will be able to see the path you must follow and pretty soon you will be tackling with great ease and elegance the piece that seemed so hard a while back. As always, if you need some advice as to the material you should be pursuing, or what book you should get, feel free to drop me a line.

Classical Guitar

2009-09-06T05:30:00.003-07:00

Although the precise origins of the classical guitar are open to debate, there is plenty of evidence of the existence of similar instruments dating back as early as 5000 years ago. The idea of a hollow body with tensed strings anchored between two points is seen in many instruments, including the violin family, sitar, piano and harp; they all use the string's vibrations to resonate the body and produce sounds. However, because the guitar is fretted, it allows pitch-perfect chords to be played over six strings, which differentiates it from the unfretted (and often bowed) violin family. The guitar as we know it today started to take shape during the Renaissance and Baroque period, when it was used mainly as an accompaniment. Cousins of the guitar are the mandolin, balalaika, banjo and lute. There are enough similarities between these instruments to relate them all, but to give a guitar a unique definition, it would be a six-string, fretted instrument tuned between low E (a thirteenth below Middle C) and the E two octaves above. Of course - these are merely the open-string tunings. Notes approaching two octaves above this are achievable through fretting. This tuning allows the guitar's whole range to be represented on the treble clef, albeit with three ledger lines for the lowest notes.

Playing the classical guitar

The classical guitar is played in the seated position, the curvy shape of the body helping to keep it steady by resting on the thigh. Right-handed players fret with their left hand and pluck with their right, and the highest toned strings are nearest to the ground. If a purely rhythmic sound is required, the guitar can be played using a plectrum strummed across all or some of the strings; the plectrum can also be used to pick out monophonic melodies. More expert players will use their fingers, however. This allows very complex tunes to be played, with bass notes and melodies plating simultaneous. In the hands of a true virtuoso, it can sound to the untrained ear like several musicians are playing at once. Chords can still be played with the fingers, either by simultaneously plucking multiple strings with various fingers or stroking the strings and taking advantage of the instrument's sustain. Playing with the fingernails gives a sharp, almost rasping sound, whereas playing with the soft front of the finger gives a softer tone.

Composers of classical guitar music

The rich history of the guitar and its forebears means that many composers have written music that can be played on a modern guitar with some degree of success. J.S. Bach is perhaps the most well known, and his many pieces written for the lute and even the cello and violin have found their way onto the classical guitarist's repertoire. Bach was predated by Dowland and Narvaez, and his contemporary Scarlatti wrote some enduring music that works well on the guitar. In more modern times, Villa-Lobos, Rodrigo and Segovia have written music specifically to be played on the guitar, and Stanley Myers' classical guitar theme tune to The Deer Hunter proved to be hugely popular.

Profiles in Classical Guitar: Julian Bream

2009-09-06T05:30:00.001-07:00

Julian Bream is one of the most famous classical guitarists of the twentieth century and he has achieved worldwide fame not only for the guitar but also for his work with the Renaissance Lute. He is considered to be one of the most important ambassadors of the classical guitar and has formed a solid bridge between the music of the past with the technology of today. He helped usher the classical guitar into the modern age.

He was born in 1933 and took up the classical guitar on his eleventh birthday when he received one as a present. He was already an accomplished musician having studied piano and cello but with the classical guitar and lute he excelled.

Significant Contributions

In 1960 he formed a group called the Julian Bream Consort. It was an Elizabethan period ensemble for which Bream played the lute. This Consort brought about a revival in interest of the Elizabethan era which is considered to be a period of time that was the absolute pinnacle of the English Renaissance. His work with this group earned him a Grammy award for best chamber music performance. This award would be the first of many awards which include three more Grammy awards.

One of the most important contributions he made to the world of the classical guitar was his development of a complete repertoire for performance. His transcriptions of works for guitar and lute span five centuries and he has particularly focused on lute works from the Elizabethan era and Spanish guitar works from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He has also had many composers create works specifically for him.

Ambassador to the media of the Twentieth Century

Bream has embraced television and radio and used these media to bring classical guitar and lute to a mass audience. His 2003 DVD video profile Julian Bream: My Life in Music, which is a three hour long piece, includes interviews and performances and is considered to be one of the finest contributions ever made to the world of Classical Guitar. He has also created a British television series entitled Guitarra! It charts a musical journey across Spain.

Learn More about Him

If you are looking to read more about him there is a newly published book called The Art of Julian Bream. If you are looking to experience some of his music you might want to start with his collaborative work with John Williams. They are a two volume set entitled Together and Together Again. If you want a more encompassing view of his music as it spans the decades he has a two volume CD set called The Ultimate Guitar Collection. The first CD is a compilation of many of his transcriptions and the second CD focuses on his works for Spanish guitar.

Julian Bream is one of the greatest classical of the modern day. His tireless performance and work with the guitar has spanned many decades of personal performance and many centuries of music. He has bridged the gap between the past and the future by giving us an enormous repertoire of music in just about every modern mode of media from CD to television and film. And it is his particular gift for transcription and interpretation that has enabled him to bring five centuries of plucked instrument music into the modern world.

See also more learning to classical guitar playing here.

Guitar Lesson: Learn To Play Classical Guitar Without Nails

2009-09-03T00:33:00.019-07:00

Is it possible to play classical guitar without nails? I guess so as I often do it myself. Many guitarists today and in the past have also done the same. Let me tell you the advantages of no nails playing and give you some tips!

Sharon Isbin in her Classical Guitar Answer Book wrote…

"Classical guitarists can play without nails, but they should be aware that in doing so they are sacrificing certain possibilities of tone color and projection – all of which affect interpretation and musical presentation."

I have played classical guitar and also improvisational jazz and blues guitar for many years and have been teaching others professionally. I have played with long nails, shorter nails and no nails at all.

I have seen guitar students struggling with their tone on the guitar. Guitarists with problem nails, guitarists not taking care of their nails and subsequently with a terrible tone and some guitarists with perfect nails and still not a good tone because of faltering technique.

I have also met guitarists that were playing without nails and I have seen electric guitarists finger playing without nails like Mark Knopfler and others.

As with nearly everything there are pros and cons with the different approaches. I like playing without nails for these reasons:

1. It's a challenge to find the tone and get the most out of the guitar playing without nails. You have to play with more force to find the upper harmonics and you have to work even more with the guitar technique. No sloppiness is allowed!

2. I like the sweet sound of my fingers touching the strings. The sound created is mellow but the volume will still be satisfying if you play with force and with calousses developed by practising.

3. There is a special feeling involved in letting living flesh touch the strings on a guitar. You will come nearer the instrument somehow.

4. Of course you'll have the advantage of not risking to have your nails broken as you don't depend on them anymore.

5. You will be able to play piano with correct finger posture.

6. You can play electric guitar with your fingers without risking to destroy your nails.

I will now give you some of my own advice and experiences from playing without nails.

You might find some more information on the net as there are many other classical guitarists and lute players who want to play without nails. Here are my personal hints:

1. It will take a week or so to build callouses on your fingertips after having filed down your nails. This will improve your guitar playing and tone but until then you have to be careful not to play so intensely as to get blisters.

2. A way to build callouses is to play finger picking on electric guitar or steel string guitar. I have experienced that my blues guitar playing is much more musical and more dynamic as I play with my fingers instead of with a pick on my electric guitar. Sometimes I use to alternate between my thumb and index finger when playing scales and licks and other times my index finger and middle finger or in another classical guitar playing way.

3. You will get a softer and in many ways a more beautiful tone if you cultivate your playing without nails. However you might miss some of the higher frequencies. To compensate for this you can see to it that you
always play with fresh new strings and if you are a rich man you might purchase a classical guitar with more treble and less bass.

4. When you use your nail sharpener (you should instead of just clipping the nails off!) to keep your nails short you might as well give your fingertips some grooming with the nail sharpener. This will improve your
tone and stimulate your finger tips to become harder.

5. As you practice exercises on your guitar you need to play slowly and with a little more force to get a good tone. It is important that you don't build tensions as you play. All musicians benefit from learning
relaxation techniques and stretching to prevent injuries.

6. Practice especially playing apoyando (support strokes) with all your fingers and listen to the tone and try to improve it as part of your playing.

If you feel that playing completely without nails is to hard for you, you might after this test period let them grow but you can keep them a lot shorter as your technique has improved. They will then work as the claws of a cat. Mostly not used but still affecting your tone and supporting your playing. As with long nails you will have to polish them and take care of them.

There are many more things to say about playing guitar without nails but personally this technique gives me a tone I like and an exciting and rewarding challenge.

A Guide to Classical Guitar Instruction Books

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There are lots of instructional books that show you how to play classical guitar. So which one should you use? That depends on your goals with the guitar and your style of learning. Here is a guide to some of the more popular instructional books.

If you are looking for a traditional instructional book you should consider the Carcassi Method. It has been the standard guidebook for generations of classical guitarists. If you want to go the traditional route this is a solid choice. It was written over a hundred years ago and although a bit dated it is still a fine choice. There is a second part to this method called twenty-five progressive studies that are extraordinary in that they give you a solid repertoire of professional pieces to learn.

For a more contemporary guide to playing you should consider the Christopher Parking Guitar Method. It is a modern method for learning classical guitar and it comes in two books. The first book focuses on learning how to play and the second book teaches you all about refining and improving your technique while developing your repertoire. This is an excellent set of books on classical guitar and Christopher Parkening is a world class guitarist who was a pupil of Andres Segovia.

If you are looking for an easy to understand and more relaxed way to learn classical guitar consider Mel Bay's Complete Method for Classic Guitar. Mel Bay has been publishing easy to follow, and easy to understand guitar books for decades now. And this book follows this formula. It is clearly written and easy to understand. It assumes you know nothing about music or guitar and this book is very well suited for younger players.

If you want the benefits of being able to watch someone play and hear what the guitar sounds like you should consider the Basic Classical Guitar Method books 1 and 2 by Scott Tennant. The first book has a dvd so you can see how the guitar is played and the second book has a CD so you can hear what the exercises and pieces sound like.

As your skill with the classical guitar develops you are going to want to expand beyond the traditional instructional book and choose books in two different areas. They are technique books that improve your technique and repertoire books that give you pieces you can perform. One of the best technique books you can get is Pumping Nylon by Scott Tennant. This book is a practical approach to really improving your playing technique.
If you are looking for an inexpensive collection of music to play I highly recommend The Library of Guitar Classics by Jerry Willard. This enormous book covers classical guitar across centuries, genres, composers and difficulty levels. It has a great variety of works that will keep you learning new pieces for many years. I own this book and refer to it all the time.

If you are interested in getting a better look at the whole subject of music theory I recommend you take a look at a book called: Scales, Intervals, Keys, and Triads. This book is an in depth look at music theory and music composition. It is independent of any instrument and is just a self-taught course on the theory of music.

There are lots of great books that will teach you how to play classical guitar and you can almost not go wrong choosing a book that works with your goals will make the process move much faster and easier.

Classical Guitar Playing - What Exactly Is It?

2009-09-03T00:33:00.015-07:00

Classical guitar playing is what is participated in when using a classical guitar. This kind of guitar has no electronics and no pick-ups. In general it has six strings although there are some classical guitars which have twelve strings. The thinner strings known as the trebles are made from nylon and the bass strings are nylon with brass wire wrapped around them.

As far as construction is concerned the classical guitar is hollow and shaped like a pear. Its is made from wood, usually two or three different types, the cheap and nasty varieties being built with a plywood top, whilst those worth buying are made from woods such as rosewood.

The resonance produced by the classical guitar does not rely on an amplifier or any other sound effects. It comes direct from the hollow part of the instrument through the sound hole as the strings resound over it.

Most players of classical guitars remain seated whilst playing. The other main difference which sets this type of guitar apart from others is the kind of playing involved. Classical guitar playing can be characterized by the style of music played which is usually considered to be of value due to the length of time it has been around, compared to the many pop tunes which come and go in the blink of an eye.

The strings are usually plucked using the thumb and fingers of the right hand when learning to play this kind of instrument. This means you will have no use for a pick. Strumming of the classical guitar is only used as a special effect.

When learning to play a classical guitar you will probably practice sight reading sheet music along with discovering technical concepts and how they should be applied. Rather than trying to learn on your own, it's best to have a classical guitar teacher and although it may take you quite some time to become skillful, you are sure to enjoy the learning process. It is important that you choose a teacher whose style suits your personality as many of them teach in different ways, some formal and some informal. Whatever style you choose to learn to play the classical guitar, you are certain to find this a worthwhile pastime until you have developed your talents to the full.

Classical guitar playing - what exactly is it?

Well one thing is for sure. It's not about jumping around on a stage screaming out to your audience whilst thrashing away at your guitar. That's electric guitar playing and brilliantly talented as it is, it's a whole different story.

Online Classical Guitar Lessons

2009-09-03T00:33:00.013-07:00

The first few lessons in your classical guitar course will probably center around your posture and how you hold the guitar. You will be shown how to move your fingers, thumb and forearms economically. You're probably familiar with the distinctive upright posture of the classical guitar player with his foot on the stool. You will learn to play the guitar with the instrument balanced on your left thigh and held against your chest.

After learning the rudiments of music you will probably begin to play simple pieces. These short, simple pieces of music are designed to get you accustomed to playing the instrument. As your technique progresses the pieces you learn will be more complex and you will begin to appreciate the harmonic possibilities of the classical guitar.

As well as playing music on the classical guitar you will be told how to string it and how to tune it. As your classical guitar technique progresses you will be faced with the question of whether to be a nail player or a flesh player. Some classical guitarists grow the nails on their right hand to pluck the strings. Others use the flesh of their right hand fingertips. There is no right way to do it, it's just your choice between two distinctive sounds. At first you might think it's easier to play using the nails but, as with all physical skills, once you have chosen one way to play, after practice it will be second nature.

Even though practically any piece that you could name is available in guitar tab format, if you take classical guitar lessons it will be understood that you will be learning to read conventional music notation. No classical guitar teacher is going to let you off that. You will learn about time signatures, half notes, whole notes, scales and accidental notes. If you don't know what I'm talking about your head is probably swimming already, but don't worry, it's easier to do than it is to think about.

With online classical guitar lessons the process is simple - you log in, if you view the lessons and if you have any questions you can get help on the site's forum or by e-mail. There are other ways of learning to play the classical guitar but if you join a membership site that features online lessons you have the advantage of the teaching material being constantly updated.

Guitar lesson: How To Improvise The Classical Guitar Way

2009-09-03T00:33:00.011-07:00

When I was a fifteen years old guitarist playing rock solos and classical guitar pieces I remember that I had a desire to be able to improvise on my guitar in a classical manner.

Nowadays I have developed this skill and I love to improvise in the style of composers like Sor, Tarrega, Paganini or others or just trying to find myself somewhere among the notes. These special moments are a form of meditation. They clear my mind and also helps me as a composer to stimulate my creative abilities.

The most important reason for learning classical guitar improvisation is that it's fun!

If you learn classical guitar improvisation it will benefit you in many other ways too:

1. It will be easier for you to memorize classical guitar sheet music.

2. You will find it easier to compose your own guitar pieces in a classical guitar style.

3. You can make up your own techniqal exercises on your guitar on the go.

4. You will understand your guitar better.

There are many ways to develop classical guitar improvisation. How?

You can start with major scales, experimenting with easy chords, or easy classical guitar pieces. The most basic requisite is that you want to learn this art and with this desire you will find ways to practice classical guitar improvisation in all your guitar playing.

I will just mention using classical guitar pieces in this article. But how do you begin?

May I suggest that you begin with an easy melody with just one voice or maybe a two voice piece with bass notes on open strings. Learn a couple of bars by heart and play the melody over and over again and try to change the melody slightly without losing the classical touch.

The ultimate exercise is to use advanced classical guitar solos.

If you think about it you will realize that classical guitar pieces are filled with wonderful licks, more or less complicated.

These licks can be developed and added upon to give you material that will help you developing your improvisational skills.

For example, take a two bar passage in a classical guitar piece that you like and practice it until you master it and then memorize it.

Now you can play around with the passage, break it down, change it, analyze it and so on. If you want to improve as an improvisational guitarist and musician you can regard classical guitar pieces as collections of very musical licks just waiting to be used.

I hope these hints will motivate you to reap the benefits from improvising the classical guitar way.

Classical Guitar Reviews

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Once you get beyond the beginner stage in classical guitar, you are immediately looking at serious musical instrument quality. If you do not have a huge guitar-buying budget, you will need to be quite choosy and able to bear in mind the qualities you feel that your present guitar lacks. Your next classical guitar is, to a large degree, your musical voice, so do not let a tight budget make you buy a second grade instrument.

Let us start with Alvarez guitars, makers of a wide range of guitars. Alvarez guitars have been recognized as one of the leading acoustic guitar brands in the world. Alvarez guitars have been made in America since 1965 and are handmade in limited quantities making use of traditional construction techniques and naturally seasoned wood. Because the Alvarez craftsmen do not use computers to build their guitars, each guitar has its own unique feel and character.

Alvarez Regent Series RC10 Classical Guitar is towards the more affordable end of the Alvarez guitar range. but the Alvarez family craftsmanship still makes itself felt. A hand picked spruce top projects a warm tone topped off by mahogany sides and back. Rosewood fretboard and bridge and a real mosaic rosette make for a sumptuous look set off by gold machine heads. The novice guitar player will be pleased with the low action and optimal string spacing.

Alvarez Masterworks Series MC90 Classical Guitar is maybe the finest classical guitar in its price range. Its Indian rosewood back and sides, plus Western cedar top with precision scalloped bracing are features usually found only on much more pricey guitars. This instrument features a really elaborate mosaic rosette, rosewood body binding and headcap. The gold machine heads with tortoise buttons make it a guitar you will be proud to play and be seen playing for many years to come.

And now for the Jose Ramirez 4E Classical Guitar. The Ramirez name has been synonymous with fine guitars since 1882, and the 4E Classical Guitar is the top of the line. It is all made completely by hand and contains much of the look and feel of more expensive instruments. With hand-inlaid purfling, the marquetry and detailing are the most refined of all the Ramirez student guitars. Humidicase is included. The Jose Ramirez 4E Classical Guitar features a Cedar soundboard, solid rosewood back and sides, Spanish cedar neck strengthened by ebony topped off by an ebony fretboard and Fustero machine heads.

Finally, the Manuel Contreras II C-7 Classical Guitar. Manuel Contreras was born in 1928 and died 1994. He started out as a cabinet maker moved onto making guitars in Jose Ramirez' guitar shop in Madrid in 1959. He started his own luthier business in 1962. Manuel's son Pablo was born in 1957 and presently makes guitars himself aided by a smallish staff. Although the Contreras II C-7 guitar is at the low end of the Contreras line, you still get the benefits of the Contreras tradition of making top quality classical guitars. This guitar features a light, player-friendly action and a satisfying clarity and evenness of tone.The Manuel Contreras II C-7 Classical Guitar features a Solid cedar top with Indian rosewood back and sides plus Honduras cedar neck and ebony fingerboard.

Classical Guitar Lessons - Where Will They Take Me?

2009-09-03T00:33:00.007-07:00

The classical guitar is a gift to the guitarist who wants to sit down and play a "complete" piece of music - melody, bass and chordal accompaniment on one guitar. Alot like the kind of freedom that piano players have. If you are thinking of taking classical guitar lessons you have a tradition of composers and guitar players who have made full use of the incredible versatility of the guitar. Many classical composers played and composed for the guitar. Niccolo Paganini is a famous example even though his guitar compositions are a little on the ordinary side for modern music lovers. Much more substantial compositions were written by Antonio Vivaldi, Dionisio Aguado and Domenico Scarlatti.

So, apart from a hefty heritage left from the Baroque, Renaissance and Classical periods we have the ongoing work of twentieth and twenty-first century classical guitar players who are devoted to making the acoustic guitar an expressive instrument endowed with a natural beauty unaided by electronic wizardry. A classical guitarist aims at training his body to bring a range of forces to bear on the guitar so that he has a range of subtle techniques at his disposal to enable him and his guitar to say whatever they want.

All guitar players who take their instrument seriously have an ability to create and interpret music. This musical ability is a product of the time and effort put into practicing their guitar playing and experimenting with different ways of playing music. In a sense a rock or jazz guitar player is on an equal playing field with a classical guitarist as far as the ability to interpret or create music is concerned. The rock or jazz guitar player will even have an advantage over the classical player as far as improvisation goes. Classical guitar lessons will not help you to improvise.

The difference between a classical guitar player and a plectrum player is the groups of muscles used to play classical guitar music. Somebody like Eric Clapton works alone at copying blues artists and in a few years he is a professional guitarist and in about ten years he is one of the greatest electric guitarists of all time. A classical guitar student might just be finding his voice after ten years of playing. There is much more blood, sweat and tears involved in classical guitar lessons.

A classical guitarist needs to cultivate his fingernails. Or his fingertips. Whatever is on the ends of his fingers is where he makes physical contact with the guitar strings. There are ways of shaping them so they sound just right. There are secret potions for making them impervious to cracking. And there is a whole art to playing the classical guitar without the benefit of nails. The attack made by nails on guitar strings is similar to that of a plectrum. The flesh of the guitarist's fingertips gives a much softer tone. This is achieved over time and with much work. Callouses will eventually form on the fingertips which will lessen the discomfort felt by the guitar player and help him make contact with the strings.

There are books available for anybody who wants to teach themselves classical guitar but it is much better to learn from a seasoned classical guitarist. If you insist on learning from books, Frederick Noad's "Solo Guitar Playing" is probably the best of them.

Classical Guitar Lessons

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The basic body and style of the classical guitar is similar to that of a normal acoustic guitar but does have its difference. The classical guitar generally has a wider fret board and utilizes nylon strings than other guitars. A notable playing style difference between the classical guitar and its relatives is that it is played by picking the strings rather than strumming.

A classical guitar lesson will not only teach you how to play the instrument but also let you deeply involved in it. If you want to learn how to play the classical guitar well, weekly classical guitar instruction under the guidance of a good instructor is the way to go. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, good classical guitar teachers and daily practice are great assets. Quality classical guitar lessons will save you time and frustration. And it will keep you from acquiring bad playing habits that will eventually hold you back.

The initial (first) phase of classical guitar lessons will focus mainly on the fundamental sitting position, how to hold your guitar, left-to-right and right-to-left hand motions, and the motion of thumb. These are essential to learning how to play the guitar flawlessly. Once you start learning how to hold the guitar and use it, then I will be convenient for you to go ahead with the second stage which brings more excitement.

The second phase will be focusing more on beats, notes, and sound of the guitar. Beats basically refers to of the sound that comes out when two different notes are played together. Depending on how you play it, beats can vary in speed. The notes are of primary importance as you will learn to get used to playing each and every note individually, simultaneously and finally together. After acquiring understanding of the basic notes, the phase three will start. It includes free stroke and the rest stroke and will throw light on understanding artificial harmonics.

Phase four of classical guitar learning is quite important as you will start to understand the difference and similarity between the pitch, dynamics, rhythm, and timbre. Each of these has to be understood in detail and practiced in order to achieve perfection in playing the classical guitar. Last but not the least, you will learn to understand and play the various scales including common scales and their application.

Regular classical guitar lessons will help you stay focused and motivated. Advanced classical guitar players, including concert performers, can learn an incredible amount by studying with other musicians too. Accomplished musicians, other than guitarists, are a gold mine of musical knowledge and inspiration.

Learn To Play Classical Guitar

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Learning to play classical guitar is an art that should be taken seriously. Classical guitar has a long history and many traditions that need to be respected and upheld when you learn to play classical guitar.

Attitude

Attitude is an important factor when you learn to play classical guitar. When learning there are a few things you need to do before you start. You must be prepared to let go of all of your old habits, and be able to accept new habits and instruction easily. Many people fail at classical guitar because they cannot let go of old habits learned with modern guitar.

The art of classical guitar

Classical guitar is an art form that goes back many centuries. The traditions and history involved in classical guitar are wonderful and interesting. It is important when you first learn to play classical guitar that you take the time to research the history and beginnings of the classical guitar to give you a full understanding on the instrument.

Become one with your guitar

When you learn to play classical guitar you need to understand your guitar and make it an extension of your body. Movement should be smooth and fluid. Playing classical guitar should feel natural and spiritual, this will be displayed in your music and the way you appear when playing. Become one with your classical guitar and you will find everything else will come easily to you.

Relaxation

When you learn to play classical guitar relaxation is important. Learning to relax your body and move with the instrument will ensure you move through chords and notes easily. Sometimes it can be hard to let go of the stiff rigid stance we are used to when playing modern guitar, but once you let go and relax you will find your music will improve.

Teachings

Many teachings have been written for people who want to learn to play classical guitar. Finding the right method for you can be a long process. The best way to find the right teaching method for you is to research and try different teachings until you find the one that works best for you.

Basic principles

Understanding the basic principles when you first learn to play classical guitar is important to future success. Basic principles will provide you with a good foundation for success in the world of classical guitar

Classical guitar is a fun and rewarding instrument. When you first learn to play classical guitar it may seem as though you will never improve or become as good as the professionals. The thing to remember is the professional classical guitar players all started where you are. They were all once beginners too and they achieved success by practicing and mastering their craft.

Classical Guitar: How to Improve your Right Hand Playing

2009-09-03T00:33:00.001-07:00

Your left hand determines the note and your right hand determines just about everything else from tone, to timbre, volume, texture and all the subtleties of the sound that comes from your classical guitar. Yet it is often overlooked when it comes to practice. If you want to really improve your classical guitar playing you need to start focusing on right hand technique. Here are some tips and tricks on how to do it.

Practice the types of strokes
A lot of beginner guitarists don't realize that there are two different types of right hand strokes you can perform. The first stroke (and most common) is the free stroke where the finger doesn't contact anything after plucking the string. The second type of stroke is the rest stroke where the finger comes to rest on the next string down after plucking. Practice your scales and arpeggios using both types of strokes.

Walking across the strings
You can set up your own exercises that will dramatically improve your right hand play and I recommend you do walking exercises at the beginning of every practice session.
Walking exercises are simply exercises where you play across all six strings in varying finger patterns. You can do this without stopping any of the strings with your left hand (open) or you can do scales.

Heres how to do it: Simply pluck down then up the six strings alternating between your index and middle fingers. Easy enough right? You started out with your index finger plucking the bass E string right? Now change that up and start your plucking by using your middle finger on the bass E string! It feels quite a bit different doesn't it? Now do a three-finger pattern using index, middle and ring finger. And of course mix that pattern up by starting with a finger other than your index. This will probably feel a little awkward at first but keep at it. With a simple practice exercise like this your classical guitar playing will improve dramatically.

Free pdf written by a master
There is a series of studies called 120 right hand exercises for classical guitar. Matteo Carcassi wrote these studies and they are in the free public domain. The exercises vary in difficulty so are appropriate for beginners to advanced. You can slowly work your way through them over time. Using these studies is a great way to improve right hand play and also improve sight-reading skills.

A Recommended Book
If you are looking for more guidance on improving your play I recommend you get a book by Scott Tennant called "Pumping Nylon". I own it and have made it a part of my regular practice sessions. It has a lot of practical exercises for both the right and left hand. In 2006 a new version of this book aimed at beginners was published. There is also a nice DVD version available if you are a visual style learner.

Because the left hand is closer to your eyes, and because most people are right handed focusing on improvement of the right hand is often overlooked. But if you really want to take your classical guitar playing to the next level you should make a conscious effort to improve your right hand technique. Your speed of playing, clarity, and ability to express with the instrument will be greatly enhanced.