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Playing Classical Guitar is an amazing and rewarding experience. It takes years of play and many many hours of practice to gain competence with this instrument. But with a little persistence you can play some wonderful beginner pieces and gain a level of satisfaction that can only come from being a musician.
The classical guitar has often been referred to as "The little symphony". And for good reason; As an instrument it has an enormous range of expression from straight classical that spans centuries to Flamenco style play.
A Little About the Classical Guitar
The Classical guitar was always considered a lesser instrument suitable only for bar rooms and pubs. Andres Segovia changed all this. His life mission was to bring the classical guitar to the concert halls of the world and bring it to the same level of prestige that the piano had. He succeeded in this. Thie classical guitar is now a respected instrument of the concert hall.
This is all for good reason because the classical guitar, often referred to as the little symphony, brings a depth of passion and expression to classical music both as a solo instrument and as part of an ensemble.
It has a tremendous range of expression from straight classical music to flamenco style play.
My Classical Guitar Tutorial:
Learn Classical Guitar
This is all for good reason because the classical guitar, often referred to as the little symphony, brings a depth of passion and expression to classical music both as a solo instrument and as part of an ensemble.
It has a tremendous range of expression from straight classical music to flamenco style play.
My Classical Guitar Tutorial:
Learn Classical Guitar
Listen Right Now
Resources to Free Recordings
- Free MP3's of Music
- Some Easy pieces recorded in MP3 format for you to download and listen to. These pieces are taken right out of the Carcassi Method so if you are learning to play you can get the Carcassi Method and learn these pieces.
- Need to tune your guitar?
- Here is a tuning tool. All you have to do is roll over the string in the graphic and the note will play. You can tune your guitar to these notes. Makes it real easy.
Free Public Domain Classical Guitar Sheet Music
The Classical Guitar has a repertoire of written music that goes back well over 100 years. This means there is much available in the public domain.
- Klassikgitar.net
- Nice selection of pieces in pdf that span many periods from Baroque to present.
- Music Library of Sweden
- The Boije Collection - A very extensive collection of sheet music for the classical guitar.
- George C. Krick Collection
- From the Gaylord Music Library at the Washington University in Saint Louis. Big Collection.
Free Resources
Web resources on playing classical guitar
- Tutorial for absolute beginners
- This tutorial takes you through the steps in learning how to play. It assumes you know nothing about playing the classical guitar. It has advice on selecting an instrument, selecting an instructional book and the basics of body and hand position.
- The complete starter kit
- Not sure what to buy? Here is a list of the exact products you should get to launch your new classical guitar hobby. Recommended by a guitarist who has been playing for decades.
- A Free online metronome
- Not sure about the speed to play? Here is a free online metronome that you can set to any speed and play on your computer while you practice. Really neat!
- Web Resources
- Resources for buying classical guitars, sheet music and accessories.
- Listen to me play guitar inside my podcast
- Classical guitar lends itself to enormous creativity and satisfaction. I have a weekly podcast and I play the intro and bumper music on the guitar. Listen to it here.
- How to tune your guitar
- Complete step-by-step instructions that take you through each string. It includes a video that shows how to use a tuning fork. This also gives you the proper note to start at. You will need Apple Quicktime to view the video.
- Selection of Books
- A Hand Picked selection of books ranging from Instructional, Repertoire and the history of the guitar.
- Thinking about buying a classical guitar?
- But need convincing? It is a lot of money but the depth of expression the classical guitar will bring you through your whole life is worth any cost. Read this essay about classical guitar. It will convince you to buy one.
- Watch a free solo concert
- Watch this free solo concert of Ana Vidovic Playing classical guitar. Beauty on more than one level.
- Zen and the Art of the Classical Guitar
- A perspective on life and on the beauty of the classical guitar. - Article
- How to Play Classical Guitar like Andres Segovia
- Maybe you will never be as good as Segovia but you can learn a lot from the legacy he has left us.
- How to Make a Classical Guitar
- An article explaining how to make a classical guitar.
- Classical Guitar on fire with accompanying youtube videos
- Classical Guitar on Fire! A repertoire of classical guitar pieces that evoke fire and passion.
The Spanish Guitar
The Passionate brother of the Classical Guitar
the Spanish Guitar and the Classical Guitar are closely intertwined. But there are some big differences.
- A little about the Spanish Guitar
- Some books, information and DVD's about how to play the Spanish and Flamenco Guitarl.
- Andres Segovia - The Brilliance of the Classical Guitarist
- Andres Segovia - The Guitarist that changed the World of the Classical Guitar. Information and Resources, Discography.
What do you need to begin learning?
You need more than just a guitar
You need a few different items to get you started. This list is for the absolute beginner.
- A Classical guitar
- Classical Guitar Strings - These are different than typical folk guitar strings.
- An Instructional Book
- Something to tune your guitar with. Either a tuning fork or an electronic tuner
- A Music Stand to hold your sheet music and instructional book
- A guitar stand to hold your guitar. A guitar is a fine musical instrument - You should store it properly. Don't just stick it under the bed.
- A foot rest - optional
Buy Classical Guitar Items from Amazon
Amazon sells instruments?
They sure do. ANd they have an enormous range of items at fantastic prices. You could be playing tomorrow.
Yamaha C40 Full Size Nylon-String Classical Guitar
Famous Brand, High quality instrument at a fantastic price. You can't beat this deal.
Amazon Price: (as of 05/22/2008)
The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique
Great way to learn how to play. Parkening studied under Segovia
Amazon Price: $9.58 (as of 05/22/2008)
100 Graded Classical Guitar Studies (Classical Guitar)
This is a great instructional book for students who know how to play and want to increase their skill
Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 05/22/2008)
CLASSICAL GUITAR OF SPAIN (Concert Masterworks)
I am passionate about the Spanish guitar.
Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 05/22/2008)
