No. 18 – Chromatic Scale in Octaves for Classical Guitar from my technique book 20 Favorite Exercises (with TAB) but you can also check out my more extensive Classical Guitar Technique (Notation only, 122 pages). YouTube Video Lesson Link (4k)
Practicing scales in chromatic octaves are a great finger independence exercise and train your fingers for textures such as counterpoint in Bach’s lute suites and many more situation. Octaves are also just a common musical interval used in all sorts of music from classical to jazz, or ensemble playing when you need a melodic line to sound strong and full. Do your best to not read this exercise but instead just think of the note names and the interval shapes so you work your musical mind. As with the previous exercise, play on your fingertips, close to the frets, with curved fingers that clear the string below. Play as legato as possible. These have a potential to stretch the muscles so be careful and take breaks. Other logical left-hand fingerings are acceptable, these ones are just a suggestion. You’ll get a good workout regardless.
Check out more free video lessons at the lesson archive.
Here’s a much older video from long ago!
