Question: What Tension Strings Should I Use on Classical Guitar? Answer Summary: Beginners should start with a warm nylon string in medium to medium-hard tension depending on the brand whereas advanced players will want a harder tension nylon or carbon string…
Juan Carlos Laguna performs Il Libro dei cinque anelli 五輪書 (Tribute to Miyamoto Musashi) by Marco De Biasi with Taro Kobayashi (Wa Daiko) and the Nomad Ensemble conducted by Norio Sato. This comes via De Biasi’s YouTube channel. An absolutely wonderful new…
Eliot Fisk performs his arrangement of Aldo by Luciano Berio (1925-2003). Aldo is Duet No.24 from his collection of 34 Duetti per due violini (1979-83), dedicated to the Italian violist Aldo Bennici and based on a real Sicilian folk song.…
My friend Roman here in Victoria, BC, Canada created a cool app for musicians: Say Metronome is a metronome and tuner app built around hands-free voice control. The idea is simple: keep the musician playing while the app handles all…
This is Classical Guitar presents guest artist Simon Farintosh performing his arrangements of Preludes by Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915). This is a YouTube collaboration so go subscribe to Farintosh’s YouTube channel now. Simon Farintosh is a classical guitarist from Victoria, BC, Canada. He…
Performance psychologist Dr. Noa Kageyama from the Bulletproof Musician examines a study where adding variation to a motor skill test improved results to as much as double in participants. I completely agree that when practicing, adding variations to the passage…
Lutenist Elizabeth Pallett has been performing works by John Dowland (1563-1626) every 2 weeks throughout 2026 to celebrate 400 years of his life and works. This is part of her playlist John Dowland 400th Anniversary Video Collection via Pallett’s YouTube (go subscribe). Below is the…
Norwegian classical guitarist Kristina Vårlid performs Balada para Martín Fierro by Argentine composer Ariel Ramírez (1921-2010). This comes via Siccas Guitars and their YouTube channel (go subscribe). Beautiful performance by Varlid with a very expressive touch, flowing phrases, and a resonant and plaintive pacing. Originally written as the soundtrack…
Question: How can I play cleanly without looking at the left hand (fretting hand) on classical guitar? Answer Summary: A combination of technique practice and muscle memory, string crossing and shift exercises, and some dedicated practice looking away eventually results in the…
Chorale: Ach Gott und Herr BWV 255 by by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) presented by the amazing Netherlands Bach Society and their YouTube from their project All of Bach. Beautiful performance and a lovely and natural theorbo accompaniment setting. Here’s their description: Bach incorporated chorales into…
Troy Serson and Bradford Werner look at six metal-oriented exercises and riffs that translate well to classical guitar technique. Exercises and riffs from John Petrucci – August Burns Red, Metallica, Steve Vai, Megadeth, Dream Theater, and Primus. Troy Serson is…
Argentinian classical guitarist Pablo Márquez performs the Ciaccona (Chaconne) from the Violin Partita No.2, BWV 1004 in D-Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). This comes via his YouTube channel (go subscribe). Spirited performance by Marquez on a historic Johann Anton…