Theory Lesson No.5a: Grand Staff, Middle C, and Octave Indications. Middle C is important mainly because it serves as a common reference point in music, notation, and instrument orientation and visually connects the treble and bass clefs. The grand staff…
Petra Poláčková performs Sonata Romántica by Manuel Ponce (1882–1948) on a vintage 1926 Domingo Esteso guitar with video/audio by Drew Henderson. This comes via Guitars International and their YouTube channel (go subscribe). It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone play the Sonata Romántica…
Question: Is it acceptable to hit an adjacent string during slurs? For example, when playing a pull-off on the 2nd string is it okay to make contact with the 1st string with the left hand slur finger? Answer Summary: The answer…
Left Hand String Clearance Exercise – This exercise helps students play with curved fingers on their fingertips which helps with all left hand techniques. It also creates a situation where the student becomes aware of bad technique habits by listening…
Lutenist Domenico Cerasani performs Fantasia 33, and the intabulation Quand’io penso al martire (123 da J. Arcadelt) by Francesco Canova da Milano “Il Divino” (1497-1543). This comes via Edoardo Lambertenghi’s YouTube channel (go subscribe). I can rarely resist posting performances of da Milano,…
Italian classical guitarist Adelaide Gemo performs Vals No.3, Op.8 by Agustin Barrios Mangore (1885-1944). This comes via Pyrophorus Records and their YouTube channel (go subscribe). Wonderful performance by Gemo with such crisp and clear lines but always musical, rhythmic, and flowing. You can also find her YouTube…
Sons de Carrilhões (Maxixe-Chôro) by João Pernambuco (1883-1947). PDF sheet music for classical guitar with performance and lesson video. Comes with both a notation edition with left hand fingering and a separate tab edition in the same pdf. The level is intermediate (grade…
A review of cheap generic guitar supports purchased off amazon for $30. Both had serious problems and are not recommended. The supports I look at are generic brands found on Amazon: I’d be curious to try more and will post…
JoLuck E02 Amoroso Small Scale Classical Guitar Review – It was a joy testing out the JoLuck E02 Amoroso which is an affordable small scale lattice braced classical guitar available in four different sizes. In the review I play a piece…
Classical guitarists João Luiz and Alan Liu perform Afrocuban Dances by Ernesto Lecuona (1896-1963) and arranged by Leo Brouwer (b.1939). This comes via the Leo Brouwer Ediciones Espiral Eterna’s YouTube channel (go subscribe). Great performance by Luiz and Liu with intricate…
Classical guitarist Kasia Smolarek performs Caprice No.24 from 24 Caprices for solo violin, Op.1 by Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840). This comes via Smolarek’s YouTube channel (go subscribe). You can also check out her album on BandCamp. Great performance by Smolarek with very consistent articulation and some intense surprises and risks.…
Bluvenduo with Zhanxiang Shi (Shanghai) and Sebastian Robles (Edmonton) perform a programme of Romantic era works by César Franck (1822-1890) and Franz Schubert (1797–1828). This comes via Siccas Guitars and their YouTube channel (go subscribe). Formed in San Francisco and now based in Geneva, Bluvenduo won the…