Free Method Book Video Lessons
Twinkle Twinkle, Etude No. 4, Au clair de la lune, Oh Susanna
Free PDF Method Book & Lesson List: Classical Guitar Method Vol. 1
Youtube Video Link
These pieces include the 3rd string notes and cover melodies and arpeggios. The main goal is sit and hold the hand properly and learn to present music from start to finish. Various other skills are also discussed. Make sure you’ve covered the previous lessons first. Find the rest of the video lessons here and subscribe to my weekly newsletter for pro videos, lessons, and sheet music.
Hello, Professor Bradford! I’m finishing up my practice on these songs… I really liked Study No. 3; it’s very soothing, I found it meditative. For me, the most challenging one was “Oh! Susanna”… because I wasn’t familiar with the song yet, and I found it quite dynamic. I suppose the learning process takes a bit longer when we’ve never heard the music before, right? I think I’ve played it about 50 times and am only just getting everything right now, but I still make a few mistakes when I try to play it at the actual tempo. In this case, is it best to keep repeating it slowly for a while longer? Thank you.
Play it slowly and don’t worry about it. If you can playing fairly well at a slow tempo you can move on to the next pieces. You don’t want to get caught up on a piece at this stage.
Hello, Professor Bradford. I’ve been practicing the pieces from this session for a few days. I have a question: if I make a mistake in the middle of a measure, should I repeat that line and continue to the end of the piece, or is it better to go back to the beginning and start over, playing through to the end without any errors? Since the pieces are short for now, I was wondering about this… thank you!
It’s okay to continue playing after a mistake but if the mistake is happening in the same place each time you need to stop and practice the issue slowly. Check out this lesson: https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/how-to-play-through-mistakes-in-music/
Thank you so much!
Dear Bradford
I have been playing guitar for about a dozen years. I recently bought a cordoba C9 crossover. I’m now starting with your book at the beginning. I’m very excited to go on this journey. My goals are to become a better music reader and a finger style player. My first love is jazz, particularly the standards. I have written 3 arrangements. My teacher is mostly a piano player, but she also teaches guitar and voice. She’s a very good musician. Thank you for your work.
Martin
West Virginia, US
Enjoy, happy practicing!
Hi Bradford,
Huge thank you from Spain. I have tried before lots of videos and online reaources until I found your method, and now I am really progressing. As a father with 4 kids I do not have much time to practice but with your tips I finally can do it getting results. I am willing to finish the first method to buy the second one and see where I can get with my guitar skills. Thanks again.
Roberto
Bonjour ,
I’m a french Canadian living in South of France . I start to learn guitar 1 years ago with and old teacher from le conservatoire de Paris . He wanted me to play Les jeux interdits for my first piece . After 4 months of fight with my guitar and the piece I found your site … I stop with that teacher and I really start enjoying playing guitar. I stop to fight , breath and play littles pieces that are for me beautiful music. My hand are relax , I’m relax and the music start to come petit à petit .
Thank you for all your work , you do such a nice work , important work ….
I was on the point to stop guitar .
For the moment , I have your free method and I follow religiously your advise ! I hope to find a good teacher soon. So , again Thank you for everything.
From one your fan in France !!!!
Excuse my English …