greetings from Scotland

[Laura Joffe]

I have just arrived here, looks like a great site with lots of useful resources!

I've been playing guitar on and off for a few years now. My background is classical piano, but I've played a few other instruments and took up guitar when my son started learning. After playing around with some tab and chords (folk-singing) for a while, I thought it would be silly never to learn the notes on guitar, so I started using Leavitt's Modern Method for guitar, and that takes up a lot of time. All with pick, with a view to learning jazz in the future. And then, you know, I have such a passion for Bach, I thought it would be silly (having learned some of the notes) not to be able to put a Bach invention on guitar. So here I am with questions about classical guitar.

As a pianist, I can't have long nails. I'd just like to get some of the basic techniques under my belt.

[Tarbaby]

Hi ten left thumbs. Welcome to Delcamp!

We have quite a few members who play without nails, for one reason or another. In fact, some prefer it for playing early music. It is not typical to play the lute with nails, for example. I know how difficult it is to play piano with nails. I had to study piano for a semester when I was at the Conservatory. They let me keep my nails.

Please have a look at this welcome page and this Forum Help Guide to find help on getting around the forum.

Also, we encourage members to put their location in their profile. For reasons why and how to do that, click here.

After you have made a 2nd post, you will be automatically registered for the 002 Group. This will allow you to contribute MP3s, Videos, and Scores.

If you ever have any questions, just ask!

Have fun.

Alan

[George Crocket]

Hi there.

Welcome to the forum.

There are quite a few members here from Scotland. It's good to have another.

Despite the nails issue, I am sure being a classical pianist must be a big advantage when starting to learn classical guitar. You have certainly come to the right place to supplement your knowledge. You can find out about most things classical guitar here (see the Search box at the top right). If you can't find what you want, just ask. Our members are quite a helpful lot.

See you around.

[Laura Joffe]

Thankyou for the welcome, Alan and George. I would gladly add my location to my profile, if only I could locate my profile! Jings, it's got to be somewhere!

Alan, piano and long nails won't go far together. It's a recipe for disaster. I do know some female-pianists who learned excellent technique as children, who then grow nails as adults and somehow manage. But for learning, nails are a huge barrier to learning piano. You might as well play with one hand tied behind your back!

I am looking forward to accessing some of the pdf's in the lessons. I need easy music.

[Tarbaby]

You may always feel free to ask questions here.

This forum is quite complicated.

You can find your profile by scrolling to the top of the page (any page) and click on your User Control Panel. Now you are a astronaut, with a control panel.

Then, simply click on Profile and fill in the blanks.

You are right, piano is impossible with nails. I had to take a more "flat fingered" approach, sort of like Horowitz. That's where the resemblance ends...

Alan

[Tarbaby]

I am looking forward to accessing some of the pdf's in the lessons. I need easy music.

Oh, you can download the first levels of the Delcamp Collection right now from here. There's lots of instructional material and some lovely music too!

Alan

[Laura Joffe]

This forum is quite complicated.

You're not wrong. I've never seen anything so complicated. And some coding system (I'm sure it's quite logical to the initiated) about D02 or 020 or something. Anyway, I found my profile, thanks for that.

I take my hat off to you even trying piano. I do hope you got something out of it.

[Ledhand75]

Welcome Laura,

I had the pleasure of attending the Oatridge International Classical Guitar Summer course, held in the village of Ecclesmachan for many years. While there, I had the good fortune of studying with Peter Stewart. Unfortunately, the course is no longer held, but Peter is still actively teaching. If you are anywhere near Glasgow, I would strongly encourage you to look him up.

[abielikesu]

Welcome to the forums!

[Scot Tremblay]

Welcome Laura. Don't let the nails or no nails thing deter you from an enjoyable classical guitar experience. It's just one of those things guitarists love fighting about. Lots play without them for various reason and being primarily a piano player is as good as any. If fact there is evidence that one of our favorite 19th century guitarist/composers, Fernando Sor, played without nails because of being a highly accomplished pianist as well (he also stated other reasons but I won't get into those).

You have a very fine player in Scotland (Edinbourg) by the name of Rob MacKillop that plays nailless. Check out his youtube videos if you aren't familar with his work. I think he might be a member here as well.

Just put some lighter tension strings on you guitar and all will be great.