How to start playing classical guitar?

[robin loops]

The neck movement is good advice. I have a tendency to grit my teeth sometimes so I keep gum on hand and chew it when I start doing that. Or I use a string cutting and chew it like a straw cowboy style. This helps keep tension down. Be careful to observe tension building up anywhere in the body and address it immediately. A note on progressing to quickly. As someone that did this (with the boas book in fact) I can say it is vert difficult to backtrack later and build on technique. Especially when you hit a brick wall playing pieces like Asturias and have to go all the way back to working on scales and basic sight reading skills, etc

[cool09]

Go to a decent local music store or look for private classical guitar teachers in your area. I've found with a very good teacher your playing can excel much faster because they line you up with certain pieces, sections of compositions, etc. that will improve your playing. One thing about most teachers (even the PhDs) is that they try to give you as little feedback as possible which I don't understand. But you will first start out by learning how to stroke the strings with your nails and that takes (for a lot of people) a long time to perfect (if they can at all). The more classical you play the more you learn that your fingers will become more independent of each other and of course you have to learn how to read sheet music. Within six mths with a half-decent teacher you will be playing a lot of different studies, exercises and become proficient with the fundamentals of reading and playing.

[KevinCollins]

The biggest adjustment will be sitting and holding the guitar. The "classical" guitar is the Spanish guitar, it has twelve frets clear of the body and, in order for the hand to fall on the strings at the back of the soundhole, it is placed on the left leg, not on the hip. You would like a footstool or pile of books for your left foot, and you will not going to lean back in the chair, promise?

Try this, saharasand, a study by Sagreras. It is an "arpeggio", or "broken chords". You already play chords, the left hand should be easy.

The right hand is where the sound comes from and, in classical guitar, it is all about the sound. Once you are sitting well, the right hand will fall at the back of the soundhole, with the thumb out front and the fingers behind. You will notice that the index finger is shorter than the middle. If you make a line across the tips of these two fingers, this is the line where the fingers fall on the strings. Not perpendicular, but on the diagonal. This will keep the thumb from hitting the fingers. The fingers push across the strings and follow through. Do not "claw" the strings, the energy comes from placing the fingertip on the string and pushing as you cross the string. Push.

Sagreras - Leccion 61_w_muting.png

In this piece, place i & m when 'p' (thumb) plays. You will be performing the 'rests', those squiggly guys between the notes, by placing the fingers on the strings when 'p' plays. The object is to set the right hand shape, by placing i & m each time the thumb plays.

Sagreras Leccion 61 TAB1.jpg

Sagreras Leccion 61 TAB2.jpg

Scale playing is for playing melodies. You already play chords, this is something else. Scale playing is based on even alternation of the index and middle fingers, i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m. Can you say that? i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m? For the first three months, practice single note melodies, without the thumb. Play all rest-strokes (a free-stroke is just a rest-stroke that does not land on the next string, don't let anyone tell you they are different). The object of the first three months is to set the hand shape, and to learn the notes (just melodies, not thumb notes) while playing i-m rest-stokes, strict alternation - i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i-m. Can you say that? Good, I knew you could. Now, do what you said. You can use any book, just play your rest strokes, i-m-i-m.........

Just go slow. The simplest thing is the hardest thing. By rushing ahead, you hold yourself back.

Welcome to our world.

Cheers,

Kevin
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[robin loops]

Sca;es practiced in a manner where you leaqve fiungers planted until needing it for another note are also good for developing finger indipendence and ultimately for playing chords.

[soundknight21]

How to do something is the second most important thought closely behind when to do something. Whilst playing your guitar whether it is scales or solos, remember to clear your mind and concentrate on breathing and relaxing the muscles you do not need.

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[Leong J. Zi]

wow, thanks you guys comments and suggestions! Getting myself a classical guitar soon! teacher and books as well,

[Brunot]

Great tips here, but I am that no one mentioned one of the most important aspects. LISTEN. Listen to classical music. Explore instruments, check the guitar repertoire, get used to the sounds. You cannot play what you cannot hear well. You will be surprised how faster it will go, good luck!