classical - where to start?

blacknblack

I can read music.  Er - not really.  I can read music if I am sat at a piano (I haven't played piano for many years)  Tab makes loads of sense on the guitar.

But where does one start, learning classical, after years of electric?  I imagine grade 1 classical would be pretty simple (apart from not wanting to learn to read music on guitar).  And grades give me unpleasant flashbacks.

So where to start?  When I watch vids of people playing it really doesn't look like CAGED chords with embellishments and scale patterns to me.  Maybe it just is.  I don't know.

Rote learn a couple of well know pieces?  Is there a course?  Maybe a transition course for people who can play guitar a bit.  I am a hobby only, intermediate guitarist - on electric.  

I'm expecting this to be difficult - I like a challenge - but I do want to try and do it properly.

relic245

I'm a beginner and I think in a similar place to you. 

I watched some videos on posture and basic techniques and now working my way through this book. 

50 Easy Classical Guitar Pieces... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/082562827X?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

There is also a version with online recordings rather than a cd.

Like you I can kinda read music, this book has both dots and tabs. I've stuck with the dots and making good progress sight reading.

Also, if you Google it there are a few subscription based courses similar to truefire but specifically for classical.

I'm really enjoying it and thinking of getting some lessons to make sure I'm not getting into bad habits.

Good luck, it's a really enjoyable journey.

Jaycee

That would be either   " Aaron Shearer Classic Guitar Technique, Volume 1 "

or

" Frederick Noad First book for the guitar "

and

" Scott Tennant Pumping Nylon " for technique and exercises.

As you progress get the grade books and learn all of the pieces in the books 

TheBigDipper

When I restarted playing classical during lockdown, I bought this to get me going...

Rob Thorpe "First Pieces For Classical Guitar". I bought the Kindle version.

Not only is Rob a lovely bloke (we met at a Stick weekend) but the pieces in this book are well-chosen and have both the score and tab, so you can work your way back into sight reading dots yet still play something. It's not a course, and it's not going to help you with playing technique, but I still go back to it when I want some "in the moment" playing time. Most of the pieces in it are ones I played as studies when I was a beginner, yet they have musical merit and don't sound like exercises.

digitalkettle

Sounds like I'm being awkward but bear with...

This reminds me of some recent "I want to learn jazz" threads...what are you listening to? What's lighting you up?

Here's how I started...going from not even owning a nylon string to knowing a little bit and ending up close to a nervous breakdown after committing to an hour of playing at a friend's wedding:

• I had a Guitar Techniques subscription back in 2002 and a chap called Richard Stokkereit was doing a classical column which featured Tarrega's 'Lagrima'...it's not dead simple: you might see it at a pro recital...but it's a manageable, proper guitar piece. I guess it opened my eyes/ears to getting beyond rock guitar, n.b. more recently Declan Zapala has been doing a similar column
• Then I found a compilation of 14 Tarrega pieces by a chap called Paul Henry...came with a nicely performed CD and score with decent annotations and tab (I'd get onto proper scores later)...some straightforward pieces here moving all the way to absolute monsters...I cherry-picked...I let my ears guide me...I had fun
• There's a nice series of beginner books on Alfred Publishing along the lines of 'Classical for Guitar', 'Spanish for Guitar', 'Renaissance for Guitar', etc. Very playable, nice and varied...still leaning on tab a bit here
• I hoovered-up all the current Trinity grade books (meh)...got the Noad book (meh)...got the Pumping Nylon books...got mild RSI...went for a few posture/technique lessons...joined local classical guitar society. Then I was going to as many concert recitals as I could, gradually collecting CDs and general exposure to repertoire
• I totally recommend the classical guitar 'Laureate Series' recordings on the Naxos label...they're on Spotify if you don't want to collect plastic...each album is effectively a recital from a top-level player (I still remember the first time I heard Ana Vidovic play Bach's Lute Suite in E)
• Anyway, at some point, stuff starts speaking to you and you find players/arrangers/composers you love...you start collecting 'proper' scores and scribbling on them with a pencil...you start learning stuff and solving problems...you have fun

So what are you listening to? What's lighting you up?

lesyeuxnoirs

digitalkettle said:

Sounds like I'm being awkward but bear with...

This reminds me of some recent "I want to learn jazz" threads...what are you listening to? What's lighting you up?

Here's how I started...going from not even owning a nylon string to knowing a little bit and ending up close to a nervous breakdown after committing to an hour of playing at a friend's wedding:

• I had a Guitar Techniques subscription back in 2002 and a chap called Richard Stokkereit was doing a classical column which featured Tarrega's 'Lagrima'...it's not dead simple: you might see it at a pro recital...but it's a manageable, proper guitar piece. I guess it opened my eyes/ears to getting beyond rock guitar, n.b. more recently Declan Zapala has been doing a similar column
• Then I found a compilation of 14 Tarrega pieces by a chap called Paul Henry...came with a nicely performed CD and score with decent annotations and tab (I'd get onto proper scores later)...some straightforward pieces here moving all the way to absolute monsters...I cherry-picked...I let my ears guide me...I had fun
• There's a nice series of beginner books on Alfred Publishing along the lines of 'Classical for Guitar', 'Spanish for Guitar', 'Renaissance for Guitar', etc. Very playable, nice and varied...still leaning on tab a bit here
• I hoovered-up all the current Trinity grade books (meh)...got the Noad book (meh)...got the Pumping Nylon books...got mild RSI...went for a few posture/technique lessons...joined local classical guitar society. Then I was going to as many concert recitals as I could, gradually collecting CDs and general exposure to repertoire
• I totally recommend the classical guitar 'Laureate Series' recordings on the Naxos label...they're on Spotify if you don't want to collect plastic...each album is effectively a recital from a top-level player (I still remember the first time I heard Ana Vidovic play Bach's Lute Suite in E)
• Anyway, at some point, stuff starts speaking to you and you find players/arrangers/composers you love...you start collecting 'proper' scores and scribbling on them with a pencil...you start learning stuff and solving problems...you have fun

So what are you listening to? What's lighting you up?

This is an excellent post!

And I would give a big + 1 to the Paul Henry book Tarrega collection as a great place to start 

Litterick

blacknblack said:

So where to start?  When I watch vids of people playing it really doesn't look like CAGED chords with embellishments and scale patterns to me.  Maybe it just is.  I don't know.

I think you should start by reading about the guitar and how it is played. Here is an article on learning to play as an adult. It is from Classical Guitar magazine — which has lots of good stuff for beginners.

beed84

Even though all the strings are tuned the same, classical guitar is completely different to electric. Here’s my advice:

If possible, find a local tutor who’s classically trained. They’ll help you with technique, posture and prevent any bad habits from forming. Work through grade books with them too. You don’t have to take the early ones, maybe 1-3, but you’ll learn how to read music, dynamics, scales, arpeggios, sight reading (ugh) and pieces. This is good as you’ll have a solid practice routine and begin to get your hands working in ways they’re perhaps not used. Also, with the included repertoire, you’ll begin to figure out what you like the most, e.g. baroque, renaissance, romantic. Anyway, the early stages are simple yet rewarding. You get to understand a basic relationship between rhythm, melody and bass line and play them all without anyone else – it’s great! By the time you get to grade 4/5, you’ll be pretty competent, and things get more interesting then.

I wouldn’t go at this alone with books or videos. You might make progress but not anywhere near as much than you would with a proper qualified tutor. Another important consideration are the nails on your plucking hand. Some say you don’t need them, but I disagree. The tone of the string is created by part nails (and well-filed) and part flesh. They also help in gaining more control with dynamics. Overall, get a tutor, work through grade books, take your time, don’t overwhelm yourself, and enjoy the process. It really is a rewarding instrument to play.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

blacknblack

Thanks for all the advice everyone.   Lots to think about.