Exercises for Guitarists

There are several common problems new guitar students run into when approaching the right-hand technique. We are all inclined to bad habits when first starting the guitar. Some bad habits either have been formed or been taught along the student’s gui...

Before I entered the world of Classical Guitar, I was a steel string strummer of cowboy precision. As an advanced musician (cough, cough), I could play three or four chords together and even “barred” chords, somewhat, with the best of them. However, ...

In guitar music, as in other types of music we have music sentences that can be broken down into phrases. These phases can teach us a lot about the techniques needed to play the piece well.A Slight ConflictionI must admit, I have a bit of conflict he...

To begin with, there are a lot of ways to write a fingerstyle song. There are a few essentials you need to know as far as chords, structures, etc. To discuss the very basics of composition we need to dive into a small bit of music theory. In this art...

A while back I wrote a series of articles on “5 Things You Need to Learn Classical & Fingerstyle Guitar.” You can read those posts if you would like by clicking on the links. The five things on my list are a guitar, a guitar support or footstool,...

When it comes to learning the classical guitar there can be certain unrealistic expectations. Some of those include being able to learn pieces quickly and easily. Since the guitar is sometimes considered an easy instrument to learn, the more advanced...

There is an elegance and beauty to the classical guitar, unlike any other instrument. I love the silky-smooth sounds that you can produce from it. There are many pieces written or arranged for the guitar to sit very comfortably under the fingers. Wit...

Since taking up the guitar in 2009, I have had the privilege of gaining knowledge from many different sources. As with many other guitarists, it has been my goal to improve my technique and overall playing of the instrument. There are a lot of resour...

Wow! It has been a year already. For our new readers/subscribers, I always do a yearly update newsletter/blog in November. There has been a lot on my plate this year. So, without further ado, let’s dive in…What happened in 2023?A couple of things hap...

Some of us who have taken up the classical guitar dogmatically push our skills to the limit. We have practiced and practiced, pushed the envelope, and reevaluated our routines, sometimes excessively. So much so that we fail to take breaks. So, in thi...

In the last article, we talked a little bit about sheet music’s history and a few basic concepts. In this article, I would like to talk a little about, what I call, the composer’s toolbox. In addition to our blank canvas, we have lots of elements tha...

How do you take the stress out of guitar notation? It is very simple actually. However, can I be honest here? Just for a minute? You always try to be honest, right? I have been avoiding this article. Not because of the subject matter. I find the work...

How do you memorize guitar music and Scripture? That might seem like an odd or even polarizing question to ask these days. However, I am a Christian. This is a Christian website (if you haven’t noticed). I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. So, ...

So, as I have said, in other articles, classical guitar is one of the most beautiful instruments in the world. Nothing compares to it when you have a great piece that is beautifully played. So how do you go about composing for guitar? There are a cou...

The classical guitar is one of the most mellow and beautiful instruments in the world. Yes, that is a biased opinion. Starting from the wood used to the shape of the nails and the strings, it is a rich musical instrument. Let us look at a little hist...

The classical guitar is a beautiful and versatile instrument that has captured the hearts of many musicians and music lovers throughout history. With its soft, warm tone and delicate strings, the classical guitar has been used to create a wide range ...

Sounds Like Rain is the first EP I have released. It took 12 years for 12 minutes of music in 5 songs. Here are a few thoughts on releasing your first EP.I finally did it. After 12 years, I finally got my act together. I released some of the original...

Every musician has a repertoire, but how do you maintain a multitude of pieces? Let’s learn how to add 48 pieces of music to your repertoire and remember them.If you are a musician then you know the importance of keeping a maintaining your repertoire...

CCG had a Winter Festival with workshops on composing, arranging, improvising, new compositions, open mics, and a meet the composers Q&A. Here is my interview.Who is CCG?CCG is short for Creative Classical Guitarist created by Daniel Ni...

This article looks at the first piece in Ferdinando Carulli’s Opus 241. We will analyze the piece and create a canvas for composing classical guitar music.The ComposerFerdinando Carulli, who lived between 1770 and 1841, was a prolific composer creati...

When learning to play the classical guitar, you will be taught to grow the nails on your plucking hand. This is taught in the early stages of learning.History of NailsClassical guitarists tend to grow their nails out to produce a better, smoothe...

Matteo Carcassi’s Opus 59, Fifty Progressive Pieces, is from his guitar method originally printed and became famous in 1836.Behind the ProjectMatteo Carcassi’s Opus 59, Fifty Progressive Pieces, is the first full-length book in a series of books I wo...

This month’s blog article is a review of David Chapman’s delightful album, Resting Place. A great combination of classical guitar, orchestra, and hymns. Introduction to a Delightful Album This, my friends, is the very first “album review” on this blo...

We have an exciting behind-the-scenes update for this blog. There are quite a few things in the works, some of which you might have already noticed. What’s Going on Behind the Screens?Well, a lot. I gave blogging a try a couple of years ago and reali...

Should You Take Classical Guitar Lessons?IntroductionWay back in 2008, I took an eleven-year hiatus from playing the guitar (or any kind of music for that matter). I saved my pennies and purchased one of those beautiful Koa guitars from Ibanez. It wa...