About this course
Perfect for absolute beginner classical guitar method players.
Designed to help the beginner student play comfortably and with confidence in the lower positions of the classical guitar. Covers musical basics such as the staff, note values and common time signatures. Contains many pieces which give a grounding in classical guitar repertoire. This dynamic course features step-by-step guidance with real music examples, and comes complete with audio and video resources to make learning easy and enjoyable. Explore exciting topics like The F Major Scale, Time Signatures, with recognizable tunes and upbeat practice tracks.
Correct classical guitar technique and gradual skill-building enable confident playing.
This course in a printable PDF format
The classical guitar's fundamental techniques, history, and unique characteristics are introduced.
Introduces the fundamental concepts of guitar fretboard navigation, including note relationships and spatial awareness.
Covers development from ancient times to modern era, featuring influential figures like Fernando Sor, Francisco Tarrega, and Agustin Barrios.
The musical alphabet, staff, treble clef, leger lines, and note positions are introduced.
Note values, rests, and duration modifications are introduced through dotting, tying, and resting musical notes.
Time signature concepts covered include beat and note duration indicators, with analysis of common examples such as 4/4 and 3/4.
Introduces note positions on staff and fretboard for the guitar open position, emphasizing octaves.
Optimal sitting positions for playing guitar covered, including tips on maintaining comfort, balance, and freedom of movement.
Standardized naming conventions for right-hand fingers on the classical guitar.
Proper right-hand fingernail technique is applied to achieve greater control over volume and tone.
Correct right arm placement on the guitar is crucial for relaxation and proper positioning, minimizing common mistakes that impact sound quality.
Develops effective right-hand positioning and grip for comfortable and natural playing posture.
Proper finger placement on the strings is crucial for achieving optimal playing techniques.
Introduces the fundamental techniques of music notation, including right-hand thumb stroke and note values such as half, whole, and dotted half.
The fundamental concept of piano technique is introduced through an examination of left-hand finger numbers.
Optimal left-hand placement is covered, including correct wrist alignment and finger positioning on the fingerboard.
Thumb positioning techniques for left-handed guitar playing focus on ease and comfort during finger stretches.
Rest strokes and basic techniques for playing the first string on a guitar are covered.
The art of playing the second string is developed alongside rest strokes, with musical concepts explored through recognizable songs.
Recognizes notes, rhythms, and time signatures to enable reading music, sight-reading, and collaborative playing.
Introduces the application of rest stroke on third string notes and playing duets with advanced students.
Introduces fundamental concepts of playing the fourth string, covering free stroke techniques and note naming.
Fifth string playing techniques and fundamentals are introduced.
Notes on the sixth string are examined alongside left and right hand playing techniques.
Improves hand dexterity and coordination with exercises emphasizing thumb-finger synchronization.
Techniques for playing dual-part music include free strokes and specific fingerings.
Note names are identified and counted through deliberate practice and concentration, enhancing focus and performance.
Explains sharp, flat, and natural signs in music notation, including their effects on note pitch.
Sharps, flats, and fingerings are applied to first and second endings in Hall of the Mountain King.
Focused guitar practice techniques for maximizing efficiency and reducing errors.
Key concepts from earlier are revisited to lay groundwork for what follows.
Introduces basic music notation concepts, covering staff, treble clef, notes, and rhythm fundamentals.
Improper sitting position and hand placement can hinder effective playing, so covers fundamental techniques for mastering classical guitar.
Scales and key signatures are introduced to deepen music theory comprehension.
Memorize and practice the C Major Scale with focus on evenness and slow speed.
The fundamentals of C major include the I, IV, and V chords, as well as techniques for playing common chord progressions.
Chord arpeggios are covered using C, F, and G7 chords.
Introduces fingerings and pivot techniques for playing notes in the key of C.
Binary structure and section repetition are examined as tools for enhancing learning and performance.
The melodic minor scale is explored, including its unique characteristics and fingering techniques.
Am, Dm, and E7 chords in A minor key, with arpeggio techniques for practical application.
Tempo markings allegro, andante, and moderato are introduced for playing musical notes with proper timing.
Covers the intricacies of Allegro's arpeggio patterns and dynamic nuances for precise and controlled playing.
Introduces fundamental concepts for playing an A minor duet, covering finger placement and chord progression techniques.
Introduces the traditional English folk song Greensleeves and explains the use of dotted quarter notes in musical notation.
Explains triplets as groups of three notes played in the same time as two notes, with examples and notation.
Covers chord progression and string changes in a C major key piece, featuring a distinctive variation at bar 9.
Eighth notes and triplet timing are covered in the development of Spanish guitar techniques.
The G major scale is introduced along with its key signature and strategies for maintaining accurate interval sequences.
Introduces major seventh chords in the key of G, covering tonic, subdominant, and dominant variations.
Introduces techniques for mastering finger slides and whole notes in the key of G.
Introduces scales, chord progressions, and rhythmic considerations for harmonious ensemble performance.
Every major scale has a corresponding relative minor key with a shared tonal center.
The melodic minor scale is examined for its key properties and accompanied by exercises to improve understanding.
The course covers the chords and structural elements of the E minor key, including tonic, sub-dominant, and dominant 7th chords.
The Bouree in E Minor piece is analyzed for transforming i and m notes to p notes through the application of free stroke and rest stroke techniques.
Covers the D major scale with its characteristic two sharps and introduces techniques for playing sixteenth notes.
Introduces the structure of D major chords, focusing on the A7 chord's distinctive fingerings and notation.
Precise finger placement and wrist positioning are key to accurately playing a half-bar on guitar.
Introduces D prelude right-hand patterns, focusing on second-finger slides and pivots on the second string.
Introduces techniques for playing allegrettos in D, emphasizing precise timing and intricate rhythms.
Introduces unique fingerings and half-bar techniques for playing duets in the key of D.
The B melodic minor scale is introduced along with its relationships to D major and differences between ascending and descending forms.
F#7 chord with a full bar is covered, along with applications to arpeggio exercises in the key of B minor.
The A major scale contains three sharps and is used to calculate relative minors.
Pivot and slide fingerings are introduced for A major arpeggios, covering master chords and waltz rhythms.
Timing and stroke technique are emphasized as you learn to play a waltz allegro piece featuring various positions and arpeggios.
Effective communication techniques for building strong personal and professional connections are introduced.
Introduces the basics of music theory, covering major and minor scales, chords, musical form, tempo indications, and modulation.
Classical guitar skills developed through studies of right arm adjustment, arpeggios, and pivot/slide finger techniques.
Compares and adjusts CD or cassette-based guitar tuning methods for optimal results.
Accurately tuning a guitar with electronic assistance is covered.
Harmonious intervals are achieved by matching guitar strings to corresponding notes on piano, pith pipes, or tuning fork.
Scales are explained, encompassing definitions, patterns, and categories like chromatic, major, and minor.
The chromatic scale is a sequence of semitones within one octave that applies to any starting note.
Introduces the major diatonic scale, its tonal pattern and properties.
Introduces the three types of minor scales: pure, harmonic, and melodic, highlighting their unique tone and semitone patterns.
Music structure is based on specific scales, with key signatures indicating sharps and flats.
Musical concepts include harmony, rhythm, and tempo, with guitar-specific terms such as chords, scales, and fingerings covered.
“I own the book version of Classical Guitar Method and absolutely love it. There are twenty well organized and graduated lessons, and if you're hooked then you can easily keep going with Muzician's other courses. I like the 19th Century Masterpieces as a follow up.”