The classical guitar is a great instrument with large repertoire. It is able to play both classical music as well as popular music. In this article we discuss how to learn classical guitar.
The Anatomy of the Classical Guitar
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The first difference of the classical guitar is that it has a standard shape and body. For this reason, the classical guitar has a different anatomy than folk guitars.
The classical guitar has six strings, with the bass strings made of nylon wrapped in brass wire. The treble strings are nowadays made from nylon, which give a pure and soft sound.
The body of the guitar is symmetrical and made of wood. It includes no electronics, relying only on the acoustics of the instrument.
Classical Guitar Players
A classical guitarist is not just a person who plays a classical repertoire. While the repertoire is commonly dedicated to classical composers, there are lots of modern and popular music that can be played in a classical guitar.
It is also very important the way the guitarist plays. A classical guitarist plucks the strings with the fingers from his right hand, among other techniques. More importantly, the classical guitarist doesn’t use any pick. The whole technique is based on rapid and independent finger movements.
There are also some recommendations about the correct position of the body that make a classical guitarist different from other guitarists.
Tips to Learn Classical Guitar
The best way to master the classical guitar is definitely to hire a private teacher. They will provide you with personal attention and teach you all the basic technical points of posture or hand position better than any other video course.
It is true that you can learn classical guitar from books. However, doing this will probably take longer. Moreover, you run the risk of developing bad habits that are more difficult to break after a long time.
Disadvantages of Presencial Learning
There are also some disadvantages of learning with a private teacher. The main disadvantage about taking up private lessons to learn classical guitar is the cost about, which is $20 an hour or more.
A possible solution could be to find a teacher that is willing to teaches group lessons. This way, you can join a group of students at once.
Using this method you will pay much less. At the same time you can benefit from observing your colleagues. Even doing this, you can later decide to take private lessons, if you feel inclined to do this.
Selecting a Classical Guitar Teacher
To find a good classical guitar teacher, you need to do some research first. Some questions that you would like to answer are the following:
- What are his/her qualifications?
- Is this person a performer performer as well?
- What kind of degree does this teacher have?
- What is his/her teaching experience, in years as well as number of students?
- Are the students satisfied with the lessons?
- Does he/she specializes in teaching classical guitar or teaches all kinds of guitar?
These are just geral questions. Although these questions don’t necessarily reveal whether he/she is a good teacher, you can use the information in your final decision. In the end, the goal is to determine if you can learn classical guitar from this teacher.
How to Approach Your Studies
When you find a teacher, the prospective person should be able to clearly explain what you will actually learn from the lessons. If you really desire to master the classical guitar, you will not enjoy a teacher who seem to more interested in entertainment during lessons.
Another kind of bad teacher we want to avoid are those who just point out your mistakes and give assignments. This type of teacher cannot provide much advice other than practicing harder.
You should also be careful not to choose a teacher who doesn’t take immediate and firm measures to correct any adverse conditions that you might have during your lessons.
Working with Guitar Teachers
As a general advice, try to find a music tutor whose experience you believe in. When you start, give your best effort to learn classical guitar from him/her.
After several lessons, evaluate whether you are actually making progress. Always remember that you should actually get what you’re paying for.
Other Methods to Learn the Classical Guitar
A professional guitar teacher is definitely the best way to learn classical guitar. However, you may choose other methods too.
If you don’t have enough time or can’t afford the cost of private lessons, a theory book can be helpful.
Although it is difficult, If you are serious about playing better you should be able to learn classical guitar from a well-written book. You can also try online courses and videos, which are become much more popular each day..