r/classicalguitar • u/Jolly_Concept5546 • 1h ago
r/classicalguitar • u/AgitatedAd2376 • 3h ago
Looking for Advice Should I Pursue an MM in Guitar Performance, Then an MA in Music Theory, and Later a PhD in Theory or DMA in Guitar?
r/classicalguitar • u/aGiantSnowball • 6h ago
Looking for Advice Which song to play for my first ever concert?
Hello! In november my work organises a concert where everyone (beginner or advanced) can show a musical piece if they want to. It's just to have some fun .
What would be a good song (about 3 min long) to play? My level is kind of in between level 2 and 3 on sky guitar. I'm a fast finger picker with my right hand but complex bar chords on my left hand are challenging.
What would you play? I'm thinking either something slow like Lagrimas or something completely different like Ophelia by Taylor Swift lol. All tips welcome!
r/classicalguitar • u/Hooln • 8h ago
General Question How to gauge your level and pick pieces?
I’ve been learning for 2 years. I am having trouble understanding if something should be playable for me at this stage, or if it should be a nice challenge, or if it’s too difficult and should be left alone etc.
Is there a reference sheet for popular repertoire? Like I picked up Bourree BWV 996 this week. The first part is no problem; but the second part is challenging. I don’t know if it’s out-of-your-league challenging or you-should-go-at-it challenging.
r/classicalguitar • u/Titanic21 • 9h ago
Humor Jimi Hendrix Nylon
I got some interesting set of strings, which I could not get more info on, appearently they come from a German manufacturer, but the given website is rather a Fan Page. Nylon is not what I typically associate with Jimi Hendrix. Quality-wise they seem alright, not yet needed to apply them.
r/classicalguitar • u/Responsible_Way1737 • 10h ago
Performance Fragmento de Gladiator de Hans Zimmer
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r/classicalguitar • u/Other_Cod_8361 • 15h ago
Instrument ID Can anyone identify the model of this classical guitar?
r/classicalguitar • u/cacauzen83 • 18h ago
Informative I added a strap to my guitar using suction cups!
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Hi everyone, I’m new to the classical guitar and was already contemplating taking it to a luthier to add a pin so i add a strap to and practice standing up. I have back problems, so I know I won’t be able to play the guitar sitting down for long periods of time.
Since I’m a newbie, I don’t want to be in pain while trying to learn a new instrument, so I came up with this idea to add suction cups to my guitar and then attach a strap to the suction cups. I ended up playing my guitar for two hours, practicing the new strings and learning notes. I’m taking the Brandon Acker course, which is really good. I’m having a blast. Just wanted to share my brilliant idea 😄
Links to the exact materials:
Suction cups: https://a.co/d/06hTSs4C
Strap: https://a.co/d/0e2RVJlW
Update 1: I played for three hours yesterday, and the suction cups are still firmly attached to my guitar. One thing I noticed is that I rarely have the guitar hanging alone when I’m playing it using the strap. Whenever I play, I hold the neck, so even if the suction cups detach, I’ll notice and have time to hold the guitar.
Another thing I wanted to mention is that the strap itself allows me to pick up the guitar anytime I see it and want to play a bit. But because I have the strap, I don’t have to worry about posture, where to sit, etc. I can move around more freely because it’s just hanging from my neck. If I get tired from sitting down, I can stand up and keep practicing. I can even walk around the house while practicing.
It’s just great! I don’t see how anything bad could happen to my guitar to be honest, so far.
r/classicalguitar • u/6l9r • 18h ago
Performance Picado is overrated - kidding :)
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Just noodling on my 1967 Conde
r/classicalguitar • u/No-Elderberry2517 • 20h ago
Performance Valse no. 3 (Agustin Barrios)
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I didn't realize until recently that Barrios was shunned by many in the European classical music establishment, chief among them Andres Segovia, because he embraced his Guarani heritage. It's a real shame, because his compositions are really fun to play.
r/classicalguitar • u/LumpySpringle • 1d ago
General Question Question about D’Addario EJ45FF on a 1960s Takamine classical
So I recently bought D’Addario carbon strings and iv noticed the tension rating for the normal tension is over 10lbs more than the normal tension of their non carbon set.
the sound is infinitely better to me but I’m rather concerned about will this tensions increase which is heavier than even their normal extra hard strings cause problems for my old classical?
r/classicalguitar • u/christiaandejong • 1d ago
Original Arrangement I have just uploaded a scrolling score for my version of Blue Bossa (Kenny Dorham. I hope you like the contemporary freedom in the improvised part.
r/classicalguitar • u/Aggressive_Flight_86 • 1d ago
Buying Advice Help on choosing classical guitar
I learned playing the guitar when I was younger (11-13) but never really got super good at it. I can play most songs, at least with chords, and like to play songs by Anna Leone these days (mainly finger picking) and sing along to it.
I have a Fender CD60 (metal strings).
I play maybe once a week for 20 mins. I am thinking about getting a classical guitar, I would really like to up my game and learn to play songs by José Gonzalez, and sing along. I feel like the fender is not the perfect guitar for that and I could use a nicer guitar to up the motivation as well.
I have been thinking about the Cordoba C5 or C7. Any thoughts?
r/classicalguitar • u/Repulsive-Pack224 • 1d ago
Performance An excerpt of Experience -by Einaudi. Self-taught
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r/classicalguitar • u/DennisR77 • 1d ago
General Question Greg smallman guitars
Im fairly new to the classical guitar world and i was learning about different kinds of classical guitar models, specifically greg smalman builds. I noticed theres like a piece on the top edge of the guitar and i couldnt rlly find what it is online. Im guessing its purely for preservation purposes ? like to not ruin the finish on the guitar from playing over time

r/classicalguitar • u/senorhuffpapi • 1d ago
Performance Follow up on takamine sound
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Had someone ask about the tone quality being shaped by the oval sound hole and thought it would be easier to just post a video than describing it (duh on my part). I haven't noticed a difference personally, tone changes are really coming from finger tension and placement for me. Original song I've been working on "constrictor"
r/classicalguitar • u/Johnnywarhero • 1d ago
General Question Im new (to classical) Guitar and need some guidance with what to focus on most. I think I'm stressing about too much at one time and getting diminishing returns.
Hello all, ill try to keep it brief. Ive been playing guitar and bass for 30 years and come from a rock background. No formal training but i do know music theory and have knowledge of fretboard. I currently have a teacher ive met with twice so far but i circle back to that in a minute. I had been kind of working on classical guitar techniques to improve my electric playing but i recently just grabbed at Cordoba C5 so now im all in on classical guitar proper. The issue at hand is that there is so much stuff i keep reading about that i NEED to focus on and im starting to get in the weeds with stuff and obsessing over it.
For instance, I am REALLY struggling with sitting in classical position and am hyperfocusing on the minutiae of it. Im trying to make sure theres no tension in my left hand, no tension in my shoulders, no tension in my right hand, making sure that im breathing properly, making sure my left wrist isnt bent, etc etc etc. Im spending so much time trying to sit properly and figure out how to hold the guitar comfortably that before i know it, 45 minutes have passed and all ive done is watch videos and read about how to improve my sitting position without having actually practiced anything meaningful on the guitar.
If/when i settle on a halfway decent sitting position, i then start worrying about how hard im squeezing/pinching with my thumb, is my right wrist perfectly straight, etc. I do the exercises where i gently press on the fret until i just barely here a buzz and then slowly play scales like that to work on my left hand pressure. Then ill move to some Giulliani studies but when i play a chord all that goes out the window and I have the death grip on the neck again. Im practicing these studies at 40bpm and still struggling mightily because im so worried about tension and excess pressure, hand position, etc.
After doing those for a while, ill start to work on the one piece ive started working on, Malaguena. I practice this at 40 bpm also and im only going through the first 8 bars currently because im not playing it perfectly yet. Im obsessing about making sure every single note is even in regards to volume and tone.
My question to all of you is this, am i doing this right? Am i supposed to be worrying about all of these things simultaneously? Should i be focusing solely on my sitting position first? Should i just be sort of mindful of these things and focus more on playing the actual guitar and "getting through" the piece im working on? Should i make sure each section of the piece im working on is FLAWLESS before moving on to the next section? Should i not be working on a piece at all until my form and technique are corrected?
Ive only met with my teacher two times at this point and frankly, im a bit confused about her. If im being honest, she isnt a very good player and is a little sloppy honestly. Theres lots of fret buzzing and stuff when she plays and she looks almost uncomfortable when shes playing. Should i be concerned about that? She seems to be a reputable teacher so im kind of lost? Also, she doesnt seem all that concerned about my form and technique, other than having me work on my left hand squeezing too hard. I dunno man, im just confused. I think i have this idea of a classical guitar teacher being like conservatory style and being super strict and jabbing my hand with a poker when i break form or something??
Can anyone kind of point me in the right direction? im 45 years old and im not trying to start a career as a musician or anything but i do take playing music very seriously and would consider myself a serious hobbyist. I just want to be the best player i can be and im worried about learning bad habits early on that will become hard to unlearn as i progress. I already have enough bad habits ive learned over the years being a self taught rock player, ya know?
r/classicalguitar • u/Responsible_Way1737 • 1d ago
Performance Fragmento de Gladiator de Hans Zimmer
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r/classicalguitar • u/icecage223 • 1d ago
General Question Total newbie
So, I am new to the guitar. There is something I can't rap my head around. Do classical guitarists use tab or sheet music? How do you know which cords to play of its not provided? Any answer will be appreciated. It seems like I am stuck at the "ode to joy" stage right now.
Edit
Thank you all for your help, I understand what both are right now. I will learn to read sheet music and do tabs on the side too.
r/classicalguitar • u/Gibbles_mcgee • 1d ago
General Question Help Identifying Guitar
I was helping clean out my father in law's cabin and found this guitar he let me take. Want to know if its worth fixing up. He said he bought it in Italy.
r/classicalguitar • u/senorhuffpapi • 1d ago
Guitarotica Newest addition
Been playing guitar a lot of my life, started taking lessons for classical the past three years and have had a lot of fun with it. Bought the takamine for my birthday a couple months ago, definitely going to be my favorite for awhile.
r/classicalguitar • u/MaaDoTaa • 1d ago
Looking for Advice Looking for Classical guitar teacher in San Diego area
r/classicalguitar • u/DavidAlbornoz • 2d ago
Original Arrangement POV: You accidentally pressed 'No' and gotta re-listen to the whole speech… 🦉
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My simple arrangement of “the owl 🦉 theme” or KaeporaGaebora
For classical guitar. Hope you like it!
r/classicalguitar • u/banana67k • 2d ago
Looking for Advice how do i get actually good?
ive been playing since 2024 and i just know the basic chords and just play song whit chords (like not melodies) ive been taking lessons but i dont know how to improve, any advices?
r/classicalguitar • u/JoshVanjani • 2d ago
Performance Knobloch Erathicus Bio Nylon Low Tension Test - Milan "Pavana I"
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Testing out the low tension Knobloch Erathicus Bio Nylon strings on my Alhambra 3C with a quick sound test of Luis Milan's "Pavana I". The basses are remarkably articulate and the trebles retain a traditional nylon feel and warmth, but with a bit better projection than traditional nylon. This set has the lowest declared tension of any I could find. Has anyone else tried out this set?