Conference napalm::guitar

    
    	I haven't looked at these in a while but I can recommend
    a few method books. Fred Noad has a series, and last I saw there
    was some ok music in them.
    
    Aaron Shearer has a method book that's good. 
    
    If you decide to really get serious there's a series by Emilio
    Pujol that you can spend years on.
    
    What I've found in general is there are good exercises in these,
    but not always great music.  You might also want a copy of the
    Segovia scale exercises. Using these with a metronome is great
    for both hands.
    
    Also, I've got a slew of simple pieces and I'd be happy to
    xerox some for you. Just send me a mail message with your
    mailstop.
    
    Bob

	How's your Music theory?  I think you will need to be all brushed
	up in this area for classical guitar.  I started taking theory/
	classical lessons several years ago and was told to get a few books.
	On was called "The Guitarists Harmony" (a theory book) and Andres
	Segovia's scale study.  If you want I could make you a copy of the
	scale study.  It's not too many pages long (~10).

	-gary  (not a classical guitarist..8-)

Thanks folks, I'll take all the help I can get.

                                John

    I've just started to teach myself classical.
    
    I bought one about 4 weeks ago and love playing it so much that
    I haven't REALLY played anything else since.
    
    What I'm finding is how sloppy your technique (particularly left
    hand) can be on electric and not matter, and yet that technique
    is *SO* critical to getting good tone on classical.
    
    I have discovered so many flaws in my technique as the result of
    this it is truly depressing.   I am trying to work on them but
    practicing (which I usually love to do) is now very tedious because
    I'm trying to drop bad habits that have been well established from
    years of playing that way (mainly playing with fingers too flat).
    
    If I was teaching a new beginner I might actually START them out
    on a gut string guitar.
    
    	db

    Yes, I know how you feel. I started playing folk, folk/rock etc.
    when I was a teenager, then got serious about classical guitar
    after hearing Segovia records about 10 years ago.
    
    I really consider it a different instrument, and approached the
    technique with that in mind. I had all the bad habits and it is
    very tedious work, as you said, to learn proper technique.
    
    Part of the point is that good left hand technique and tone
    production do matter regardless of the music. Classical
    guitar is just much more subtle.
    
    It is difficult to start from scratch after playing for a while,
    but hang in there, it'll pay off.
    
    ps. This probably sounds like an ad in the Phoenix, but:
        to the guy in MRO who asked me for some sheet music, I
        xeroxed some but lost your mailstop. If you send me another
        mail message I'll whisk it along.
    
    Bob c.

    Hello,
    
    I am another of those loonies who, after years of strumming along
    got bitten by the classical bug.
    
    There's a good series of books that start from fairly easy exercise
    and work you up to "real" works by the time you get to volume III:
    
    	"The hour of the guitarist".
    
    Otherwise, Try some Frederick Noad books, as recommended in reply
    1. I personally recommend taking some private lessons. It may not
    cure all your "bad habits", but it will help to locate them.
    
    Also , don't lose hope. It takes a while to get all your fingers
    twisted the right way, but the rewards when you find yourself playing
    Villa-Lobos  or Bach after 18 months of reasonable work are just
    great !
    
    			Musically yours,
    
    			Philippe.
    

    Please excuse me if I am covering old ground ...
    
    Just moved back into the Merrimack NH area after being away for
    several years.  I'm looking for 1) a teacher for classical playing
    and theory 2) others to form duets and ensembles for lunch-time
    and evening playing 3) a "teacher" for folk technique.
    
    (The first point relates to the base note)
    
    Any feedback and pointers to other information will be appreciated.
    
    Thanks.   Bob
    

    I decided to start practicing up on my classical again after having
    given it up about 13 years ago.  I picked up Etude No. 1 by Villa-
    Lobos (love that diminished run down the neck with the same chord
    position ;^) and I can't figure out the harmonics at the end of
    the piece or the two very last chords.  Is there anyone out there
    who's familiar with this study that could help me out?
    
    	joe.

    
    Joe,
    
    I grabbed the music on my way out the door this morning. The
    indications for the harmonics aren't at all clear on my edition
    either. But, this is what is looks like to me:
    
    I think they're all natural harmonics: 
    12th fret g string, 5th b string, 7th e string
    12th g, 12th e, 12th b, 5th g
    12th e, 5th b, 5th g, and 5th e string with the fermata
    
    The next chord is just rolled with the top note emphasized. 
    Do a 1/2 bar at the 8th fret to make it easier to reach the high e 
    with your pinky.
    So it would be: open a, 3rd finger c (10th fret), 2nd finger e (9th), 
    1/2 bar 8th fret, and pinky on the e at the 12 fret.
    I would do a rest stroke on the top note to bring it out.                
    
    The last chord is also just rolled, it says lento for the last two
    chords so I think you could separate the notes as much as you want.
    The last chord is a c# minor 7th with the e in the bass and the
    7th on top.
    
    I could be wrong about the harmonics. I'll play it when I go home
    tonight to see if that way makes any sense. 
    
    Hope this helps,
    Bob

    Thanks Bob, I'll give it a try tonight.  Only thing is I believe
    that the harmonics start on the 5th fret G string then to twelfth
    fret B string.  The reason I'm confused is that on my copy it looks
    like there's a C harmonic in there and it just doesn't seem right.
    
    joe.

    
    You could be right, it's ambiguous. I'm pretty sure that they are
    all natural harmonics though.
    
    I think what's meant by the C is that you hit the harmonic where
    you would play the C note. If you fret the 3rd string 5th fret
    it's a C but a harmonic there is a G. The last harmonic there
    is an A note (fretted) but the harmonic is an E.
    
    It's confusing.
    
    Bob

    I'm just a beginner in Classical Guitar and I've just come across this
    notes file (Think it's great).
    
    >50.5 (Bob Conroy)
    Can I take you up on your offer for a copy of Sheet music...simple
    exercises. My mail stop is QCAV01::BENNY .
    
    Would appreciate any help (in hard copies) that will start me off into
    the wonderful world of classical.
    
    Thanx
    
    Ben

    Gary,
    
    Just saw your note. Could you send me a hard copy of Segovia's scale
    study. My mailstop is QCAV01::BENNY
    
    Thanx
    
    Ben

    
    Hello All,
    
    I've just came across this conference and I've not long started to 
    learn to read music.  Could I ask a favour and would you please send 
    me a copy of Segovia's scale study aswell.  
    
    My mailstop is THERAJ::DPYPER at SQF.
    
    Many Thanks,
    
    Davie...