Classical Guitar Course

Lesson 1 • Left-Hand Position and Fretting

This module establishes thumb placement, curved fingers, and efficient fretting pressure. Proper left-hand form prevents tension and enables clean notes.

Lesson 2 • Reading Guitar Notation and Tablature

This module introduces standard notation, tablature, and fingering symbols used in classical scores. You will gain the literacy needed to study written repertoire.

Lesson 3 • Instrument Setup and Posture

This module covers guitar selection, string action, and seated playing position. Proper setup prevents injury and enables efficient technique development.

Lesson 4 • Right-Hand Finger Placement

This module introduces the roles of the p, i, m, and a fingers and the wrist arch over the soundhole. Proper placement serves as the foundation of tone production.

Lesson 1 • First-Position Scale Fingerings

This module introduces major and natural minor scales in first position using standard fingerings. Scales connect left-hand mechanics to musical intervals and keys.

Lesson 2 • Barre and Half-Barre Chords

You will develop full and half barre chords using efficient left-hand pressure and wrist rotation. Barre technique unlocks chord shapes across the entire neck.

Lesson 3 • Position Shifts and Neck Navigation

This module introduces guide fingers, pivot shifts, and smooth position changes. Reliable shifting is required for repertoire that spans multiple neck positions.

Lesson 4 • Slurs: Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

This module teaches ascending and descending slurs as a core classical technique. Slurs increase fluency and are essential for expressive phrasing.

Lesson 1 • Musical Form and Phrase Analysis

This module identifies binary, ternary, and rondo forms and phrase structures in classical pieces. Formal analysis shapes your interpretive decisions and memorization strategies.

Lesson 2 • Intervals and Ear Training

You will identify and play all diatonic intervals on the guitar with aural recognition. Interval fluency supports sight-reading, tuning, and musical interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Chord Construction and Harmony

You will build triads and seventh chords from scale degrees and map them to guitar voicings. Harmonic understanding enables informed interpretation and improvisation.

Lesson 4 • Rhythm, Meter, and Counting

This module covers compound and simple meters, syncopation, and subdivision for accurate rhythm. Rhythmic precision is essential for ensemble playing and stylistic authenticity.

Lesson 1 • Rasgueado and Strumming Techniques

This module introduces flamenco-derived rasgueado and classical strumming for rhythmic passages. These techniques expand your tonal and rhythmic range in advanced repertoire.

Lesson 2 • Free Stroke Mastery

You will refine the free stroke for melody and arpeggios with consistent tone and volume. Free stroke is the primary right-hand technique in classical repertoire.

Lesson 3 • Rest Stroke for Melody

You will develop the rest stroke for projecting single-note melodies above accompaniment. You will learn when and how to apply rest stroke for musical effect.

Lesson 4 • Tremolo Technique

You will build the p-a-m-i tremolo through slow subdivision practice toward an even, singing tone. Tremolo is a signature classical guitar effect used in key repertoire.

Lesson 1 • Memorization Strategies

You will apply visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and analytical memory to classical repertoire. Reliable memorization is essential for solo performance without a music stand.

Lesson 2 • Romantic Character Pieces

This module explores expressive Romantic miniatures that require rubato, dynamic contrast, and tone colour. You will apply right-hand tone techniques to musical storytelling.

Lesson 3 • Classical-Era Sonatinas and Studies

This module covers Classical-era sonatinas and technical studies by Sor, Giuliani, and Carcassi. These works develop formal structure awareness and balanced two-voice texture.

Lesson 4 • Score Study and Fingering Decisions

This module teaches systematic score analysis, fingering annotation, and practice planning. Efficient score study reduces learning time and improves musical accuracy.

Lesson 1 • Tone Color and Timbral Variation

This module explores the full tonal spectrum from sul ponticello to sul tasto using right-hand positioning. Deliberate timbral choices are a hallmark of mature classical interpretation.

Lesson 2 • Natural and Artificial Harmonics

You will produce bell-like natural harmonics and stopped artificial harmonics across the neck. Harmonics are essential in 20th-century and contemporary classical repertoire.

Lesson 3 • Ligado Runs and Velocity

You will build fast, slur-based ligado passages for velocity and fluency in advanced repertoire. Ligado runs reduce right-hand workload and create a legato sound.

Lesson 4 • Left-Hand Pizzicato and Percussion

This module introduces left-hand pizzicato and body percussion effects used in modern scores. These techniques expand the guitar's percussive and timbral palette.

Lesson 1 • Spanish and Latin Romantic Repertoire

This module explores Tárrega, Albéniz, and Granados transcriptions with idiomatic Spanish colour. These works demand advanced tone control, rubato, and rhythmic vitality.

Lesson 2 • Classical and Early Romantic Masters

You will perform advanced works by Sor, Giuliani, and Mertz that require refined technique and formal understanding. Classical-era style demands balanced phrasing and structural clarity.

Lesson 3 • Building a Recital Program

You will design a balanced recital program with stylistic contrast, proper pacing, and audience engagement. Program building is a professional skill for concert and competition performance.

Lesson 4 • 20th-Century and Contemporary Works

You will perform works by Villa-Lobos, Brouwer, and Rodrigo that require extended techniques and new notation. 20th-century style demands flexibility across tonal and atonal languages.

Lesson 1 • Effective Practice Strategies

This module introduces deliberate practice, blocked vs. interleaved practice, and self-monitoring. Efficient practice accelerates skill acquisition and helps prevent plateaus.

Lesson 2 • Competition and Audition Preparation

This module prepares you for competition repertoire requirements, audition etiquette, and jury feedback. Competition experience accelerates artistic growth and professional visibility.

Lesson 3 • Recording and Self-Assessment

You will use audio and video recording to objectively identify technical and musical weaknesses. Self-assessment through recording serves as a professional development tool.

Lesson 4 • Stage Presence and Communication

You will develop confident stage entry, bowing, and non-verbal audience communication. Stage presence shapes audience perception even before you play the first note.