Classical Guitar Shed

Classical Guitar resources to help you to foster grace and power, practice with focus and direction, and play beautifully. For more like this, also visit https://www.classicalguitarshed.com/

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How to Create Your Guitar Practice Schedule (what to practice)

Discover the main areas to focus on and form a guitar practice schedule. Be organized and have a plan, and you'll have more fun and get better faster.

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How to Warm Up for your Classical Guitar Practice

How to Warm Up for your Classical Guitar Practice (YES!) http://wp.me/p3lzwS-9C

Classical guitar practice? Warm Up!

What is the best warm-up for classical guitarists?  Well…….

The short answer:

Perhaps the easiest and quickest warm-up is to simply soak your hands and wrists in hot water (ahhhh…). Play slowly at first and avoid any big stretches or bar chords for the first few moments.

The long answer:

Classical guitar practice can be a very strenuous endeavor. We ask our…

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I and M Alternation (RH technique) w/ video

I and M Alternation (RH technique) w/ video

When we play melodies or scales on the classical guitar, we need a comfortable, reliable way to execute them.   In this tutorial you can discover a method of approaching right hand scale work that uses the natural movement of the hand as an ideal to strive for.

  Print a reminder list of these steps and considerations!

(more…)

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A Few Thoughts on Excess Tension in Your Playing

A Few Thoughts on Excess Tension in Your Playing

Exploring my own tension habits on the guitar has led me to spend copious hours over the years re-working my technique and movements, and studying with an Alexander Technique teacher (AT is all about breaking habits of tension).  I also notice excess tension in many of my students, and work with them to change the habits that lead to it.

The question comes up quite frequently, and so I decided to…

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7 Steps to Learning Any Piece Quickly and Easily (video series)

7 Steps to Learning Any Piece Quickly and Easily (video series)

As practicing musicians, we all benefit from approaching new pieces with some sort of plan.  That is what this post is all about.

When we decide to learn a new piece of music, there are a number of ways we can proceed.

Bad example number one:

Among the most common methods, many will just sight-read the piece into submission.  They just hack through it over and over, hoping that eventually it will…

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42 Questions to Blow (open) Your Musical Mind

42 Questions to Blow (open) Your Musical Mind

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Seek and you shall find”? What if it were absolutely true.  What if what we expected and looked for, we often found?  If our attitudes really did shape reality, what might we do differently?  What would change?

Science has repeatedly found that our beliefs, curiosities, perspectives and attitudes have a significant effect on outcomes. This is why placeboswork so…

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"Oh, My Aching Shoulder": Classical Guitar and Pain

Let me say upfront, that if you are searching for a quick-fix and easy answer for this issue,…

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(tech2) Rasqueados Everywhere: Build Chops FAST (for Both Hands)

  Most classical guitarist, outside current conservatory students or professional players, have limited time in which to practice each day.

What if there were something we could do off the guitar where ever we happen to be, that would directly help our…

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What could you do in the perfect practice space?

One of the easiest and most beneficial things that you can do to make your practice more effective and enjoyable, is to enter a space that as well set up and properly equipped.

By staying organized and having everything that you need at arm’s length,…

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(Tech1) Reach Further and Gain Independence, All in One

  This left hand stretching and independence exercise has been dubbed, “Odair’s Favorite” by Scott Tennant.  It has long been a favorite of mine to recommend to cocky students who think they are hot stuff.

But really, it is a wonderful way to improve the…

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The Single Most Important Practice Skill

In our daily endeavors practicing the classical guitar, we are required to master a number of skills and practice techniques, and we must learn to place our attention on a myriad of details.

In our lessons, our teachers bring to our attention little…

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Songs from Bridges, Level 1, now on YouTube (and here)

Since I frequently teach from the Bridges repertoire books, I decided to video some of the common songs my beginning students play, as a reference.  Here are most of the pieces from the Bridges Level One book.

These can also be found as a playlist on the…

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Slurs: The Classical Guitar Equivalent to 6-Pack Abs

Jack LeLane, on his 70th birthday, pulled 70 boats, each with 7 people, 7 miles in the open ocean.  

He must have been one seriously in-shape old man for that one.  

When it comes to guitar, that ocean can be a sea of notes, or a fast passage, or a tough…

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50 Ways To Test Your Musical Memory

Musical memory can be a funny thing. When you’re in your practice room, or at home, you can play…

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