“My improvement has more than exceeded my expectations. I went from only being able to play from TAB to playing and taking my grade 5 practical exam in fewer lessons that if I had taken one lesson per week for a year.”
classical guitar
With its instantly recognisable and beautifully melodic sound, the classical guitar has been a popular choice of instrument for over 300 years, being used in everything from orchestras to Spanish flamenco bands.
The classical guitar (or Spanish guitar) is an acoustic instrument, meaning it does not need an amplifier to be heard because the sound is amplified in the guitar's body.
Below are some of the main traits of the classical guitar:
It has a wider neck than electric or acoustic guitars, and less frets.
It uses nylon strings - these have less tension than electric or acoustic guitars and tend to be easier on the fingers.
Classical guitar players use their fingers and thumb to play the strings.
Classical guitar players need to use a footstool or guitar rest to play in the correct position.
Classical guitar players learn to read musical notation.
WHAT’S IT LIKE LEARNING classical guitar AT TOBY’S MUSIC LESSONS?
Toby’s Music Lessons aims to give you everything you need to become a better, more rounded guitar player:
TECHNIQUES
By practising a combination of tried-and-tested and new and innovative techniques you’ll have your fingers doing exactly what you want them to do in no time! You will also be learning scales, sight reading and aural skills to improve your musicianship and ace the exams!
SONGS
You will be learning songs by the great guitar composers such as Bach, Sor and Weiss. The songs you learn can tie in closely with ABRSM exams and you will get benefits from choosing Toby’s Music Lessons such as mp3 recordings of songs, digital copies of the score, and recordings of yourself so you can analyse your progress.
GENERAL MUSICIANSHIP
This is everything to do with the guitar that isn’t covered by techniques and songs, such as brands of guitars, string changing and maintenance, case studies on the top composers and modern guitar players, cultures surrounding the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern periods, and new products and trends that come out. Learning about this is sure to inspire you and deepen your knowledge of the guitar.