How to Play Classical Guitar
Classical guitar is a very rigid artwork. There are many
stipulations and agreements within the guitar community about how to play the
instrument in a classical setting. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Steps
1 Get some music you want to play. There's a lot out there.
The music ranges from Renaissance to Contemporary. If you want to be a serious
classical guitarist, forget about tabs. You will need to read music in staff
notation with the treble clef. All serious classical guitarists write and read
with this system.
2 Set up. Seat yourself with your classical guitar in a chair
without arms. Also, you will need to get a footstool. A footstool will raise
one of your legs when you are sitting down so that you can be in a proper
position while playing.
3 Place your left thumb behind the neck of your guitar. It
should be perfectly centered on the neck, allowing your fingers a great deal of
mobility.
4 Keep your wrist
straight, and make sure each of your fingers can press down on the strings at
an angle. This may be a bit uncomfortable at first, but you will be able to
get used to it.
5 Position your right
hand comfortably above the strings near the sound hole. You will most
likely begin playing with just your thumb and index finger, but make sure to
practice using all of your fingers equally. This will allow for the broadest
possibilities when playing classical pieces.
6 With your piece of
music, begin carefully. Do not rush, and take your time to ensure that your
form is good. Do not slouch or neglect a slumping wrist.
7 Pick the strings
with your right hand. Most classical guitarists play with long fingernails
in order to get a better, louder sound, but not all. If you don't or can't grow
your fingernails to be able to play the strings, use finger picks or acrylic
nails. If neither option is comfortable, you may try playing with the pads of
your fingers, but this takes practice and determination, as both hands will
start to hurt.
8 Practice!
Practicing frequently is very important, but as a classical guitarist technique
is key. Perfect practice makes perfect, but bad practice will get you nowhere.
It may even permanently damage the joints in your hands.
Advice
- Don't get discouraged! Classical guitar is extremely hard to
grasp at first, but obstacles can be overcome with a little determination and
practice.
- Don't strain yourself. Take your time and ensure that you
fully grasp what the music is trying to get you to do.
- Don't hurt yourself. If your fingers feel strained, take a
brake.
- Find a good teacher. Someone with experience may help you
along much faster than struggling with this unique art form by yourself.
Warnings
Don't kill the strings! Play just hard enough to get the
sound right, but not too hard where you start to choke the sound out of the
instrument. Be gentle and firm, not rigid and tense.
You need
-Classical guitar -Guitar music -Armless chair -Music stand -Footstool
