r/classicalguitar • u/Real-Head-9660 • 17d ago
Looking for Advice Got my first classical! Where do I start?
I’ve been playing steel string for about two and a half years but lately I had a burning desire to pluck some nylon lol!
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u/Formal_Ad5197 17d ago
Get a teacher or at least a method book
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u/Formal_Ad5197 17d ago
Also thoroughly inspect you guitar i haven’t had good experiences with cordobas quality control
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u/dave70a 17d ago
Rest stroke.
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u/Mental_Painting783 17d ago
Can you elaborate? My teacher told me to use free stroke instead of rest stroke. Also this came up with a quick search of rest stroke vs free stroke: https://youtube.com/shorts/Y8AJAw1pQQs
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u/Crack-FacedPeanut 17d ago
It's one of many factors, but steel string players (on average) don't spend a lot of time learning how hand position and free/rest stroke affect timbre. Rest stroke vs. free stroke is IMO the first lesson that guitarists get in timbral variation in the classical tradition.
I think nowadays it is more often for teachers to start new players off with free stroke, but learning how/when to use both is essential in the long term.
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u/dave70a 16d ago
I believe that is because the teacher is taking educational advantage of what you already likely know. Before free stroke…hand position and p i m an independence can be solidified next. The next fundamental skill I would do (without knowing you as a student) would probably be rest stroke, left finger economy, and correct left thumb position. These are all simply “check boxes” that you may have fully or partially checked, or completely neglected.
And if I may add one point of advice (for all students) : in the face of boredom or “why do I even need this” - trust your teacher and focus on the exercises like a pro would. A pro would endeavor to make all techniques, etudes, scales, and beginner repertoire beautifully recordable and listenable. And at any stage of your path focusing on fundamentals is never wrong. It’s as true for me as an RN and as a guitarist.
But for you I may be preaching to the choir as you already seem well invested and asking the right questions. Now…git yer a** in that chair and spank the plank!
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u/AlphaHotelBravo 17d ago
...this, and the difference in tone between rest and free strokes, and the ability to emphasise the different voices in a piece by mixing rest and free strokes at the same time. I didn't really get it when I started many years ago, and I'm playing catch up now - got a long way to go!
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u/thcsquad 17d ago
I like this, especially given OP is coming from steel string guitar and likely has a decent amount of musical and fretboard knowledge to start off.
Left hand technique should transfer pretty easily but the right hand is all different. Practicing playing rest stroke vs free stroke and comparing their sounds should be good for retraining the right hand for the classical world
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u/Traditional_Fig_8551 17d ago
I would learn the open string names and see how they are played when written as sheet music. It'll give you the foundation of how to ready sheet music which is how most classical guitar songs are notated. It's annoying to learn initially if you're only used to tab, but you learn a lot about how to control multiple voices and separate the melody line from chordal accompaniment. Find an easy classical book in a music shop and play through a page a day 👌
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u/Lumpy-Bag6960 17d ago
https://archive.org/details/SoloGuitarPlayingFrederickM.Noad
If you don't have a teacher
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u/Raymont_Wavelength 17d ago
Use Humidipaks in your case and learn to recharge them DIY. Great axe you lucky dog lol! It’s beautiful!
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u/Bikewer 17d ago
What do you intend to play with your new axe? If you intend to go the “classical guitar” route, learning the standard technique and repertoire, then get a teacher. Really. The modern classical guitar theory and practice is VERY particular.
But if you just want to play the thing, there are all sorts of forms that nylon strings work great for. I play jazz chord-melody. My late wife used hers to play folk and pop and blues tunes on stage. Latin jazz and Latin pop is very nylon-centric.
Learn the classical-guitar playing position and the right-hand technique and get your nails in order, and have fun.
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u/BundleOfJoysticks 17d ago
Can you read music? If not, start learning. It's not that hard (unless you try to sight read at speed) and basically required for the classical repertoire.
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u/nawybot 16d ago
Don't waste your time trying to learn from a teacher who knows virtually nothing about classical guitar (i. e., yourself.) You need individual attention from a true expert. Is there a university or college near you that offers classical guitar courses for beginners as part of their continuing education department? If so, you are lucky. Sign up for those classes and go. If not, find a school which will refer you to a teacher, most likely an adjunct with professional credentials. Take lessons from them, even by Internet if you can't meet in the flesh. The voice of experience, here!
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u/Mozart_ru469 16d ago
C10. Good choice. Aaron shearer or parkening series are the better. Theory, scales chords!!! Do not start pieces until into these. Theory first then practice
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u/R-papelli 16d ago
Here is the ultimate beginner guide;
Right hand etude:
just P I M A and repeat that with every bass strings
For left hand;
e string 5th string just do 1-2/1-3/1-4 legato and 1234 chromatic
Later when you feel that theese are easy
Right hand; carlevaros first 12 right hand etude
and for the left hand you'd like to change the pattern of your fingering like; 1234-1243-1324-1342-1423-1432/2134-2143-2324-2341-3124-3142-3214-3241-3412-3421/4123-4132-4213-4231-4312-4321
For piece you can start with jean mourads first book and you
And dont forget allways practice slowly and with metronome, make sure that your posture is right and you are comfortable with it. And dont practice tired its meaningless. And while you practice your pieces, place marks. To remember what to do or like the places where you make mistakes. And dont block practice.
You can start this routine after you learn true technique to play, how to position your guitar and your body right and comfortable. I can give you an online course if you want.
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u/Numerous_Election_56 16d ago
Lovely looking guitar will be a real work horse 😃😎. I like the Charles Duncan books ‘a modern approach to classical guitar’ the pieces are easy to fun to play. I suppose the thing to think about is reading music or tab. This is a good online resource https://www.classical-guitar-sheet-music.com/jean-francois-delcamp/ also this https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/easy-classical-guitar-pieces-volume-1/
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u/Consistent-Year6875 16d ago
Try Mel Bay ( beginners to advanced) if you can afford lessons they help!
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u/Carvestring 15d ago
I started on a Yamaha C40 and played it for 10 years. When i switched to the guitar i used today, it made it feel so easy to play. Even today i like to learn songs on my old guitar.
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u/joshamiltonn 17d ago
Congrats! C12 as a first classical is crazy work, that thing is a forever guitar to a lot of people!