"Beginners Forum" Invitation

I wonder if there are other newer classical guitarists who would like to discuss learning and repertoire. I am "technically" Grade 2 - which means I passed a Grade 1 examination, but I still feel so new to classical guitar. 

My beginning questions for anyone willing to join in this discussion:

1. Did you complete the Tonebase Beginning Guitar course, part 1?

2. Did you take any examination(s)? 

3, What's on your music stand? (sorry - stolen from Martin Z.)

4. What do you believe is your biggest challenge with classical guitar?

5. What piece(s) would you like to be playing in a year?

6. What guitar(s) are you playing right now?

7. What guitar would be your dream guitar?

Cheers! Michelle P.

36 replies

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    • Richard_M_Levy
    • 7 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Have you looked at the the SICCA line of classical guitars? They are in your price range and look promising in term of quality. They price is between 1000 and 2500 euros.  I own a Hippner Hasuer 1939 model. Find the playability exceptional and the sound is clear and rich.  A few flaws in the finish, but it is all about the sound.  also own a Kenny Hill World Player guitar which is in mint condition and would sell for $1500.   Check out luither made guitars by SICCA:

     

    https://www.siccasguitars.com/search?q=sicca+luthier+guitars&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 7 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I watch a lot of the Siccas Guitars YT videos but I almost never pay attention to the particular instrument being featured. I didn't even realize that they're producing their own line of guitars. I gather their business model involves in-house design and outsourced manufacture, hardly an innovative idea, but relatively new in the world of classical guitar. (Although arguably, Japanese firms like Yamaha have been doing this for years, with workshops in Taiwan and Indonesia as well as in Japan.) A French company called 'Leluthdore' tried recently to produce moderately priced lutes this way, but ran into problems when their Chinese 'supplier' started rebranding the product and selling it independently at a lower price. (Welcome to the 'Wild East'!) In the end, the whole operation appears to have been shut down, and the lutes are no longer available, which is a pity, as they were by all accounts very nice instruments. Hopefully this in not fate of Siccas!

      • “Do or do not. There is no try”
      • Michelle_P
      • 6 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Before I found my Hippner guitar on reverb, I did consider one of the SICCA guitars. But I'm happy with my find. You're right about this builder - the finish isn't absolutely perfect but he does a nice job of voicing and building because the sound and playability is great.

    • Robert_Love
    • 6 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I am very pleased with my Siccas brand. It was about 2500 euros plus shipping. But, I had to pay a tariff here in the US! Ouch. To FedEx before they would deliver it. It has settled in very well. Tone is true. Wonderful playability. Interesting design with cedar AND spruce on the top. Sides and back are Wenga. Never heard of that before. But glad I made the purchase. It way outclasses my other instruments.   . It has been a challenge to rediscover the instrument. Tonebase lessons have been very helpful. Slow and steady. And relax. Thanks for responding.  .

    • Fiona_Conolly
    • 5 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Im a beginner with nearly 4 terms up my belt.  I am a mature aged student with very little music education behind me.  I know how to read music but cant sight read very well so tend to play be ear.  Consequently memorising pieces is essential for me.

     

    I play a Cordoba C10 guitar (made in Spain) with cedar sound board,  rosewood case and ebony fretboard.  lt has a lovely mellow tone and Im enjoying the experience of playing it.

     

    I live in Canberra (Australia's national capital) and I'm currently learning Spanish Romance to perform at the Street Theatre in mid July. 

     

    I recently watched the tonebase instruction video for Spanish Romance which has accelerated my learning overnight! I have just about perfected the barre chords in the E major section and now have the technique to be able to change chords rapidly. I still need to perfect the dynamics, technical aspects of fingering and consistency of my chord changes, but I am confident that I will have the piece up to speed well ahead of my deadline. So thank you for the opportunity to try out this site.

      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 5 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi Fiona - welcome to the ToneBase Community. You'll fit in nicely here, should you decide to stay - we're mostly 'mature' ourselves, and although not everyone is a beginner, we're all still learning! It sounds like you're progressing well with the 'Spanish Romance' - a piece that is by no means easy, if you ask me. If you're managing those nasty chord shifts in the major section, you're definitely on the home stretch. Good luck with your upcoming performance!

      • Fiona_Conolly
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

       would love to find my way back to the spanish romance video tutorial but finding it hard to navigate this site.  Not sure I can spare the time to stuff asround searching for it much more.😪

      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I agree that the site could be a little more user-friendly - although once you're familiar with the layout, it's not too difficult to find things. I imagine the tutorial you were watching was this one featuring Thomas Viloteau: 

      https://app.tonebase.co/guitar/courses/player/thomas-viloteau-teaches-spanish-romance-by-anonymous

      • Fiona_Conolly
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

      thanks for this.  Its not the video I was watching but gives me another perspective which is great as it gives me more options for fingering.  Cheers

      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Oh, I see now that there's a different lesson on the Romance presented by Scott Tennant. Is this perhaps the one you were looking for:

      https://app.tonebase.co/guitar/courses/player/scott-tennant-anonymous-spanish-romance?moduleSlug=scott-tennant-anonymous-spanish-romance

      And I agree btw that it is generally useful to have more than one view of the same piece!

      • “Do or do not. There is no try”
      • Michelle_P
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I am glad you posted, and very impressed! Spanish Romance is considered Level/Grade 5-6, depending on the source. You are well beyond me, and I think you need to promote yourself from beginner to intermediate. I'm also mature aged - well into the senior citizen category. Unless my body fails me, I hope to keep playing for quite a while. 

Content aside

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