"Beginners Forum" Invitation

hi Michelle. maybe silly question but how do you take a Grade 1 examination?

I'm also not a beginner, but I too will join the discussion.

1. I watched the beginner courses and took from them what I found useful. I had joined ToneBase as what might be called (by analogy with Aaron Shearer's notion of the 'remedial' student) a 'rehabilitational' student. I needed to relearn how to use my left hand, and because I had never given  any real consideration to the mechanics of guitar playing, I wanted a clear model to follow. The various foundational material here at ToneBase has been invaluable for me in this respect.

2. I have never taken a guitar exam. I'm opposed in principle to the idea of performance examinations, although I do appreciate that some people find them very helpful as a means of guiding their study. Having said that, I do find anthologies (or even simple lists) of graded repertoire to be useful.

3. At the moment, I have the entire series of graded RCM repertoire books on my 'music stand'. (A table, actually.) I also keep an iPad with a l large library of scores (mostly of 19th c. music) close at hand.

4. For me personally, the biggest challenge over the past while has been getting my left hand to function properly. More generally, I have always found difficult left hand 'stretches' to present the greatest hurdle to playing guitar well.

5. Just like Eric Phillips I don't have a particular repertoire goal that I actively pursue. I enjoy learning/playing a variety of music, mostly of an intermediate standard. I like 'discovering' pieces that I have I never heard before. I generally devote real effort only to those pieces that I think (hope?) that I will be able to play reasonably well. I have no interest in anything that smacks of virtuosity. (Of course, I do admire those guitarists who can perform such pieces - I just don't care to do so myself.)

6. I own a number of guitars. My default practice guitar is a rather old (mid seventies) instrument built by Japanese luthier Ryoji Matsuoka. For early 19th c. repertoire (Sor, Giuliani, et al.) I use a modern copy of a romantic era guitar.

7. My wish-list consists mostly of historical models. I would love to have have a seven-string guitar of the type used by Napoleon Coste. (Or almost any of the original instruments available though David Jacques.) Although a good luthier-made guitar can be a real pleasure to play, I have no particular desire to own one: I just don't have the kind of skill that would require such an instrument.

I am relatively new to classical music.  Joined Tonebase in December 2022 and have also used some other classical guitar sites since then to learn technique and applying it to repertoire.

1.      Yes, I completed the TB Beginner Guitar courses part 1 and 2.

2.      No exams.  Done enough exams in my lifetime I have no desire to do anymore.

3.      Currently I have it down to Pachelbel Canon in D, Tarrega Study in C, Carulli Andantino Op. 241 No. 5 and Adrian Le Roy La Tirantine.  Two of these pieces (Study and La Tirantine are pieces I can play but I have returned to them to work on their musicality).  The other two are newer pieces.  I used to work on more pieces at a time, but have found 3-4 is a good number for me.

4.      Probably my biggest challenge is my right hand technique.  About a month ago, I went back to the fundamental lessons on the right hand to re-study how to play properly.  This has helped.  Other challenges include keeping a steady beat throughout a piece when not using a metronome, playing at the suggested tempo, and playing musically (dynamics, legato, and so on).

5.      I generally don’t think about pieces I want to play in a year’s time.  There is so much classical guitar music out there that I don’t know, so I often let a few different sites that have graded repertoire guide my choices.  This way I’m playing material that is appropriate for my level, and if properly graded, will push me enough to keep me motivated.  I also like returning to previously learned pieces and work on improving them.

6.      I have two classical guitars.  My first one is an entry level guitar made by Almansa. I bought this at a national instrument store that had lots of entry level guitars and this one had the best sound at a low price point.  Once I determined that I was going to stick with classical guitar, I purchased a Ramirez SPR.  This has become my primary instrument.

7.      I don’t have a dream guitar.  My Ramirez is a good quality guitar for my purposes (which is primarily for my own self-interest).

Hi Michelle, great questions!

1. I did not all the way through, though have looked at parts where I feel I might be wanting.

2. No examinations since college in the late 70s.

3. I'm currently working on Tres Colores Porteños by Claudia Montero

4. So many challenges ;) keeping my hands relaxed is what I pay most attention to right now.

5. In a year, in a perfect world where my progress is amazing, Armando's Rhumba by Chick Corea.

6. I'm playing a guitar by Henner Hagenlocher and a Buscarino Cabaret.

7. I'd like to have my Sergio Abreu repaired soon.

Wow, after a relatively slow start, this thread is gaining traction! It's really great to see Eric Phillips David Krupka martin  and so many other fellow guitarists here.

Can I ask you all for a guitar buying guide? I want a good cedar top guitar, ideally a Luthier made (within a budget of $1500 roughly, if possible). I like warm sounding guitars, with easy playability. Currently I own a yamaha factory made CG182S. Unfortunately, I don't have many guitar outlets near my place, but perhaps I can import one in the future.