Level 1 - List Of Pieces (+ Discussion Space)

Andre Bernier Hi Andre - a fellow subscriber here, so take this advice on advisement! The short answer is ‘No!’. I used to play with nails (thinking them obligatory) but after taking up the lute some years ago wound up playing both instruments with flesh only. Although my right hand technique is far from conventional, it works well enough I find. I would even say that I manage to produce a better tone without nails than I used to get with them. Historically, a number of well known guitarists played without nails - most famously Fernando Sor (who preferred the softer sound) and, late in his career, Francisco Tarrega (whose nails had become too weak to support plucking). Some modern day professionals also play nail-less. Here are links to two of them explaining their approach to the right hand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC7tSW1s9tM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNFvtRU4Jc&t=239s

Mircea 

Thanks Mircea for your answer and comments. Over the last 3 years when playing acoustic guitar, I tried a few times to grow nails but every time they start to be a bit longer It just bugs me and they end up breaking before I can even use them.

At my age, I am playing guitar for my own pleasure and I am not contemplating any performance than playing in my living room for my wife.

So bottom line, I will not grow my nails and keep learning both acoustic and classical guitar.

I guess that having fun is more important than trying to be right against your will. 

Andre Bernier getting nails just right is an ongoing struggle, especially if we damage nails. Are you by chance Andre Bernie’s from K-W?

Robert St Cyr 

Hello, I am not sure what you mean when you say from K-W

I am a french Canadian (Bonjour) living in Québec city.

However, during my long Pulp and Paper career, I lived also in Ontario and British Columbia.

Anyway, Robert. It is nice to meet you 

Andre Bernier Hi Andre - KW is Kitchener- Waterloo, Ontario. I knew an Andre Bernier here many years ago and just wondered,... Anyway nice to meet you too. Hope your guitar journey is going well. I've been at it for about 50 years and I'm still learning and having fun. I play but also build guitars. As an amateur builder -I have been building for 53 years and studied in Spain with Jose Romanillos- I build for the fun and the challenge (although my wife says I'm addicted). I do sell instruments and charge far less than most, since I'd just like to reduce the cost of my addiction, I mean passion;-) I know there are some great builders in Quebec but if you ever are looking to get a handbuilt instrument, let me know. There are some pro players who have my instruments and are quite happy with them.

Robert St Cyr 

Very interesting story Robert. Do you have a web site?

Jim King I'll answer as a fellow ToneBase subscriber, not an authority of some kind. While ToneBase presents a lot a valuable material, I don't think it is a substitute for a structured learning program, such as is found in a traditional 'method' book. If you've learned the basics (how to pluck the strings, how to play basic chords, how to read music, etc.) it's time to start learning actual pieces of music. There is an enormous amount of pedagogical repertoire for the guitar, so it's mostly a question of finding something that interests you. Broadly speaking, there are two approaches. You can use one of the many method books which include a selection of graded repertoire, usually by the author; alternatively, you can use a curated collection of repertoire intended for the developing player. One such collection, widely used here in Canada, is the RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) graded repertoire series. These can be found in many music stores, or acquired online through the conservatory. (I imagine they also exist somewhere in pdf format, if you look.)

https://shop.rcmusic.com/collections/books?page=1&sortBy=sales_amount&sortOrder=desc&tags=Instrument%3AClassical%20Guitar

Another series, available as free pdf downloads, can be found on the Delccamp website:

https://www.guitareclassiquedelcamp.com

Here's a link to the volume 01 collection:

https://www.delcamp.net/pdfsdelcamp/Delcamp_volume_D01_classical_guitar.pdfy

If you prefer to use one of the single author method books, a variety of these of are available for free, online. Personally, I like those published in the early 19th century, which is when modern guitar technique was established and developed. (There are also a number of more recent methods, though not necessarily available online.) The volume by Matteo Carcassi is perhaps the best known, having remained in use well into the 20th century:
https://boijefiles.musikverket.se/Boije_1129.pdf

Whatever you choose, I would suggest you play through as much material as possible. Don't worry at first about learning each piece to a 'performance' standard. Just aim to get through to the end without stopping. If occasionally you encounter a piece that strikes your fancy, try recording it to see how you sound. If you want to share your efforts here on the forum (you can start a 'practice diary') you're sure to get some feedback - hopefully useful!

Well, that's what I recommend, anyways. If others here have different ideas, perhaps they'll share them ...

David Krupka Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful response.  I do like the idea of the collection from RCM as I am in Canada as well.  I also appreciate your advice on how to proceed.  Your advice makes sense to me.

Mircea Thank you for your response.

Glad to hear that Tonebase is still working on the project to integrate its lessons with the various levels.  Being new to site and classical guitar, I find the levels to be very useful as they do help guide me around the site.  Looking forward to the completion of this project as I am sure that I will find this useful.

Also I appreciate the advice about taking Part 2 of the Beginner Course immediately after completing Part 1.  Makes sense to me. 

I will, however, suggest that you add links to Part 2 in Levels 1, 2 and 3.  Currently the links to Part 2 do not start until Level 4.  I make this suggestion as it would help better navigate beginners if they choose to use the level system.  For example, I am currently completing Part 1 beginner's course and also working on the first piece from the Landslog collection.  I have already completed the Reading Music course.  From my experience in learning Landslag 1, I can see that the Part 2 beginner's course could be of assistance to me as far as learning about arpeggios and dynamics which are required skills in Landslag 1.  So at the very least, by linking Part 2 in Level 1 would imply that one should do Part 2 after Part 1.  Anyways, just a thought.

Mircea I have a bunch of the repertoire books similar to those listed in a response above. However, I decided on ToneBase to add integrated videos and lessons on repertoire and technique. I appreciate the improving level system and hope for more granular-level guidance as it continues to grow. As a self-teaching adult, I turn to ToneBase lessons to help organize and guide my practice. The production quality and pedagogical expertise, as well as the sense of community, is helping me motivate and grow as a first-time classical guitar student. 

Mircea One of the reasons I am learning classical guitar is to expand on my musical experience. I spent my childhood learning violin and completely missed out on the harmonic analysis and applied theory that comes through learning a polyphonic instrument such as guitar or piano. I relied heavily on ensemble playing to gain an intuitive understanding of what I enjoyed most in the realm of orchestration, voice-leading, etc. in classical music, but had no formal training until taking an elective course on music harmony in college. After a long hiatus from music due to... life happening..., I am back to my music, but this time with the guitar (and a keyboard in the background to help in the harmonic/theory underpinnings).

It would be great to have a course, or series of courses, in ToneBase that really goes into depth on taking a musically literate, but otherwise novice at harmony, voice-leading, etc., and develops practical classical and jazz music theory from the foundation of a classically-trained musician. This would help a novice to add this dimension to classical training. A classically oriented musician could have an organized entry into applied theory on the fretboard, perhaps relying on standard notation. The student could strive for achieving a level where figured bass and chord symbols become familiar and accessible.  I watched a event on ToneBase where practical fretboard theory was introduced and think that command of the fretboard would be greatly accelerated for the adult learner through a more expanded course on the material presented there, as well as elements from jazz theory and how to gain basic jazz lead-sheet-reading proficiency.

Guitar is the an instrument that seems to so naturally lend itself to delving into alternative styles from a solid foundation in classical music. There is a lack of material on the web that addresses the specific interest of classically trained musicians wanting to add the aural traditions to their skill-set. I don't know how realistic this request is in the current ToneBase setting, but it would be exciting to see this aspect added without interfering from the core curriculum presented; an additive aspect to serve as a bridge to those other styles, all taught on the classical guitar.

Mircea Thank you for the links to the courses. I have started those, and the Music Theory Course is of particular help. I look forward to more music theory courses and jazz/other genre courses in the near future.

Mircea Hello Mircea. Thank you very much for the recommended courses. I also just watched the courses on right and left hand preparation. Very insightful and helpful, and wonderfully presented. I look at scores differently now and my study away from the guitar is enriched by anticipating when I might be able to prepare.