🎯 The Etude Challenge: Study Pieces, Serious Progress - Week 3

Attention tonebuddies! It's time to embrace the music that was literally designed to make you a better guitarist. Welcome to The Etude Challenge — four weeks dedicated to the art of the etude!

Etudes occupy a unique place in the classical guitar repertoire. They're technical workouts disguised as beautiful music — pieces that sharpen your skills while rewarding you with something genuinely worth performing. From the elegant simplicity of Carcassi and Sor to the rhythmic brilliance of Brouwer's Etudes Simples, the virtuosic fire of Villa-Lobos's 12 Études, and everything in between — there's an etude out there for every player at every level.

This challenge is your chance to pick one (or more!), commit to it, and share your journey with the community.

🎯 Whether you choose to:

  • Tackle a classic — Sor Op. 35, Carcassi Op. 60, Giuliani Op. 48
  • Go for something bold — Villa-Lobos, Barrios, or Coste
  • Explore the modern side — Brouwer, Carlevaro, or Bogdanovic
  • Revisit an old friend — Polish a piece you learned before and bring it to a new level

…this is your moment to dig in and grow. This challenge is open to all levels — whether you're working through your very first Sor etude or preparing a Villa-Lobos for the stage, you belong here.


📅 Challenge Dates

Start: February 23

End: March 20


💡 How to Participate

  1. Pick your etude – Choose one that excites you and challenges you. Not sure where to start? Ask the community for suggestions!
  2. Share your goal – Tell us what you're working on and what you want to achieve (clean run-through, memorization, performance tempo, etc.)
  3. Post your progress – Upload short clips, practice notes, or reflections as you go. We want to see the process, not just the polish.
  4. Engage – Listen to what others are working on, leave encouragement, and trade practice tips!

86 replies

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    • Reinhard
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi, i am a bit late for this Challenge. I try to get Brouwers study No 6 a bit  smoother. Suggestions are welcome. I also work on a study by sergio assad but did not have time yet to record it. 

    https://youtu.be/frXQniAc460?is=oSqQPNr3kJ4YaPRM

      • Eric
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Nicely done, very tranquil. Maybe I would suggest exploring a wider dynamic range, and perhaps some rubato to give it a sense of phrasing.

      • Ron.3
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Great work Reinhard!

      • Reinhard
      • 4 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       thank you. Great advise.  i will try to incorporate more dynamics. 

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       Very nice Reinhard. I am not an expert but the only thing I noted was frequent buzz likely from the left hand finger positioning and some right hand finger clashing. This could probably mostly disappear by just slowing down a bit and anyway my view is that this music sounds better when slower.  

      • Debbie
      • 7 days ago
      • Reported - view

       well played. This is a great study for right hand placement. I would plant at the beginning of every sequence just to teach my fingers exactly where I want them to go and then eventually let go of the full plant and go sequential. This will eliminate the back of the nails from hitting the adjacent strings. I think that’s what this etude is supposed to teach. But overall nicely done 😊

    • BLaflamme
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello Tonebuddies, while this is not really a «study» I think there's a lot in it that could be used for! As we were talking a lot about this prelude in previous streams and discussions, I wanted to share my version, a slower one with emphasis on the articulation of the bass line in contrast to the arpeggiated pattern. I also told  I would share it at some point, let me know what you think!

      • Nijwm_Bwiswmuthiary
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       That's just fabulous, Blaise. I can really feel the pulse of the bass line clearly. Excellent playing.

      • BLaflamme
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you Nijwm, in the end that was a good technical exercise and I like the way it shapes the movement.

      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       That was one of the best versions of that prelude I have heard, Blaise. Your articulations were masterful with a definite contour and phrasing. I also play this piece with articulated basses but yours are so much more expressive. I'll have to revisit mine to see if I can bring as much life and character as you have. Bravo!

      I agree that BWV 999 has a very 'study-esque quality to it.

      • Dale_Needles
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Brilliantly performed.  👏 

      • Eric
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Wow! Outstanding, Blaise! The articulation was executed perfectly, and so consistently.

      • BLaflamme
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you Jack, I remember our discussion about phrasing and articulation for this piece which were quite similar. Can't wait to hear your re-visited version!

      • BLaflamme
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you Dale! 🙏

      • BLaflamme
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you Eric, that makes a great thumb exercise! 😅

      • Ron.3
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Fantastic performance Blaise! Certainly one of the best versions I've heard!!

      • BLaflamme
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       I'm glad you like it, thank you!

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

      Absolument exceptionnel Blaise. Merci pour cette performance 👍

      • BLaflamme
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       Merci André, je suis très heureux que ca te plaise, je voulais mettre à exécution les idées que j'avais partagées lors des dernières activités sur cette oeuvre.

      • Debbie
      • 7 days ago
      • Reported - view

       your playing is always spot on and inspiring Blaise. I had to play this one during  my college studies. I vowed to never do it again 😂

      • BLaflamme
      • 5 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you Debbie, well... I have to say that I don't plan to play this piece in concert or anything else than for technique and study. I find it a great exercise to apply the different articulations and muting to the pattern and ensure a broader uniformity to the whole, as I pointed out in the last activities on this prelude. I found it necessary to make a version with my ideas of that moment, otherwise it remains in the air and abstract!

      • Debbie
      • 5 days ago
      • Reported - view

       In the air and abstract. Very well stated. That's what technical studies are meant for. I think I avoid this one now because it must have traumatized me along with Dowland's Queen Elizabeth's Galliard. When I see those two, I run. haha

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

       I used to pair this prelude (as Bream once did (and also, on lute, Jakob Lindberg)) with the fugue, BWV 1000. I think they work well together, even if this wasn't Bach's intention. (They're not even in the same key!)

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

       Now don't go dissing' my man Dowland! 😂 (Especially it being his 400th anniversary and all ...) But I know what you mean - that opening phrase in the Q.E. Galliard is really hard to 'nail'! (And what's worse is that it doesn't have the decency to a least sound like it's difficult, so when you stumble through it, you feel like a complete noob ...)

      • BLaflamme
      • 5 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I feel you, I first learned this prelude in my early months but by chance my fingers totally forgot the mess I was doing back then! 😅

      • BLaflamme
      • 5 days ago
      • Reported - view

       It’s a nice combination, the BWV1000 version is very interesting but feel a bit alone without a prelude, at least the prelude ends on A, then we start in Am… not that bad! 

Content aside

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