WEEK 1: Exploring Carcassi's Etudes
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the composition challenge! This is the place to post updates for the first week.
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream for help with the first section!
- Get the Scores here! (<- click)
If you want to describe your process (optional), feel free to use the following template.
- Things you found easy:
- Things you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
- (Optional:) questions
↓ Reply below with your updates and questions! ↓
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Study 14 (again!) slow and expressive.
I thought my previous posting of this etude would be my last, but Martin noticed some instability in fingers 3 and 4 of my left hand, and recommended playing it slowly to improve. As I was playing it slowly, I thought, "Why not go for very expressive as well?" I really like it this way! I honestly do not know if my left hand is any more stable, but I really enjoy playing it like this. When doing this, I instinctively started using more ring finger in my right hand, as I think my tone with that finger is better.
Let me know what you think?
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Mark Thanks, Mark!
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Eric Phillips like this version a lot. Really expressive while playing very controlled
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joosje Thank you, Joosje! It’s good to hear from you.
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Eric Phillips you dominate it beautifully at this speed, relaxed with the right pauses.
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Emma Thanks, Emma. It’s a lot easier to do the little things when playing it slowly!
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Eric Phillips beautiful! Working through a piece in slow motion reveals some of their hidden facets! I especially liked how you highlighted some of the spicy notes!
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Martin I guess I like my Carcassi a little extra spicy!
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Study No. 3
Hello everyone, I am Sultan, a beginner classical guitarist from Saudi Arabia,
I got excited when I saw Carcassi challenge coming as I feel they are very important studies teaching us some useful techniques,
Previously, I have started to learn Study no. 1 and 3 so I did memorize them but didn't complete them due to technical challenges (I was practicing them with slow pace as I aimed to complete them in around 6 months. but it was a good opportunity to review them and share the progress here with you.
I may also start to learn study no.2 from beginning,
I started with Study No. 3 as it is relatively easier.
Things I found ease is the repeated arpeggio pattern so it was not that complex.
Things I found difficult:
- The second chord of the piece was challenging when I started to learn it.
- The balance and control of the notes requires some right hand fingers independence which need more practice.
- when I played it I noticed that some notes were cut earlier than their full duration. So I need to take that into my consideration when I practice the study.
Finally here is my first attempt playing the Carcassi No.3 Study
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER Very well done, Sultan, especially if you're new to classical guitar! Welcome to the challenge.
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Eric Phillips Thank you Eric ^^
Actually not very new, I started to play classical guitar in 2019, but I don't practice a lot so these pieces are challenging for me.
Thank
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER In a discipline like the classical guitar, two years is fairly new, and your playing is quite impressive.
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER wow, I must say you impressed me , playing like this after 2 years practice. .. good work…
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER impressive! very beautiful
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER Very impressive performance for a such relatively short period of time playing this challenging instrument!
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER welcome to the community and welcome to this challenge!
That is an impressive progress only after two years of playing guitar, glad that you are on board of this and hopefully upcoming challenges! I will post a video today about this particular etude because I think we can learn a lot from that concerning left hand legato and right hand preparation, but you are definitely on the right track to master this piece! 
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SULTAN BAMUKHIER Bravo!!!
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Working on No. 18
I used to play this one, and am having fun getting it back under my fingers.
The challenge for me is to balance free and rest strokes for the melody.
I'm trying to bring some musicallity to the piece by varying tonal colors.
Thanks for listening
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david robinson Good work, David! I like the change in tone color in the little repeats.
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david robinson very nice. Great control and balance. I know it’s not as easy as you make it sound….
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joosje Thanks Joosje.
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Eric Phillips Thanks for listening!
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david robinson very beautiful, musical and clean. Congratulations!
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Emma Thanks for your kind words!
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david robinson I really enjoy your performance David! It is flawless and completed! Bravo! :)
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david robinson Bravo!! That is a tough one! To be honest, I am avoiding those etudes with long scales as they need so much concentration on left and right fingering in order to get the perfect direct string crossing combinations or managable shifts! You were doing a great job, it's a joy to listen how much music you can get out of a harmonically rather simple piece!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
