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! ↓
379 replies
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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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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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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