Week 2: Technique Tango!
Welcome to the Main Thread for the second week of "Etude Extravaganza" practice challenge!
- Choose an etude from a composer that captures your interest. It could be a soothing Sor etude, a technical Giuliani masterpiece, a Carcassi finger exercise, a harmonically rich Brouwer composition, or a rhythmically challenging Villa-Lobos piece. You're encouraged to experiment with pieces from composers you're not accustomed to or push your boundaries with a technically demanding work.
- Commit to regular practice and share your journey with the community. Aim to practice daily and upload at least two videos per week to showcase your progress. This will not only aid in keeping you dedicated and motivated but also enables you to share your musical journey with our tonebase family.
- Share your favorite etude or recording that epitomizes the concept of "Etude Extravaganza." Your submission will serve as inspiration for others and construct a vibrant repertoire of potential pieces for fellow members to explore.
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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Sor - Op 31 No 19 (June 14 update)
Lots of mistakes here, but at least I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable with it. I tried David Krupka 's solution for the tricky measure I wrote about above. Still not there, but I feel like I am getting closer.
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Eric Phillips Hi Eric, this is coming along nicely, definitely a challenging Estudio. I thought you might like to check out Carlevaro playing this Estudio along with his marked-up score. (588) Fernando Sor - Study op.31 no.19 played by Abel Carlevaro - YouTube
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Hello all, I´m posting a Carcassi estudy, from the famous Opus 60 which is a sort of Bible for the guitar learning path.....I hope you enjoy it. This study should be much faster......maybe in years I´ll achieve the right pace.....
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JUAN ALONSO This is a GREAT start, Juan! The last five in this set are really a step up in technique, but you are managing it quite well. Good work!
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JUAN ALONSO great playing, Juan. It’s a pretty virtuosic study, you sound very secure and in control. bravo
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JUAN ALONSO This is really great Juan. I can see where the arpeggio technique would come in useful ("handy" if you will
) in many other situations. I'm not sure if I'm seeing it correctly, but it looks like there's a few spots where you're picking repeatedly with the m finger. Not sure if that's happening, but if it is I thought I'd point it out and suggest to look and see if it's possible to keep alternating the fingers at those points. Keep up the great work! -
Eric Phillips
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Sor - Op 31 No 19 (June 16)
I'm feeling very frustrated with this piece. I recorded so many takes of it (literally over 100, I am embarrassed to say) and I just cannot seem to play it without numerous mistakes every time. It's gotten to the point where I definitely need to take a break from it. I don't even particularly like it any more as a piece of music. I feel like I just want to be done with it.
Sorry to vent!
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Eric Phillips It is sounding good. This is a piece that will only get better with time like a fine wine. This is also one of those great Sor Estudios that is both musically great and quite the technical work out. I hope you had a chance to check out Carlevaro's rendition. In any case, keep up the great work you are doing on this piece. It is my favorite Sor Estudio.
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Dale Needles Thank you, Dale. I just listened to your link above. Incredible performance by Carlevaro! I think he is playing it at almost double my tempo, yet it does not feel rushed at all. Amazing!
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Eric Phillips When I played this piece over 40 years ago, I never loved it. It was interesting to me as a technical study, but not as a piece of music. I guess I’m saying I understand how you feel. And probably the best thing to do in that situation is exactly what you’re doing—try something else! And maybe come back to it if and when you want to. I find ‘pipip’ ’ works on the lower strings, but I used Segovia’s fingering on the trebles, including a rest stroke on the m before the chord. I also tried mamim.
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Eric Phillips I understand your feeling at this point. As Marilyn Blodget wrote, it’s really hard to get to the point of enjoying the musical quality of this study. (But I think it is there, especially in the middle voices) . You did a great job with it over these few weeks, Eric.
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Eric Phillips I really like it Eric! As I listened I couldn't help but to think that this is how Sor envisioned it being played. Way to go!
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Steve Pederson Thanks, Steve. Maybe, but probably with fewer mistakes.
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Carulli - Op 333 No 1-3
I am feeling rather frustrated with the Sor study I have been working on. When I feel frustrated with what I am playing, I usually turn to Sor's music to pull me up. Well, since I am feeling frustrated with Sor right now, I had to turn elsewhere. I decided to go with some Carulli. His Op 333 is a set of 18 pieces of increasing difficulty (more or less) . Here are the first three.
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Eric Phillips that sounds so nice, Eric! I can hear how much you enjoy the musical flow of these little studies .
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Eric Phillips Nothing like a little Carulli to cheer you up, 'eh?
There's nothing wrong with a quick win. These are sounding great. Accessible, but still help you develop some technique in a fun way! What's not to love? 
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Eric Phillips I love this kind of study, they are comfortable to play and allow players to focus on the music. You really brought out the beauty of them, well done, Eric!
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Steve Pederson Wai Thanks, guys!
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Microestudios No.12 - Abel Carlevaro
I am working on the second half of Carlevaro's Microestudios recently, but they're much more challenging than the first half, both in terms of musically and technically. I'd like to share No.12 this time - it's a study that focuses on 1 and 4 left-hand movements. I love the sound of this piece and it's a very fun piece to play.
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Wai Wow, way to get up there on the neck. I had to watch this twice, because the first time I was mesmerized by your cat. The second time, however, it was the music that did it to me. Great stuff!
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Wai very nice! It sounds like you enjoyed playing it too. It sounded difficult but looked so easy on your hands. Well done!
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Wai That is sounding great. I am very impressed with the progress you have made with these Microestudios. My one little suggestion is to try to eliminate the left hand squeaks. Try Carlevaro's technique of using the left arm to help the fingers lift off the strings. Also, please post this to the Carlevaro Composition Forum.
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Wai very well done, Wai. It sounds really strong and rhythmic. You have a good feel of it.
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Eric Phillips Thanks, Eric! That 5-month old kitty gave me a lot of headache, I was actually playing the music for her entertainment.
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don Thanks, don! Yes, this one was a fun piece to play. Although it may seem challenging at first, but since they are all repeated patterns, once you tackle the first 8 bars, the rest of the piece should be no problem. Of course, playing it well still requires some effort and practice!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
