🎯 The Etude Challenge: Study Pieces, Serious Progress - Week 2

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!

79 replies

null
    • Debbie
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone, This is kind of a longish video so I don't expect anyone to watch it, lol. It's my baseline of where I currently am with the piece and I discuss some challenges. I've just started hand therapy and my therapist told me to play less guitar this week so I'm a bit rusty. I also notice tension when I record so I'm going to record every day until the end of the challenge. That doesn't mean I'm going to spam you all every day with a recording. I'll just upload if progress is noticeable. It's mainly for me to practice feeling more comfortable recording. I've also uploaded my sheet music if anyone is interested in seeing the changes I've made. It's based on Segovia's version with some edits from various facsimiles, notably Milhouse, London 1815, Meissonier, Paris 1816, Simrock, Bonn 1824. Future videos will just be playing through without talking so they will be shorter. 

      • Ron.3
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Beautifully playing Debbie (yes I did watch the whole video!) It's not an easy piece (at least not for me!). I hope the therapy is helping. Thank you for sharing the the sheet music - I will certainly look through it. This has always been one of my favourite Sor studies - I used to play it many years ago, but I can no longer make some of the stretches so I haven't attempted it in a while.  As Jack said your persistence is certainly inspiring!

      • Debbie
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you for your kind words, Jack. I’ve only just started therapy. I’m hoping it will keep the nerve damage from progressing  but unfortunately the muscle atrophy won’t heal. Although I have exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles. It’s quite depressing if I’m completely honest. I specifically bought this guitar (610 scale) so I could continue to play pieces like this that require more extensions but, even so, there are still pieces I can’t play. I love that  performance of Petrit too and also Kyuhee Park’s version. 

       

      • Debbie
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       thank you Ron! You could always get a short scale guitar like mine 😄 I suppose a capo would also do the trick but somehow a short scale Torres model seems to add a historic touch 😂 Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll keep plugging away. 

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      @Debbie Very nice. Great playing and I learn so much from your explanations. Bravo 👍

      • Eric
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      @Debbie  Great detailed work, Debbie! I must say, I really love that guitar.

      I played this piece for my senior recital way back in 1991, but I still remember how hard that E major section is. These days, I find that the whole piece is virtually unplayable for me because of issues with my right hand, so I can definitely empathize a bit with your struggle. Your persistence really is an inspiration!

      • BLaflamme
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Great work Debbie, I'm sad to read you have an injury, I wish you the best about this.

      • Debbie
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       I’m sorry to hear you have right hand problems, Eric. I empathize. I can only say that the only reason I can play the third section is due to the 610 scale of the guitar. Glad you like it. It is a joy to play.

    • mgshirk
    • 2 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Here is my first play-through of Guiliani's Op.98 No. 4. Several things need improvement.

    1.  will continue to pick up the tempo to Allegretto

    2. clean up some of the rough spots (missed notes)

    3. stop rolling chords in B  section

    4. clean up tone

    Till next week  

      • mgshirk
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       This is sounding really good Michael, especially for an initial play thru. I look forward to your progress.

      • Ron.3
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Well played Michael . Not familiar with this study. Look forward to hearing your progress

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Very nice first playing. Bravo 👍

      • Eric
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Coming along nicely, Michael! Your right hand articulation sounds so good. And I know the end was a mistake, but it was actually kind of cool to hear Giuliani finish with a bluesy ending. 😄

      • BLaflamme
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Great work on this Michael, as Eric noted... the bluesy ending is surprising!

      • mgshirk
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       No, not a mistake, I like mixing cadences up with a touch of modern stuff, in some of these pieces. Why not. lol. 

    • Ron.3
    • 2 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone. This is my first attempt at recording Sicilian Etude by Tatiana Stachak. I'm trying to get more comfortable and relaxed at recording which I find challenging! In the introduction Tatiana says the study is "Arpeggio with the melody played in the upper voice (apoyando)".

     https://youtu.be/U4aPEFzymnY

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      Very nice Ron.... 👍

      • Eric
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       I love it, Ron! I've never played any of her pieces, but whenever I hear them, I am really impressed. It's such a beautiful melody, and you bring it out very nicely above the texture below.

      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      This is a very lovely piece that you perform beautifully, Ron. This is a new piece, and composer, to me. Thanks for sharing.

      • Ron.3
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Thanks Eric. I came across her when we did the female composers challenge last year. When I listened to some of her many YouTube videos, this piece stood out for me

      • Ron.3
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      Thanks Andre!

      • Ron.3
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Thanks for listening Jack!

      • BLaflamme
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Thanks for sharing Ron, while I know her name I've never really listened to her music... it's a beautiful study and you have it very well under your fingers!

      • Ron.3
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      Thank you Blaise!

    • Dale_Needles
    • 2 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Still coming to you from Terceira Island in the Azores, here is a former post of mine of Etude No. 6 by Heitor Villa-Lobos to honor his birthday which was on March 5th.  

    https://youtu.be/M_LPQvH-2dU?si=P-fS0nMhcCN02cgw

Content aside

  • 2 Likes
  • 3 hrs agoLast active
  • 79Replies
  • 105Views
  • 14 Following