🎯 The Etude Challenge: Study Pieces, Serious Progress - Week 6

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: April 17


💡 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!

163 replies

null
    • LIVE
    • martin.3
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    The Etude Challenge is wrapping up this week with our Watch Party on Thursday — and what a ride it's been. From Sor to Regondi to Brouwer, you all brought incredible performances and pushed each other every week.

    What kind of challenge would you like to see??

    Drop your ideas below. What would get you excited to practice for the next 4-6 weeks?

      • Debbie
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

       great information, David. It makes sense that the small size makes it difficult to hold. My Torres is a 610 scale but I’m able to attach it to my Le Support and it works great. I wonder if it might work for a Renaissance, baroque, or vihuela. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to try. I play all of my guitars now with one type of support or another. My acoustic steel string and electric guitars too. Setting them in my right leg just isn’t comfortable any more. 

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

       That's a good idea about using a support for the renaissance guitar. I've never tried using one, since I don't have trouble stabilizing my larger instruments. (And when called for, I can always adopt the 'classical' position with the raised left leg - although I don't find that particularly comfortable!) Even with a support though, the very narrow neck might still be a problem. Have you asked Elizabeth about baroque guitar? Or perhaps Evangelina - she would be able to answer you, for sure!

      • Debbie
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I love the stability of using the footstool but my lower back does not! I tried a lot of different supports and my favorite is Le Support from Thomas  Viloteau. Great idea to ask Liz or Evangelina. Not that I have the money to buy another guitar but I’m still curious. 

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

        I really like that proposal. I am already thinking about something that would be a challenge for me. 😉

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Noooooooo  not 2 piece.... Way too much for me 😂

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Yes..... we are 3 now 🎉

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Yes..... we are 4 now 🎉

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Yep, I feel the same 😄

      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I would also like a chance to re-acquint myself with Dowland. However, I would suggest including his contemporaries (broadly speaking ie: Renaissance composers). This would certainly broaden the range of levels available.

      • Debbie
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

        I 💯 percent agree Jack. A Renaissance challenge and if people feel inclined to do Dowland then cool! 

      • BLaflamme
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I always like the «Unfinished» or «In progress» Work Challenge, then it brings a window to polish some of them!

      • Retired
      • Andre_Bernier
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

       This is also a good one. As I have a lot of ''Unfinished'' pieces I could certainly find something. 😉

      • BLaflamme
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

      We can't be wrong with this one! 😂

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

        Yes I also like the unfinished or in progress work challenge - I certainly have several of those!!

      • Dale_Needles
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

        I would vote for Blaise's suggestion of Unfinished Projects. It seems the most inclusive. 

      • Retired
      • mgshirk
      • 7 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Good choice, love Dowland.

      • LIVE
      • martin.3
      • 6 days ago
      • Reported - view

       

      Thanks for all the thoughtful responses — hard to pick just one.

      We're going with the Unfinished Business Challenge 🎸⚔️ — the one I think lands for the widest range of players.

      Kicks off May the 4th, runs through May 29 with a Watch Party to close. More details soon.

      May the 4th be with you.

      • BLaflamme
      • 6 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Thanks Martin, that's a good one!

      • Retired
      • mgshirk
      • 6 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Unfinished Business it is, so let it be written, so let it be done. There are just so many to choose from, like Blaise said, good time to bring one up to performance level, should be fun

      • Debbie
      • 5 days ago
      • Reported - view

       unfinished business it is then! Everything fits. One request Martin. Can we extend the challenge again? Make it six weeks? 😁

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

        I heartily agree! I think a number of us here would find the extra time afforded by a six week format helpful. I don't know if it's the majority, but it's more than just a few. (Perhaps a poll of the membership would be a good idea?)

      • Barney
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

                  I also like the idea of the "6-week Challenge" period.  This especially applies to "unfinished business"  that includes pieces that were started but not fully "learned" yet;  and not close to the polishing stage.

      • Dale_Needles
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

           I would also vote for a six week challenge!

      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

            Ditto.

      More time gives hope to actually achieving the (a) goals. Whether that actually happens is something different all together!🤔

      • Barney
      • 4 days ago
      • Reported - view

        More time would certainly gives us a better chance of delivering an acceptable version🙂.

Content aside

  • 1 Likes
  • 6 hrs agoLast active
  • 163Replies
  • 445Views
  • 17 Following