🎯 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
- Pick your etude – Choose one that excites you and challenges you. Not sure where to start? Ask the community for suggestions!
- Share your goal – Tell us what you're working on and what you want to achieve (clean run-through, memorization, performance tempo, etc.)
- Post your progress – Upload short clips, practice notes, or reflections as you go. We want to see the process, not just the polish.
- Engage – Listen to what others are working on, leave encouragement, and trade practice tips!
102 replies
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I joined here last week. I hope to be able to post Brouwer Study 6 by deadline. I want to achieve more legato and tone. I am working on my right hand which has always been a challenge. I worked on the Brouwer over a few months and have recognized the chord structure and blocked the chords. That pattern is simple but requires planting right hand and relazation. Two things I am working on.
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Gilardino Study #31 Theme and Variations 1,2,3
So I finally got a marginally acceptable recording thru variation 3 (I repeated variation 2 as the the 1st time thru was so bad). Variation 3 has been a real challenge for me. It has some wide stretches in fairly quick movements along with some moderately tricky RH fingering. The recording is a little too loud but at least it isn't clipping.
The last 3 variations are a bit easier (I think - at least I can read thru them). I willl continue to work on the first variations as I add the final ones. I think I have time to get them all done. Whether there is time for me to actually record them is another matter altogether. 🤔
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Traditional - "Jesus, Won't You Come By and By"
This is from a set of progressive studies called 14 Études on the Music of Black Americans by Thomas Flippin, which he wrote based on old spirituals and work songs.
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I just can't keep up with all the postings, conversations and exchanges, but I make sure I listen to all the recordings. I really enjoy your performances and the great musical choice proposed by the community.
I kept practicing the Sor etude but I am not really happy yet with the results. However, here is my today's performance practice.
I will keep working on it and will certainly bring it back in another challenge.
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For my last post of the Challenge, I would like to share with you all another little sketch (etude) that I wrote and recorded in Portugal last month at the Negreiros Winery in the Douro Valley. I titled the sketch, Jazz Interlude. I wrote the guitar part and Mario Negreiros arranged it for voice, trumpet and percussion.
