What is the piece that changed your guitar journey?
We all have that one piece of music that opened new doors for us. The piece that, when we first heard or played it, made us think, "I need to learn this," or "I want to play like that." It might have challenged us in ways we never expected or ignited a deeper passion for the instrument. 
For many of us, it’s more than just a piece—it’s a milestone in our musical journey. Whether it’s a composition that changed how we approach technique, a piece that inspired us to dive deeper into classical guitar, or a personal favorite that still makes us feel something special every time we play it, these moments are what shape us as musicians. 
Now, let’s share and inspire each other with the music that made us who we are today! 
What’s your game-changer? Was it a challenging piece that tested your limits? A piece from a particular composer that resonated with you? Or maybe it was a performance that made you realize the true depth of classical guitar? 
We’d love to hear your stories! Feel free to share your thoughts and any tips or insights you've gained from tackling that piece. Let’s celebrate the music that keeps us going and motivates us to reach new heights! 
-
With all of the people here who were inspired by the Chaconne, I would fully support the next Member Challenge being to tackle the Chaconne as a group, measure by measure :-)
I will leave it in the capable hands of Eric Phillips !!!-
Marc Adler That sounds great, but I would love it if someone else leads that. Bach's Chaconne is far beyond my playing level, so I would prefer not to work on it.
If it was just a Bach challenge, that might be another story. We did already have a Bach challenge once, but it was a while ago (I forget how long).
Maybe just a Baroque music challenge?
-
Eric Phillips It was March 2022!! Much too long ago. A Bach/Baroque Challenge would certainly get my vote.
-
-
As a kid I was already drawn to the sound of the classical guitar, even though I grew up in a family where music was very rarely played (and this was early seventies, so discovering music was not the same as it is today). It wasn’t until in my twenties that I took some lessons and came across the piece Adelita by Tárrega. Then I heard of a recording made of Tárrega’s guitar music, Integral de Guitarra, played by David Russell. This was in 1991 and that CD wasn’t even for sale where I lived, but I had a colleague who was due to travel to Madrid and I asked him to buy it for me. This was the first time that I listened to a solo guitar recording on CD, and I was blown away, not just by Adelita (although I still love that piece very much) but by all of this music. I didn’t know that classical guitar could so impressively beautiful. Little did I know then what a great player David Russell is, and what a great sound engineer John Taylor is, or that a John Gilbert guitar is something very special. It is far beyond my own abilities to play like that, but music like this keeps me inspired to continue on my own classical guitar journey.
-
What really got me started was listening over and over to Julian Bream's greatest hits, probably circa sometime in the late 60s. Such a mix. I just fell in love. And switched from steel string finger picking and blues to classical. Best road I've traveled.
-
On that record, among others, was Villa Lobos prelude #1 and Melancholy Galliard. Also, I believe Torroba's Sonatina was on that record as well.
-
-
Of the 15 or so I’ve memorized so far, F. Sor’s epic “study” opus 6 no. 11 is the only* piece I’ve ever learned by just reading and re-reading through it as I played, as opposed to typically memorizing each bar - I still play it at least 5x each day and don’t think it’s possible to get sick of! Indeed, a masterpiece for both hands and musicality stitched together for the interim intermediate-advanced player.
-
From my early teenage years learning CG, it would have been when I mastered "Classical Gas", by Mason Williams.
-
Without a doubt the piece of music that inspired me to play classical guitar was when I heard John Williams play Cavatina. I thought this piece was hauntingly beautiful and whilst I cannot play this piece myself it is high on the "to do" list. Since starting to learn classical guitar I have been exposed to other great guitarists. Legends like Julian Bream and Andres Sergovia. However there are some brilliant modern guitarist that I enjoy listening too as well.
Alexandra Whittingham, Ana Vidovic, Lukasz Kuropaczewski Andrew Scott are all very talented guitarists and I find them inspirational. Especially Lukasz Kuropaczewski, he is an exceptional talent.
-
Many pieces have inspired me over the years but my love of classical guitar undoubtedly started when I first heard a recording of Julian Bream playing Chorôs No.1.
I guess I was about 20 or so and up to then had only played songs by the Beatles and other groups that were around at the time, but after hearing Bream I was hooked for good!
