Table of Contents
Other
Accessories
- Capo: D'Addario Classical Pro Capo.
(2025-02-28).
- Case: Gator ATA Molded Guitar Case
(2025-12-29)
- Guitar Support:
- Metronomes:
- Music Stand: Manhasset 5001 Orchestral Music Stand
with Manhasset 1700 Floor Protectors/a>
(2026-02-11)
- Picks: Dunlop Variety Pack PVP116: Flow 1.0, 1.5, 2.0; Primegrip 1.14, 1.5, 2.0; Tortex Flex 0.88, 1.0, 1.14 (discontinued)
- Tuner: D'Addario Micro Headstock Tuner
, a tight fit on the headstock of the Cordoba C9. (2025-02-28)
Table of Contents
Books
Reviews
Books on Practicing
Method Books
- Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
with essential video lessons from This is Classical Guitar, purchased on 2025-03-07.
- Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
with essential video lessons from This is Classical Guitar, purchased on 2025-05-30
-
- Abel Carlevaro Serie Didactica para guitarra (PDF)
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 01 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 02 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 03 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 04 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 05 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 06 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 07 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 08 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 09 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 10 PDF, video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 11 PDF, no video
- Jean-Francois Delcamp's Classical Guitar Method: 12 PDF, no video
- Charles Duncan The Art of Classical Guitar Playing
- William Leavitt Method Books PDFs
- Hal Leonard Vol. 1
- Hal Leonard Vol. 2
- Hal Leonard Vol. 3
- Mel Bay Method Books
- Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
"There are at least two years of study contained in these pages, ....", purchased on 2025-08-05.
- Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 2, 3th Edition
- Christopher Parkening Guitar Method Vol 1
(at Amazon: Vol 1)
- Christopher Parkening Guitar Method Vol 2
(at Amazon: Vol 2) Second half of the book is repertoire, 27 pieces.
- Pascual Roch Modern Method Vol 1a
from University of Rochester
- Pascual Roch Modern Method Vol 1b
from University of Rochester
- Pascual Roch Modern Method Vol 2a
from University of Rochester
- Pascual Roch Modern Method Vol 2b
from University of Rochester
- Julio Sagreras Las Primeras Lecciones De Guitarra Book 1
- Julio Sagreras Las Segundas Lecciones De Guitarra Book 2
- Julio Sagreras Las Terceras Lecciones De Guitarra Book 3
- Julio Sagreras Las Cuartas Lecciones De Guitarra Book 4
- Julio Sagreras Las Quintas Lecciones De Guitarra Book 5
- Julio Sagreras Las Sextas Lecciones De Guitarra Book 6
- Julio Sagreras Obras Para Guitarra Book 7
- Aaron Shearer Classical Guitar Technique Vol 1
- Aaron Shearer Classical Guitar Technique Vol 2
- Aaron Shearer Learning Classical Guitar Part 1 (1990)
- Aaron Shearer Learning Classical Guitar Part 2
- Learning Classical Guitar Part 3
- The Shearer Method (four? five? volumes) Bradford Werner review and new 2026 edition
- Ferdinando Sor Method for the Guitar
from This is Classical Guitar
"... the exercises and etudes at the end along with the harmonics guide are priceless." per Classical Guitar Corner review.
- Stanley Yates Classical Guitar Technique Part 1 - Foundation
Bradford Werner review
- Stanley Yates Classical Guitar Technique Part 2 - Mastery and Virtuosity
- Yates Practice Grids
Study and Exercise Books
Technique Books
Music Theory
Neurobiology
- Purves, Dale Music as Biology The Tones We Like and Why (2017) (read 2026-02)
- Parncutt, Richard and Robert Chuckrow Chuckrow’s theory of the prenatal origin of music
- Bowling, Daniel L. Kamraan Gill, Jonathan D. Choi, Joseph Prinz, and Dale Purves Major and minor music compared to excited and subdued speech (2009)
- Gill, Kamraan and Dale Purves A Biological Rationale for Musical Scales 2009 "These findings suggest that humans prefer tone combinations that reflect the spectral characteristics of conspecific vocalizations."
- Lerdahl, Fred and Ray Jackendoff Generative Theory of Tonal Music
- Patel, Aniruddh D. Music, Language, and the Brain (2008)
- Schwartz, David A., Catherine Q. Howe, and Dale Purves The Statistical Structure of Human Speech Sounds Predicts Musical Universals (2003)
- Wilson, Frank R. Tone Deaf and all Thumbs (1986) (2026-02)
- Wilson, Frank R. Mind, Muscle, Music
- Wilson, Frank R. The Hand
Physics Books and Articles
Temperament
- J. Murray Barbour Tuning and Temperament (1951)
- Bradley Lehman The Notes Tell Us How to Tune (2022) (related material by Lehman) (Lehman essays)
- Dominic Eckersley Bach's Very Ordinary Temperament (2012)
- Sergio Ruiz Temperament in Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (2011)
- Mark Lindley Lutes, Viols, Temperaments (2009)
- Ross Duffin How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (2008)
- Ross Duffin Why I Hate Vallotti (or is it Young?)
- Bradley Lehman Bach’s extraordinary temperament: our Rosetta Stone Parts 1 and 2 (2005) (List of related articles at Academia.edu)
- Stuart Isacoff Temperament: How Music Became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization (2001) Pythagorean tuning explained p63-66; Just Intontation p90-92; Mean-tone p93f 2026-02
- Haynes, Bruce. “Beyond Temperament: Non-Keyboard Intonation in the 17th and 18th Centuries.” Early Music 19 (1991): 357–81
- Jorgensen, Owen Tuning (East Lansing, Mich., 1991) book review.
- Jorgensen, Owen Owen Jorgensen on Temperament About the Temperament Used by J.S. Bach and Others "The slightly unequal tones of well temperament were the physical reason why the so-called 'characters of the keys' existed on keyboards in the past." "All the musicians of the past who were against the adoption of equal temperament on keyboard instruments referred to the loss of distinctive key-characteristics in equal temperament as the greatest tragedy in music."
- Easley Blackwell The Structure of Recognizable Diatonic Tunings by Easley Blackwell (1986)
- Carlo Serafini Review of The Structure of Recognizable Diatonic Tunings by Easley Blackwell
- Steblin, Rita A History of Key Characteristics in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries
- Varieschi and Gower Intonation and Compensation of Fretted String Instruments 2010
- Stephen T Ai Danger: Wolf Crossing! Meantone Tuning and Froberger’s Keyboard MusicKeyboard Music
-
- Graphical historical overview of temperaments with audio samples
- Bradley Lehman's Keyboard temperament analyzer/calculator (and spreadsheet)
-
- Ethan Hein Just Intonation and Fretted Instruments
- Sound American The Just Intonation Issue
-
- John Moraitis Exploring Temperaments Parts 1, 2, and demonstrations
History
Other
- Gjerdingen, Robert O. Music in the Galant Style
- Ratner, Leonard G. Harmony: Structure and Style
- Ratner, Leonard G. Classical Music: Expression, Form, and Style
- Holman, Peter Dowland: Lachrimae (1604) 1999
- Ristad, Eloise A Soprano on her Head right-side-up reflections on life and other performances (Open Library)
- Keilmann, Wilhelm Introduction to sight reading at the piano or other keyboard instrument (Open Library)
- Bernstein, Seymour With your own two hands Self-Discovery Through Music (Open Library)
- Cooke, Charles Playing the Piano for Pleasure The Classic Guide to Improving Skills Through Practice and Discipline
- McDermott, Josh The Origins of Music: Innateness, Uniqueness, and Evolution
- Mark Katz Capturing Sound: How Technology has Changed Music
- Diana Deutsch Grouping Mechanisms in Music
- Gray Graffman I Really Should be Practicing
- Michael Lenehan K 2571 The Making of a Steinway Grand originally published under the title “The Quality of the Instrument” in the Atlantic Monthly August 1982.
- Cooper, Grosvenor and Leonard Meyer The Rhythmic Structure of Music
-
- Aaron Copland What to Listen for in Music
- Donald Tovey Essays in Muscial Analysis Vol. 3 Concertos.
-
- Nettl, Bruno Music in Primative Culture
-
- Nylon Plucks Online Classical Guitar Lessons & Resources
-
- Berklee Online Handbook Guitar
-
- Simple Songs from Andy Guitar on YouTube. TAB only...no sheet music.
-
- Open Music Theory Version 2
-
- Stanley Yates
Three Early Guitar Concertos from Late Eighteenth/Early Nineteenth-Century article.
- Stanley Yates
Albeniz and the Guitar.pdf article.
- Stanley Yates
Bach's Unaccompanied String Music article.
- Stanley Yates
Ernest Shand's Premier Concerto pour Guitare, Op. 48 article.
- Stanley Yates
Sor's Guitar Sonatas: Form and Style article.
- Stanley Yates
Tárrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra article.
- Stanley Yates
Villa-Lobos' Etudes for Guitar: the 1928 Manuscript article.
- Stanley Yates
Villa-Lobos' Guitar Music: Alternative Sources and Implications for Performancearticle.
- Stanley Yates
Villa-Lobos' Heitor Villa-Lobos' Valsa Concerto No. 2, Op. 8 (1904) article.
-
- Audet, James The Forgotten Works of Giulio Regondi
- Coelho, Victor The Cambridge Companion to the Guitar
- Edgar, Daniel John Scordatura in Heinrich Biber's Mystery Sonatas
- Hartdegen, Kenneth Angus Fernando Sor’s Theory of Harmony Applied to the Guitar: History, Bibliography and Context (PDF)
- Irving, John Understanding Mozart's Piano Sonatas
- Lake, Brendan Performing Heinrich Biber’s Mystery Sonatas on Solo Guitar and Principles for Arranging Early Baroque Solo Sonatas
- North, Nigel Continuo Playing on the Lute , Archlute and Theorbo (PDF)
- Tyler, James and Paul Sparks The Guitar and its Music (PDF)
- Steinhardt, Arnold Vioin Dreams
- Bernstein, Seymour With Your Own Two Hands
-
- Bernabei, Mauro et. al. Tracing the origins of Stradivari’s resonance wood
Table of Contents
Cases
Table of Contents
Chords
- 2026-05-10 Learned the shapes for C, G, Am, and Dm. Familiar with F (CI6) and F6, but not as well learned. Switching among them is slow. Need to perform a timed run.
- 2026-03-10 The ability to play a wide variety of chords with ease is essential. For an example see Diabelli's Op 39 No 11, the last piece is Simon Powis's Simon Powis Easy Classical Guitar Vol 1: Classical
. The piece is sixteen bars, common time, about thirty single notes, the other forty are chords. Similarly for the previous piece in that book, Op 39, No 10.
-
- Cowboy Chords The Complete Guide from The Acoustic Guitarist
- Rolled Chords: lesson from Classical Guitar Corner
... how, when, and why.
- Shell Chords: Root, third, and seventh. Four varieties: CMaj7, C7, Cm7, and Cdim. Rotem Sivan and Paul Davids
- Spread Triads (third at more than the octave?) in Bach's First Cello Suite (video 4:02) BWV 1007
-
- Chord Changing Exercises: How to Smoothly Change Your Chords
-
- Beatrix Kovács on Learn to Change Chords Faster in 5 Steps! 2026-05-14 above my level at this time. 1. Learn to place all fingers at the same time; 2. When switching utilize common fingers or common strings; 3. ... 4. ... 5. Modify chord fingerings to minimize changes when switching.
- Jaxon Williams Chords 101 playlist on YouTube. Thumb behind the neck. Play on the fingertips. Curve each finger joint. Place fingertips close to the fret. Build the chord from the low notes to the higher pitch notes. Maintain common fingers. Maintain common shapes. Utilize guide fingers.
-
- Guitar Chord -- chords, progressions, tunings, styles, etc.
-
- Andalusian Cadance, also known as the Spanish Progression: a video with four versions by Anton Glushkin
- Hotel California by the Eagles, intro chord sequence by h four versions by Anton Glushkin
- Shape of my Heart by Sting, intro chord sequence four versions by Anton Glushkin
Table of Contents
Fretboard
- Demystifying the Fretboard video by Brandon Acker. Basics of the fretboard, twelve notes, twelve semitones, twelve frets.
- Fretboard chart from chart from Guitaration.
- Traversing the Fretboard by Sean Thrower. Review by Bradford Werner.
- Fretboard Clarity Part 1 from Sound Guitar
. Part 1: Major Scale Structure, Five Chord Templates, Chord Spellings, Octave Displacment, and demonstrations
Table of Contents
Grades and Exam Pieces
- Syllabii 2021 issued 2023-03-08 downloaded 2025-12-29 and 2019
- Grade 1: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4; up to 26 bars; tempi 63, 80, 100, 112, 120 (eighth-notes), 126 (quarter-notes only); C, F and G Major; eighth-notes; staccato; accents; dynamics (f, p, mf); cresendo; legato fingerings (D4 using 3 and G4 using 4); ponticello; slides from G4 to A4, G4 to F4; rarely dotted eighth with sixteenth; occassionally two fretted notes are sounded together.
- Grade 2
- Grade 3 Per Simon Powis's acciaccatura, a type of grace note, and their slurs, bass stopping, guide fingers in the B section, and flesh tone.
- Grade 4
- Grade 5
- Missing grades 6-8.
Table of Contents
Guitars
- Brandon Acker "Classical Guitar Buying Guide" video 2026-01-03
- Marshall Brune "Why Most People Buy the Wrong First Guitar" video. First guitar: cedar, $800 to $1,200, action: 3-4mm E2, 2.5-3.5mm E4 at 12th fret, 2026-01-02
- Nylon Plucks How To Choose Between Cordoba C7 and C9
- Lawrence Classical Guitar Córdoba Guitars - C7 vs C10 vs C12 TONE Comparison
-
- Cordoba C10 review at Nylon Plucks
- Cordoba C10 review and video by Bradford Werner in 2017. Yamaha bought Cordoba in 2023.
-
Cordoba C9
- Cordoba C9 CD website.
- Bradford Werner Parlor sized Cordoba C9 review and video by Bradford Werner in 2016. Yamaha bought Cordoba in 2023.
- XGuitars review of Cordoba C9.
- Nylon Plucks Cordoba C9 review.
-
- Cordoba C9 Cedar top ordered 2025-02-19, arrived 2025-02-27 via FedEx (tracking) with softcase.
Photos:
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9.
- Strings:
- 2026-01-25: Savarez Creation Cantiga Premium 510MJP high tension strings
purchased from Strings by Mail
. Alliance carbon 543J high tension G3 string
noticeably less "thuddy" than the New Cristal nylon 503J high tension G3 string
.
- 2025-02-26: Savarez New Cristal Corum 500CJ high tension strings
. Original.
- See Accessories above.
- 2025-02-28: Unpacked the guitar at 0930 after waiting 21 hours. Weather yesterday was 66* at the time of delivery, with the house at 68*. Guitar well packed in its softshell case, in a box, within another box secured inside with expanded foam packs. Looks very good, but for a discoloration between the 8th and 9th frets at the high E string; the marks are visible in the photos taken by Sweetwater prior to setup and shipping. Sounds wonderful with good sustain. Quite pleased. After playing for half and hour to an hour, still feel the resonance in my cheest some fifteen minutes afterward. D'addario micro tuner just fits on the headstock. Might consider their in-sound hole tuner. Fender tuning app for the iPhone works wonderfully.
- 2026-01-04: Humidity of the guitar and case has fallen to 30% per Mini Button Hygrometer from Amazon. Started using D'Addario Humidipak Restore
. After one day, the inside of the case reads 56%. See Log starting January 2026.
Table of Contents
Improvisation
- find the E major scale on the G3 string
- play the open B3, E4, and E2 strings
- play your selected order of E Major notes on the G3 string (from Anton Glushkin
- and another video from Anton Glushkin
-
- Jaxon Williams presents five levels of improvization
Table of Contents
Injury
- David Leisner Playing with Ease
- Brandon Acker I Got Injured Playing Guitar (Avoid This Mistake)
-
-
-
-
Table of Contents
Instrument Ranges
- D5 - C8 Piccolo
- C5 – D7 Soprano Recorder
- F4 - G6 Alto Recorder
- C4 - C7 Flute
- C4 - E5 Ukelele
- C4 - D5 Tenor Recorder
- C4 - A5 Soprano (voice)
- G3 - E7 Violin (G3, D4, A4, E5)
- G3 - E6 Mandolin (G3, D4, A4, E5)
- F3 – G5 Bass Recorder
- F3 - F5 Alto (voice)
- C3 - G5 Viola (C3, G3, D4, A4)
- B2 - A4 Tenor (voice)
- F2 - F4 Baritone (voice)
- E2 - E4 Bass (voice)
- E2 - E5 Guitar (E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4)
- C2 - E5 Cello (C2, G2, D3, A3) (A6 via harmonics)
- F1 - F6 Harpsichord
- E1 - G4 Double Bass (E1, A1, D2, G2 fourths!)
- A0 - C8 Piano
-
- Octave Notation
Table of Contents
Interpretation
- Lesson on Interpretation applied to Carulli's Andante in C Major Opus 246 from Classical Guitar Corner
- Baseline,
- Dynamics (changing volume),
- Articulation (legato,staccato, accent), Articulation in Music and Right Hand Articulation from This is Classical Guitar
- Tone Color (ponticello, tasto),
- Tempo Rubato (changing tempo),
- Fingering (positions, vibrato, portamento),
- Embellishments (ornamentation, and more),
- Reimagining.
-
lesson on Tools Of Expression
- What are the Tools of Expression?
- Tempo
- Dynamics
- Timbre
- Vibrato
- Articulation
- Rubato
- Communicating Emotion
-
lesson on The Art Of Interpretation
-
- Phrasing in music from This is Classical Guitar
- Ascending runs decrescendo...descending lines crescendo
- Long duration notes followed by shorter duration, deemphasize the first shorter duration note (Sor's Op 60 No 1 measures 1 and 2)
- Low note just before the bar followed by a jump to a higher note, emphasize the low note (Sor's Op 60 No 1 measure 2 - 3)
- Emphasize notes out of key that resolve (by half-step) to a higher note in key (Sor's Op 60 No 1 measure 7)
- Check notes that appear to "jump around" to see if they are a broken chord ((Sor's Op 60 No 1 measure 7. Broken D7 chord AND G chord in measure 8. )
-
- from lesson, text and videos provided by Classical Guitar Shed
-
- Using dynamics to bring out melody. Standard into the Dust in the Wind. Melody highlighted through dynamics. Melody highlighted through orchestration.
Table of Contents
Music Theory
Intervals
- 1:1 Unison (Pythagorean)
- 2:1 Octave (Pythagorean)
- 3:2 Fifth (Pythagorean)
- 4:3 Fourth (Pythagorean)
- 5:3 Major Sixth (Zarlino)
- 5:4 Major Third (Zarlino)
- 6:5 minor Third (Zarlino)
- 7:5 Tritone
- 8:5 minor Sixth
- 9:8 Major Second, Whole Tone
- 15:8 Major Seventh
- 16:9 minor Seventh
- 16:15 minor Second, Semitone
Harmonic Series
- C2 Fundamental
- C3 Octave (12 semitones)
- G3 Fifth (7)
- C4 Fourth (5)
- E4 Major Third (4)
- G4 Minor Third (3)
- A4 half-sharp (~2.5)
- C5 Minor Third (~2.5)
- D5 Major Second (2)
- E5 Major Second (2)
- F5 half-sharp (~1.5)
- G5 (~1.5)
- .... see Harmonics and modes
- .... and The harmonic family tree
Texts and Sites
Overtones, the Harmonic Series
Strings and Open Pipes
A string must be fixed at both ends and tensioned in order to sound.
When plucked the string produces a series of tones.
The lowest tone, the fundamental, occurs when the length of the string is one half-wavelength of the tone.
The frequency of the fundamental equals √(T/µ) / 2L (Tension, µ Linear Density, Length).
Each tone is the result of string being divided into an integal number of half-wavelengths.
Each higher tone contains less energy, is weaker, till higher tones become inaudible or less than an amount "on the order of 10−12 newtons / m2....on the order of a trillionth of a watt / m2 ." (See Music as Biology
p9
The fundamental is one-halfwavelength. The Octave is two half-wavelengths. The fifth is three. The process continues without end. See Intervals.
Pythgorean Temperament
By stopping the string at 2/3rds its length and plucking the longer section, thereby producing the a fundamental tone one octave and one fifth above the fundamental.
(The frequency of this tone is three times the fundamental.)
The resulting frequency is lowered an octave, divided by two, till it lies within an octave of the fundamental.
Example: Beginning with a string having a fundamental of 27.5Hz or A0, the fifth is
Repeating the process on the longer section produces another fifth, a fifth of the fifth.
Repeating the process twelve times should produce a tone eight octaves above the original fundamental.
The two tones do not match. The difference is the Pythagorean Comma.
- A0 @ 27.5Hz Fundamental. First overtone, the octave, A1 @ 55Hz
- E reduced one octave from 82.5Hz, one fifth above the octave, 2 * 3/2 -> 3/2.
- B reduced two octaves from 123.75Hz, two fifths above the octave, 2 * 9/4 -> 9/8.
- F#, two octaves, three fifths, 2 * 27/8 -> 27/16
- C#, three octaves, four fifths, 2 * 81/16 -> 81/64 = (9/8)**2.
- G#, three octaves, five fifths, 2 * 243/32 -> 243/128.
- D#, four octaves, six fifths
- A#, five octaces, seven fifths
- F, five octaces, eight fifths
- C, six octaves, nine fifths
- G, six octaves, ten fifths
- D, seven octaves, eleven fifths
- A, eight octaves != twelve fifths. (2:1)^8 != (3:2)^12. 7040Hz != 7136.05Hz.
Miscellaneous
Table of Contents
Nails
Ornamentation
Table of Contents
Practicing
- Curriculum for Classical Guitar by Bradford Werner.
- Practicing Slowly with a Metronome and Learning New Pieces by Bradford Werner.
- Pain and Injury – Resources for Guitarists by Allen Mathews.
- A Longitudinal Study of Self-regulation in Children’s Musical Practice (2001)
- Self-regulating Learning Strategies in Instrumental Music Practice (2010)
- Self-Regulation Interventions and the Development of Music Expertise (2012)
- Practice for Knowledge Acquisition (Not Drill and Kill)
- Deliberate Practice: Specific Goals, Focused Attention, Repetition with Adjustment, Immediate Feedback, Challenge just beyond Comfort, Purposeful Review.
-
- Christopher Berg: Tenets of good practice: building a foundation of knowledge and skill (spaced, interleaved, varied practice p46), chunking; mental work; slow practice; variety in repetition; continuity; phrase-storming; feedback and self-criticism. Christopher Berg Practicing Music by Design
p24
- Brandon Acker: Five Common Practice Mistakes (video) : 1. Practicing too fast...hides weaknesses (01:14); 2. Not Using a Metronome (02:33); 3. Only Practicing Whole Songs...isolate and fix specific items (05:56); 4. No Clear Goals...diagnose problem, slowly repeat, try in context, repeat till fixed (08:54); 5. No Structure...create a detailed log recording items done and durations...warm-up, new material, review repertoire (11:51).
Warm Up
- Bradford Werner warm up lesson.
- Simon Powis Guide and lesson with video from Classical Guitar Corner
.
- Brandon Acker: Why You Need to arm Up (video): slow paced (60bpm), mindful, deep observation of movement.
- Right hand, m, i rest stroke alternation, four notes per string E4 to E2 and back, then three per, then two per, and one per string.
- Left hand, spider crawl 4 at 12th fret, then 3rd at 11th, 2nd at 10th, 1st at 9th, shift one fret towards the nut (reversed version of More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56e)
- Two Octave version of the Chromatic Scale Starting on E p58.
- Beatrix Kovács video. Practical advice starts at 3:55.
Posture
- Brandon Acker lesson on correct posture.
Tempos
- Metronome settings for each tempo.
-
- Practice at 3 Tempos (Never Stop Practicing Music Slowly) for Brescianello's Partita No. 15 Allegro. Tempos building to 112. Learn at 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 76, 82, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 108, 112. Practice at 60, 88, 112 per This is Classical Guitar
.
- Practicing Slowly with a Metronome and Learning New Pieces by This is Classical Guitar
. Starting tempo was 60 eighth-notes per minute making sure that all musical elements (phrasing, articulation, dynamics, etc.) are present and fully under conrol, then increasing the tempo one division at a time. Noted 76, 92, 120, 160 taking a couple weeks to reach each noted tempo. Then switching to 50 dotted quarter-notes per minute and working up towards the indicated tempo of 80.
Daily Exercises
Practice Templates
Practicing Scales
- Werner Bradford Q & A: Practicing Scales video.
- Simon Powis Scale Practice on the Classical Guitar Scale Practice on the Classical Guitar article.
- Simon Powis 5 Daily Scale Sets and video. Levels:
- Andres Segovia Diatonic Major And Minor Scales
and their hinderances.
- Vladimir Gorbach video lesson on Practicing and Developing Scales. Demonstrates C Major in Second/Fifth position at 11:55 (5): C3, D3; (4): E3, F3, G3; (3): A3, B3, shift, C4, D4; (2): E4, F4, G4; (1): A4, B4, C5 B4, A4; (2) G4, F4, E4; (3) D4, C4, shift, B3, A3; (4) G3, F3, E3; (5) D3, C3. From two to four times through each two octave sequence, planting the finger before playing staccato, starting at 60, then 70, 80, and 100bpm. Then back to 60 with two notes per beat at each tempo. Then three per.
Books on Practicing
- Christopher Berg Practicing Music by Design
Focuses on the practices of exceptional musicians. Each chapter details a specific characteristic of their practice: building a foundation of knowledge and skill (spaced, interleaved, varied practice p46), chunking; mental work; slow practice; variety in repetition; continuity; phrase-storming; feedback and self-criticism. Aspirational text for me. Provides a small glimpse or suggestion of what is possible and some notion of how to progress toward that level of accomplishment. (2025-12)
In 1913, pianist Max Pauer spoke about how surprised he was upon hearing himself on a recording for the first tiem: "I heard things which seemed unbelieveable to me. Was I, after years of public playing, actually making mistakes that I would be the first to condemn in any one of my own pupils? I could hardly believe my ears." Pauer heard "dislocation" (pianists' work for playing one hand slightly after the other) and many small errors he didn't know he had made. He also heard some good things: "I had unconsciously brought out certain nuances, emphasized different voices and employed special accents without the consciousness of having done so." p164 referencing Cooke, James Francis Great Pianists on Piano Playing, 201-202.
- On Practicing by Ricardo Iznaola.
- The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness by Gerald Klickstein 2026-01
- The Practice Revolution: Getting great results from the six days between lessons by Philip Johnston. 2025-12
- Merry, Renthungo A Paradigm for Effective Pre-College Classical Guitar Methodology: A Case Study of Two Models of Effective Instruction
Videos on Practicing
- 6 Minute Practice and planner
- 10 Practice Tips video and PDF from Classical Guitar Pro
1. Metronome; 2. Avoid Distractions; 3. Good chair and practice space; 4. Set a time of day; 5. Have the music ready; 6. Practice with the score; 7. Simple goals for each session; 8. Practice in front of a mirror; 9. Record yourself; 10. Use a practice log.
Right Hand Fundamentals
- See Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 3 part 3.
- See the Right Hand Lessons and Right Hand Exercises (Open Strings & Arpeggios) sections of Classical Guitar Lessons from This is Classical Guitar
- article and watched video on "Right Hand Position Lesson for Classical Guitar". from This is Classical Guitar
- Right Hand Tone Production on Classical Guitar from This is Classical Guitar
. Be careful to move the right hand horizontally, parallel to the floor, from E2 to E4, from ponticello to more tasto as one moves through the bases and the trebles.
- 7 Right-Hand Mistakes on Classical Guitar from Classical Guitar Shed
. Items: placing pinky on guitar, pulling strings by bending middle and tip joints of the fingers, allowing the tip joint to collapse, vertically away from the guitar, wrist too low, wrist too far back rather place knuckles over the strings.
- Right Hand 101 by Beatrix Kovács. Items: placement, wrist on the guitar, pinky on the guitar, bouncing hand, pick from the knuckle not the finger joints
Tone Production
Based upon The Tone & Sound Production Masterclass by Brandon Acker VERIFY THESE TIMINGS
- Right Hand:
- Pluck the string at an oblique angle, about 45* to the nylon strings. (1:51). The thumb and fingers move perpendicular to the wound strings. (10:04)
- Nasal, metallic, trumpet-like tone (Ponticello) through to a sweeter, warmer, rounder tone (tasto) till one reaches the limit at the twelfth fret. (3:10)
- Nails vs flesh. Nails must be carefully shaped, trimmed to length, and smoothed a glass file and honed each day with 500 grit or finer sandpaper. File all three nails at once, slight tilted to achieve a ramp shape (side of the nail towards the thumb is shorter), then buff with sandpaper all sides of the nail: under, top, and both ends,then "play" the sandpaper like its a string. (4:41)
- Thumb nail shape is shorter on the side away from the fingers (8:31)
- Length of nails: thumbnail longer than fingers 2-3mm at peak of ramp, fingernails 1-2mm long at peak of ramp. (9:12)
- Prep by setting the string between the flesh and the nail (9:30)
- Playing without nails. Push the string into the fleshy tip of the finger, and release without contacting the nail, to produce a warmer, sweeter sound. (11:20)
- Common mistakes (12:30): Pluck the string towards the soundboard, rest stroke is the exemplar (12:50); Never flex the middle joint to pluck the string which causes the hand to bounce as well (14:56); Arm position, the arm can be higher up for rest stroke which are played with slightly straighter fingers to play free stroke the whole arm must be moved down to increase the wrist arch and rotate the fingers towards the palm with an increase in the amount of curl in the fingers (15:58); Relax the tip joint of the fingers, pet the strings, do not scratch them (17:37).
- See Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 3 part 3.
-
- Left Hand (18:48)
- The fingers must be tight to the fret to prevent buzz. Stop buzz by placement, not pressure.
- The fingers must not mute neighboring strings (20:09)
- Dont slide along the wound strings, whenever possible. (20:51) If slide is unavoidabe, for instance legato playing is required, keep pressure on the string. (21:53) Dont slide on the callus but on a softer part of the finger (22:37)
- Work on tone as the first part of each day's practice (23:45)
- See Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 3 part 2.
Other
Table of Contents
Various Recordings and Videos
- Study in B Minor (Sor) - Alexandra Whittingham
-
- Andre Glushkin The Only Left Hand Exercise You Actually Need Play octave intervals: i 2nd @ 7th and a 5th @ 9th, followed by m 2nd @ 8th and e 5th @ 10th. Then tenth intervals: i 5th @ 7th and a 2nd @ 9th, followed by m 5th @ 8th and e 2nd @ 10th. Then reverse the order. Then shift one fret towards the nut.
- Classical Guitar Shed The Perfect 20-Minute Practice
- Classical Guitar Shed Free Beginner Tutorials 17 classical guitar pieces including a lesson on Opus 121 No.1 by Carulli
- Kevin Nickens Your First 7 Days of Learning Guitar Should Look Like THIS
- Brandon Acker 5 Common Practice Mistakes: #1 "Practicing Too Fast" 1:14; #2 "Not Using a Metronome" 2:33; #3 "Only Practicing Whole Songs" 5:56; #4 "No Clear Goals" 8:54; #5 "No Structure" 11:51
- Brandon Acker Why you need to warm up: string crossings (4 notes/string, followed by 3, 2, and 1); spider crawl (12, 11, 10, 9; 11, 10, 9, 8; ...); chromatic scale
Table of Contents
Rhthym
- Guitar as drum kit concept video (5:36) from Kyle Orla
Table of Contents
Scales and Positions
Scales
The Common Keys on Classical Guitar C, Am, G, Em, D, E, among others?
- C Major: 2025-03-14. Primary Chords: C, F, G, G7. Related Chords: Am, Em, Dm, D7, C7. First, Second/Fifth, and Fifth positions are suitable based upon the "one finger per fret" rule. Simon Powis lesson.
- A Melodic Minor 2025-07-10. Primary Chords: Am, Dm, E, E7. Related Chords: C, B7, A7.
- G Major 2025-07-23. Primary Chords: G, C, D, D7. Related Chords: Em, Am, A7, G7.
- E Melodic Minor 2025-08-11. Primary Chords: Em, Am, B7. Related Chords: G, E7.
- D Major 2025-09-29. Primary Chords: D, G, A, A7. Related Chords: Bm, Em, E7, D7.
- A Major 2025-10-23. Primary Chords: A, D, E, E7. Related Chords: C, B7, A7. Two Octave Scale easily played in fourth position.
- F Major 2026-01-04. Primary Chords: F, C, Dm. Another sequence F, A, Bb, Bbm, Bbsus2
- D Minor 2026-02-23. Primary Chords: Dm, A, Edim7, A7.
- E Major 2026-xx-xx. Primary Chords: E, A, B7. Related Chords: E7
-
- Major pentatonic scale video lesson from Sound Guitar
- Minor pentatonic scale video lesson from Sound Guitar
- Pentatonic Scale practice patterns from Sound Guitar
-
- Major scale "recipe" 'W-W-H-W-W-W-H'; Two octave major scale fingering: '241, 241, 341, 342, 412' where the first '2' is the root of the major scale. G in second position, A in fourth position
Positions
First position is privileged. Every position, other than first position, requires that the first finger be used to establish the position on each string. For example: in second position, the lowest note is F2 formed by the first finger at the second fret. Combining the first finger requirement with "one finger per fret" guideline limits the left hand to four chromatic notes per string. First position uses openstrings, no fingers on the fretboard, and so provides five chromatic notes per string. The guitar strings, but for B3, are tuned a fourth (five half tones) apart and require five notes per string to cover the chromatic scale. Only first position can meet this requirement.
- First Position: E2 through G4# complete.
- Second Position: F2 through A4. One finger per fret rules misses A2#, D3#, G3#, and F4.
- ...
- Fifth Position: A2 through C5. One finger per fret rules misses C3#, F3#, and G4#. B3 available on the open B3 string, otherwise one has to reach for the ninth fret.
- Ninth Position: C3# through E5. One finger per fret rules misses F3, A3#, D4#, and C5.
- ...
Table of Contents
Setup
- Per Aaron Shearer as detailed in Aaron Shearer Learning Classical Guitar Part 1 (1990)
pages xiii - xv
- Depress E4 at the first and fifteenth frets, the string should appear to almost touch each intervening fret.
- Depress E2 at the first and fifteenth frets. If either string does not almost touch each intervening fret, the neck is wraped and must be fixed.
- Depress E4 at the first fret, the string should be no closer than 3/32" above the twelfth fret.
- Depress E4 at the first fret, the string should be no closer than 1/8" above the twelfth fret.
- The second, third, fourth and fifth strings must be on a level plane between the first and sixth.
- The gap between the top of the first fret and the highest two strings should be 0.025" (use a feeler gauge).
- The gap between the top of the first fret and the third, fourth, fifth and sixth strings should be 0.030".
- Per Sweetwater How to Set up an Acoustic Guitar video: 1) physical inspection for damage; 2) measure humidity with a hygrometer 45% desired; 3) tune the guitar; 4) check relief by pressing at first fret and tapping each string at seventh and ninth frets; 5) nut height by pressing at third fret and tapping at first...0.006"; 6) measure string height at twelfth fret bridge; 7) adjust truss rod, loosen then tighten to desired 0.006" to 0.008" relief; 8) retune; 9) measure string heights at first fret...0.020" +/-0.004" desired, file nut as needed using file just wider than the string(?); 10) relief and nut height have been set, measure action at twelfth fret saddle .....
- Per Brandon Acker and Marshall Brune setup video: 1) height of string above first fret should be the same as the height above the second fret when fretted at the first fret; 2) check saddle height...that there is enough material left to work with; 3) measure action height (gap) at the twelfth fret 4mm E and 3mm e';
- Marshall Brune The Perfect Classical Guitar Setup (Step by Step)
Table of Contents
Sheet Music
Music Collections
Collection available at Total Guitarist
Collection available at Classical Guitar Shed
- Aguado, Dionisio
- Albeniz, Issac
- Albinoni, Tomaso (1671 - 1751)
- Anonymous
- Bach, Johann Christian "The London Bach" (1735 - 1782)
- Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685 - 1750)
- Classical Guitar Sheetmusic collection from Jean-Francois Delcamp
- Ornaments Guide from Classical Guitar Corner
-
-
- Air on the G String, the second movement from Bach's Orchestral Suite No 3 in D Major BWV 1068
- Cello Suites
- Fugue in A minor BWV 1000 by JS Bach from Jean-Francois Delcamp
- Largo, BMV 1056 by JS Bach from Classical Guitar Corner
, lesson video. Grade 4
- Partita for Flute BWV 1013 from Mel Bay and another Mutopia Project
. . Ana Vidovic performance
- Goldberg Variations guitar performance by Thibaut Garcia & Antoine Morinière
- Lute Suites
- Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
- Sonatas and Partitas BMV 1001 - 1006
- Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208. Blog post and video lesson from This is Classical Guitar
Grade 6
- Toccata and Fugue 565 by JS Bach from Edson Lopes
(video Edson Lopes)
- Sonate, a’ Violino BWV 1001, 1003, 1005 by JS Bach from La Guitarra Blog.
- Sonate, a’ Violino BWV 1001, 1003, 1005 by JS Bach from La Guitarra Blog.
- Largo from the Third Violin Sonata BWB 1005. Sheet music on page 45 of the score immediately above.
- Performance in February 2026 by Catherina Cenntani, a student of Classical Guitar Corner
since 2021. (3:20)
- Performance by Julia Trintschuk provided by Siccas Guitars (2:45).
- Badelt, Klaus
- Beatles (1957 - 1970)
- Barber, Samuel
- Barrios, Agustín (1855 - 1944)
- Beethoven, Ludwig (1770-1827)
- "Fur Elise" Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO 59, Bia 515)
- Opus 27 No 2 "Moonlight Sonata"
- Biber, Heinrich Ignaz Franz (1644 - 1704)
- Brecianello, Giuseppe Antonio
- Bonfa, Luiz (1922 - 2001)
- Bowman, Charlie (1889 - 1962)
- Brouwer, Leo (1939 - )
- Brubeck, Dave (1920 - 2012)
- Calatayud, Bartolomé (1882–1973)
- Vals by Calatayud from Classical Guitar Library (CGL)
- Carcassi, Matteo (1792 - 1853)
- Prelude in A Opus 59(?) by Carcassi from Aaron Shearer Foundation
- 16 Preludes in Progressive Keys from “Méthode complète pour Guitare”, Op. 59 from Mutopia Project
.
- Prelude in A minor Opus 59 No 1 by Carcassi. Remarkably different performances by Simon Powis and Bradford Werner.
- Prelude (E Minor) by Carcassi in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
, video
- Méthode complète pour Guitare op. 59
- Andantino in A minor, Opus 59 No.?? included in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Repertoire Grade 2
. Lesson from This is Classical Guitar
-
- Andantino Grazioso Opus 59, No. 1 from FreeScores
. Simon Powis performance.
- Siciliano Opus 59, No. 22 from MuseScore
. Performance by Simon Powis. Included in Simon Powis Easy Classical Guitar Vol 1: Classical
from Classical Guitar Corner
. Detailed lesson video, 25 minutes. Grade 2, or Grade 3 when acciaccatura, a type of grace note, and their slurs, bass stopping, guide fingers in the B section, and flesh tone.
- 25 Etudes, Op.60 (Grades 5 - 10, mostly 5 and 6)
- Six Caprichios by Carcassi from Classical Guitar School -- Iceland
- Cotten, Elizabeth (1893 - 1987)
- Carulli, Ferdinando (1770 - 1841)
- Chapman, Tracy
- Chopin, Frédéric François (1810 - 1849)
- Cohen, Leonard
- Coste, Napoleon (1805 - 1883)
- Croce, Jim
- Couperin, Francois (1688 - 1733)
- Le Petit Rien (5 Pieces de Clavecin Suite 18 No. 4)
- Le Petit Rien (keyboard score) by Francois Couperin from Musicologie.org. Extended version of 75 bars in place of 40 by adding a second couplet(?) of 19 bars and repeating the first 16 bars (rondeau?) . Ornaments indicated. B4 in measures 19 and 23.
- page 14 of Trinity Grade 2. Tempo 120 per quarter-note. B4 in measures 19 and 23. Dynamics indicated. Played in fifth position from the start of the second section (bar 17). 40 bars total.
- page 23 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
, video. Simplest of the scores. Played in second position throughout.
- Page 1 and 2 from 8Notes.
- Les barricades mysterieuses, Les Silvains, Les tours de passe-passe arranged and performed by David Russell.
- Diaz, Eduardo
- Diabelli, Anton (1781 - 1858)
- Dowland, John (1563 - 1626)
- Eccles, John (1668 - 1735)
Aire from The Mad Lover by John Eccles. Brandon Acker and others performance.
- Galilei, Vincenzo (1520 - 1591)
- Giuliani, Mauro ((1781-1829)
- Handel, Georg Frederic (1685 - 1759)
- Hirsh
- Holst, Gustav (1874 - 1934)
- Houghton, Phillip (1954 - 2017)
- Gothica Book of Spooks and Spectres, for solo Classical Guitar in 10 movements by Phillip Houghton, 2002, easy/med
- Vampires, Sleeping first piece from Gothica immediately above.
- Hupfield, Herman (1894 - 1951)
- Jobim, Antion Carlos (1927 -1994)
- Johnson, John ( ? - 1594)
- Collected Lute Music Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 transcribed and edited by Jan W.J. Burgers
- Joplin, Scott (1868 - 1917)
- Katz, Brian (1955 - )
- Kindgren, Per-Olov (1955 - )
- Krieger, Johann
- Kuffner, Joseph (1776 - 1856)
- Linnemann, Maria (1947 - )
- Llobet, Miguel (1878–1938)
- Mancini, Henry
- Merlin, Jose Luis
- Mertz, Johann Kaspar (1806 - 1856)
- Messonnier, Jean-Racine
- Milan, Luis (1500 - 1561)
- Moloney, Paddy
- Monteverdi, Claudio (1567-1643)
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756 - 1791)
- de Murcia, Santiago
- Grave from Classical Guitar Library (CGL)
- Myers, Stanley
- Cavatina. Theme from The Deer Hunter. (~ Grade 7 ??)
- Pachelbel, Johann (1653-1706)
- Petzold, Charles
- Minuet in G BWV Anh. 114 by Petzold from Mutopia Project
. Attributed to JS Bach. Appears in Anna Magdelena's Notebook. Two other PDFs. The first section appears in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
on page 70.
- Piccinini, Alessandro (1566 - 1638)
- Purcell, Henry
- Rameau
- Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
(C Major) in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
, video
- Riguadon (D Minor) in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
, video. The piece starts with an anacrusis similar to Sí dolce è’l tormento by Claudio Monteverdi. Simon Powis explains how to handle the anacrusis.
- Ravel, Maurice
- Regondi, Giulio
- Robles, Daniel Alomia
- Roncalli
- Rosheger, Philip
- A Lullaby to Wake Up With
- Santaolalla, Gustavo
- Sagreras, Julio Salvador (1879 - 1942)
- Satie, Eric (1866-1925)
- Satriani, Joe
- Sanz, Gaspar (1640 - 1710)
- Scarlatti, Domenico (1685 - 1757)
- Shand
- Shubert, Franz
- Schumann, Robert (1810 - 1856)
- Erster Verlust by Schumann in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
, video
- Simon, Paul
- Sor, Fernando (1778-1839)
- Sting (1951 - )
- Tarrega, Francisco (1852–1909)
- Taylor, James
- Ungar, Jay
- Velasques, Conseulo
- Villa-Lobos, Heitor
- Vivaldi
- Walton, William (1902-1983)
- Weiss, Sylvius Leopold (1686 - 1750)
- York, Andrew
Table of Contents
Software
- Delrico SE from Steinberg.
- LilyPond ... music notation for everyone from the GNU Project. LilyPond is a music engraving program, devoted to producing the highest-quality sheet music possible.
Table of Contents
Songs
Table of Contents
Strings
See Guitars for strings currently in use and those used in the past.
General
- The standard is nylon strings marketed as nylon. "Titanium" strings are nylon with a different, denser material. "Carbon" strings are nylon with a material that is denser yet. Denser material yields more "punch", more volume and less sustain/legato.
- Guitar strings in Scientific Pitch Notation: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4. Concert A, 440Hz, is A4, fifth fret on the E4 (high E) string. See Ranges for comparison with other instruments.
-
Augustine
- Classic strings aim at replicating the original nylons. The entire Classic line of strings shares the same medium tension trebles providing what is known as a ‘classic’ sound – sweet and beautiful.
Classic Black set pairs the same trebles with low tension bass strings.
Classic Red set pairs the same trebles with medium tension bass strings.
Classic Blue pairs the normal tension trebles with high tension bass strings.
Classic Gold pairs the normal tension trebles with brass plated medium tension bass strings.
- Imperial strings feature Premium Crystal medium tension nylon trebles for softer attack while offering more sustain to the sound.
- Imperial Black set pairs the Premium Crystal medium tension nylon trebles with low tension bass strings. 87.53 lbs total; 45.73 trebles alones.
- Imperial Red set pairs the Premium Crystal medium tension nylon trebles with medium tension bass strings. 91.61 lbs total; 45.73 trebles alones.
- Imperial Blue pairs the Premium Crystal medium tension nylon trebles with high tension bass strings. 93.78 lbs total; 45.73 trebles alones.
- Imperial Gold pairs the Premium Crystal medium tension nylon trebles with brass plated medium tension bass strings. 92.03 lbs total; 45.73 trebles alones.
- Regal strings feature thicker, higher tension nylon trebles compared to the Imperial strings that are punchier, with a louder attack and less sustain.
- Regal Black set pairs the thicker, higher tension nylon trebles with low tension bass strings. 88.51 lbs total; 46.71 trebles alone.
- Regal Red set pairs the thicker, higher tension nylon trebles with medium tension bass strings. 92.59 lbs total; 46.71 trebles alone.
- Regal Blue pairs the thicker, higher tension nylon trebles with high tension bass strings. 94.76 lbs total; 46.71 trebles alone.
- Regal Gold pairs the Premium Crystal medium tension nylon trebles with brass plated medium tension bass strings. 93.01 lbs total; 46.71 trebles alone.
- Paragon strings use carbon trebles to deliver a bright, crisp, sound with brilliant projection.
Paragon Red set have medium tension carbon trebles paired with Classic medium tension bass strings.
Paragon Blue set have high tension carbon trebles paired with Classic high tension bass strings.
Savarez
Savarez Classical Guitar Strings datasheet (diameters and tensions) from Strings by Mail
. "The Cantiga Premium basses have more bass response than the standard Cantiga. If you want a heavier bass sound, but with less articulation, perhaps try Savarez Corum strings." per XGuitars.
Bradford Werner: Savarez Creation Cantiga 510MJ high tension strings
"These are very legato and smooth sounding strings. I find that they are a tiny bit more clear and project better than most clear nylon strings. I prefer the Cantiga basses. High quality." (source)
- Part Number Decoding:
- Basses: 500 Corum more flexible and the sound is richer and warmer. 510 Cantiga silverplated copper wound; 540 brightest and most rigid; P premium basses.
- Tension: J high tension; R normal tension; RJ normal tension trebles with high tension basses.
- Trebles: A Alliance carbon treble guitar strings; C Cristal nylon treble guitar strings; E Evolution first treble is New Cristal plain nylon and the second two are Alliance carbon; M Creation first two treble strings are New Cristal plain nylon and third string is Alliance carbon.
Guides
Reviews
Replacement
- Marshall Brune How to String a Classical Guitar video. His final tip: Tune one half-step high and leave for an hour to stretch out the strings.
- Classical Guitar Corner
How to change strings on classical guitar.
- D'Addario How to Restring a Classical Guitar video. No large changes in tension. Replace one string at a time.
- Strings by Mail Comprehensive Guide on Stringing a Classical Guitar article and video
Table of Contents
Technique
The Left Hand
- See Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 3 part 2.
Correcting Common Left Hand Mistakes
- Play just beyond the fret, about 1mm. (00:10) Practice finger placement by playing chromatic scales at 60bpm. Observe finger position carefully.
- Left hand fingernails are too long. (01:28) Nails that are too long contact the fretboard before the fingertip and prevent proper fretting. Left hand fingers need to be quite curled..a "C" shape.
- "Electric Guitar Hand" with thumb sticking out above the fretboard and first knuckle tight to the side of the fretboard.(02:54) Ensure a space, a gap, between the palm at the fingerjoints and the fretboard.
- Thumb position. (04:27) Thumb should slide smoothly from low on the back of the neck when playing on E4 to high on the neck playing E2. NOT gripping the neck tightly, just enough pressure to fret. The left hand does not rotate by flexing the wrist; the wrist remains inline, relaxed, with the forearm.
- Bent Thumb. (06:02) The thumb tip does NOT press against the neck. The thumb should be relaxed, near straight, touching the back of the neck with the pad (thumbprint).
- Left Hand Position. (06:34) Changes frequently. Three basic positions: Rotated inward toward the body with index finger high, example: G Major chord (07:03); knuckles parallel to the strings, default (07:14); rotated outward away from the body with pinky high (07:30).
- Left Elbow Placement. (07:42) Allow the arms to fall naturally, elbows downward, due to gravity with the left elbow a bit towards the body.
- Squeezing Too Hard. (09:08) The Buzz Exercise: touch G3 at V, muted sound; build pressure slowly till the buzz; slightly increase the pressure and the buzz stops...clear note. Practice scales this way as well, erring on the side of guessing too little pressure and increasing if needed.
- Lack of Economy of Motion. (11:38) Spider Crawl from E5 downward applying all of the considerations above. Use the minimal amount of effort at all times.
- Problems with the Wrist. (13:35) Maintain a relaxed, fairly inline position from knuckles, wrist, and forearm.
The Right Hand
- See Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 3 part 3.
Correcting Common Right Hand Mistakes
- Pluck from the large knuckle moving the finger tips towards the base of the palm. (00:46) Not lifing the finger or palm away from the face of the guitar. Use a high wrist, fingers curved, nail along/under the string, close finger towards to base of the palm. The middle finger joint should be below the string being played.
Rest Stroke position (contact point of lower bout farther from the elbow) vs Free Stroke position (contact point closer to the elbow) discussed at 02:41
- Using the Wrist, or even the Arm, to Pluck. (04:18) Keep the arm and the hand still. Play from the fingers. Just close the hand naturally to pluck the string.
- Bad Arm Placement. (05:37). Have the wrist spaced off the guitarface, a bit further away from the face than the palm and the knuckles.
- Thumb Position. (06:26) The thumb must project toward the headstock compared to the location of the fingers.
- Right Arm Placement. (07:53) The contact point in on the bulge of the forearm. The forearm contact point slides to move the hand so that finger position relative to the string does not change. Consequently, one automatically plays more tasto as one moves from E2 to E4.
- A touch of Bossa Nova (video)
-
- Acciaccatura, a type of Grace Note: example provided by Simon Powis in his lesson on Carcassi's Siciliano Opus 59 No 22.
- Appoggiatura, a type of Grace Note:
- Arpeggio: See Christopher Davis' version of Giuliani's 120 Arpeggio Exercises listed above and lesson 6 of Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
. Nathan Mills Synchronization and Speed Study
- Bass Stopping: example provided by Simon Powis in his lesson on Carcassi's Siciliano Opus 59 No 22.
- Flesh Tone: example provided by Simon Powis in his lesson on Carcassi's Siciliano Opus 59 No 22.
- Free Stroke and Rest Stroke:
- Guide Fingers: example provided by Simon Powis in his lesson on Carcassi's Siciliano Opus 59 No 22.
- Harmonics:
- Harmonics lesson from This is Classical Guitar
.
- Natural and Artificial by Brandon Acker
- Thirty minute video on playing harmonics by Sound Guitar
-
- 12th Fret: Produces a note one octave higher than the open string (e.g., E2 becomes E3, one octave up). Same as fretting, but without changes in intonation that may result from stretching the string due to fretting.
- 7th Fret: Produces a note one octave and a perfect fifth higher than the open string (e.g., E2 becomes B3).
- 5th Fret: Produces a note two octaves higher than the open string (e.g., E2 becomes E4, two octaves up).
- 4th Fret: Produces two octaves and a major third higher than the open string. (e.g., E2 becomes G4#).
- Legato: How to Play Legato on Classical Guitar and Playing Legato and Musical Melodies from This is Classical Guitar
- Muting Strings: video from Justin Guitar
- Pizzicato: A number of different forms and results detailed from Douglas Niedt
- Planting and Preparation: Right Hand Planting & Preparation from This is Classical Guitar
- Rest Stroke and Free Stroke:
- Right Hand Weight (Voicing): article from Classical Guitar Corner
.
- Rolled Chords: lesson from Classical Guitar Corner
... how, when, and why. Rolled Chords on Classical Guitar from This is Classical Guitar
- Shifts: Major Scales with Open String Shifts and Slurs and Shifts Combo Exercise for Guitar from This is Classical Guitar
- Staccato: Staccato Articulation for Beginner Classical Guitar from This is Classical Guitar
- Slurs:
- Tremolo Brandon Acker videos part 1 and part 2.
- Tone Color: Arco (Normale), Sul Tasto, and Ponticello: Beginner's Guide from Classical Guitar Corner
and video by Jonny Moss Guitar
- Travis Picking: playlist by Acoustic Guitar Lessons
- Travis Picking: video by Paul Davids. 2 bars each of G, Am, C, back to G
- root of chord with p and 2nd with m; 3rd with i
- d string p; 2nd with m
- root of chord with p and 2nd with m which can be melody notes such as b, c', then d' for G; c', d' and e' for G; hammer-on transition to C; add b' on transition back to G
- d string p
- Vibrato See Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 4 Melody and Accompaniment part 5 at 01:24.
Table of Contents
Travel
- International Federation of Musicians airline policy information
- Brandon Acker video on airline travel with a guitar
- check the airline's musical instrument carry-on policy.
- check the type of plane for the flight and the size of the plane's overhead bins.
- use a hard case.
- de-tune all the strings to relieve the pressure on the instrument.
- fill all the extra space in the case with cloth items.
- arrive early, explain that you are a musician traveling with a fine instrument, and ask to pre-board in order to maximize the odds of finding sufficient space in the overhead bins.
- upon reaching the door to the aircraft, ask about placing the guitar in the "coat closet" which is located by the door.
- if there is no space, they will "gate check" the guitar. Gate checked items are loaded last and unloaded first. They are brought back to the airplane's door at the end of the flight.
- Regular checked baggage is the worst option. Rough handling.
- Rhett Shull How To Travel SAFELY With Your Guitar has a couple additional items
- purchase early boarding option if its available.
- remove all items from the case that may appear "sketchy" in x-ray.
- use a hard case, not a structured gig bag.
- take the guitar off your back and carry it in front of you upon entering the plane.
Table of Contents
Tunings
See Stanley Yates Classical Guitar Technique Part 1 - Foundation
Appendix 2 - Tuning, in particular p183ff. Having tuned A2 to an external source, the open string and the harmonics at the twelfth (A3) and fifth (A4) frets are used to check the tuning of the G3, B3, and E4 strings which are fretted to produce A3, A4, and A4.
Lute Tuning
Contra Equal Temperament
By Harmonics
- David Dolata The Secret of Tuning by Harmonics recommended by Christopher Berg Mastering Guitar Technique
p142. Recommended method:
- However, since the octave and unison are the only pure intervals in equal temperament, the harmonics at the 12th fret are safe since they represent a pure octave above the open string.
- The harmonic at XII on the 6th string should match the E at VII on 5th and the E at II on 4th,
- the harmonic at XII on the 5th string should match the A at II on 3rd,
- the harmonic at XII on the 4th string should match the D at III on 2nd,
- the harmonic at XII on the 3rd string should match the G at III on 1st, and
- the harmonic at XII on the 2nd string should match the B at VII on 1st.
- This method is even faster if you use your 4th finger to get the harmonic at XII and your first finger for the fretted note.
- video on Tuning by Harmonics.
By Ear
Other
Table of Contents
Learing a new Piece
Bradford Werner lesson on What is the best way to learn a new piece on classical guitar?
Table of Contents
Miscellany
- LilyPond ... music notation for everyone from the GNU Project. LilyPond is a music engraving program, devoted to producing the highest-quality sheet music possible.
-
- The History of the Modern Classical Guitar and its Deep Iberian Roots article
- Making Guitars with a Physics Mind video
-
- Nylon Plucks A Quick Guide to the Classical Guitar Grade System
- Nylon Plucks 5-Step Guide to Find what’s Right for You
- Compare the dimensions of our various Body Styles
- Design of a classical guitar -- 4 Main dimensions
- Plek Machine inventor interview and demo with Mary Spender and Rick Beato
-
- Rick Beato acoustic guitar 5 Things Every Beginner Guitarist SHOULD Learn video: strumming (DDuuDu); G as (320030) for Cadd9, G, Emin7, D sequences; muting low E for Dmaj and Amaj; on last upstroke in the strumming pattern play all strings open; alternate flatpicking D, B, G, E strings, then A, B, G, E, then low E, B, G, E.
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- Gmaj (320033), D (xx0232), Emin7 (022033), Cadd9 (x32033) chord forms with anchored transitions Studio33Guitar video and video
-
- Sight Reading Music on Classical Guitar by Bradford Werner.
-
- Beatrix Kovacs "What people think is hard on guitar VS what actually is hard" YouTube short.
- Brandon Acker and Beatrix Kovac Are GOOD guitarists POOR musicians? The crisis of classical guitar"
-
- Nail shape and care blog post from Classical Guitar Corner
-
- ROADIE 3 Smart Automatic Guitar Tuner, Metronome & String Winder for Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, 12-String Guitars, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin. 150+ Alternate Tunings. Only $130 as of January 2026 or the 1 and 2 by Brandon Acker. Used from 1400 to 1800 for lute, renaissance and baroque guitar.
- The Fundamentals of Lute Playing, a collection of videos on YouTube by Laudon Schuett.
Table of Contents
The Journey
Learn Cada Manana. Performance by Beatrix Kovács.
Second Year Goals
- Learn the "cowboy chords" and switch between them fluently.
- Start to build a repertroire.
- Develop some stamina in playing.
- Start to develop polyphonic playing. May be a "stretch goal" as Bradford Werner considers Bourrée, BWV 996 by Bach, two voices, to be approximately Grade 6-7.
First Year Accomplishments (20250228 to 20260228)
- Learned first position in detail. Spreading the middle two fingers enough to be close to both the second and third frets remains difficult.
- Learned an appropriate amount of pressure for the left hand. Not longer squeezing the neck of the guitar or trying to push my left hand fingers into the fretboard. Rather applying somewhat more pressure than needed but much less pressure than when I started playing.
- Learned to place the fingers of the left hand close to the fret. Expect that this is a life long endeavour of continuous effort to maintain and improve.
- Learned to play on the fingertips of the left hand, unless a different angle is required by the music. Developed and shed callous on the fingertips as I learned to press more lightly, but sufficiently.
- Learned to lift the right arm and wrist away from the face of the guitar, thereby relying on the knuckle joint to play rather than the joint in the middle of the finger.
- Started to develop my hearing. Much more sensitive to the sound of the guitar and its notes than at the start.
- Started to develop a sense of timing, rhythm. More work to do but much better than at the start.
- Learned basic music notation: pitches, durations, key signatures from F to E.
- Learned to sit and hold the guitar properly placed with soundhole at body midline with left leg pointed directly ahead and right leg well out ot the side. Fairly relaxed, without twist in the torso. Headstock at eye level and a bit forward of the body. Right shoulder slightly forward. Left forearm vertical and aligned with the hand, minimal bend at the wrist. The GuitarLift Support, Medium
is critical to acheiving the correct position.
- Learned to relax, at least somewhat, while playing...expect that this is a life long endeavour of continuous effort to maintain and improve.
- Started to appreciate how horribly difficult it is to "just play the right note at the right moment, how hard can it be?"
- Started to develop arpeggio technique.
- Developed a good tone. Fuller, richer, smoother. Expect that this is a life long endeavour of continuous effort to maintain and improve. (See Interpretation)
- Developed a measure of control over volume (Dynamics). (See Interpretation)
Table of Contents
Log
- 2026-06-19 (RH 49%)
Stretched out forearms and hands.
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b and All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a, twice.
Scales: C Major two octave scale from C3 to C5, several times. The shift from D4 to E4 is a bit rough.
Repertoire: Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
second half @ 35, 36, 38, and 42 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Timing: Being strict on the timing of Five Melodies from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p25c, p24a and p24b at several tempi 70, 75, 80, and 85.
Short break.
Timing: Five Melodies @ 90. Not playing well at this point. Tired. Time to stop, perhaps a bit overdue.
- 2026-06-18 (RH 49%)
Tune by ear...not hearing it today. Tuned electronically.
Chords: Switching back and forth between Am and Dm twenty times.
Stretched out forearms and hands.
Scales: C Major two octave scale from C3 to C5, several times. The shift from D4 to E4 is a bit rough.
Fun: Reacquainting myself with Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
and Carulli Vals Op 241, No 1 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Chords: Switching back and forth between F6 and C twenty times. Much easier if I make sure that the palm of my hand is close to the neck of the guitar...forces the fingers onto their tips even more than I have been doing.
Fun: Reacquainting myself with Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 page 20 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
- 2026-06-17 (RH 51%) Shortened practice session today.
Chords: Switching back and forth between F6 and C twenty times.
Chords: Switching back and forth between G and E twenty times.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a, and 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b, thrice.
- 2026-06-15 (RH 50%)
Attempted to tune by ear. Tuning A3 and then tuning the other strings to match using harmonics at the 12th and 5th frets. Good results or was already in tune and I recognized such.
Chords: Practiced switching between F6 and C, as required by Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
, twenty times. Need to get faster.
Scales: C Major two octave scale from C3 to C5, twice. Iterated over the notes from B3 to G4 a number of times to improve the shift from D4 to E4.
Repertoire: Practiced Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 60 a couple times to get started. 70 several times.
Arpeggios: i,m alternation from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12 pattern 2, tempi 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, and 140. Getting hard at 130 and 140 is too fast.
Repertoire: Practiced Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 60 a couple times to get started, then 70 several times. Tried 80, after 70, too fast, dropped back to 74.
- 2026-06-13 (RH 52%)
Attempted to tune by ear. Tuning A3 and then tuning the other strings to match using harmonics at the 12th and 5th frets. Good results or was already in tune and I recognized such.
Scales: C Major two octave scale from C3 to C5, twice. Working to get the shift between D4 and E4 smoother.
Did not write down the rest of the practice session.
- 2026-06-12 (RH 53%)
Attempted to tune by ear. Tuning A3 and then tuning the other strings to match using harmonics at the 12th and 5th frets. Good results or was already in tune and I recognized such.
Scales: C Major two octave scale from C3 to C5, twice. Working to get the shift between D4 and E4 smoother.
Timing: Being strict on the timing of Five Melodies from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p25c, p24a and p24b at several tempi 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120. In each case, not good enough at 120 to speed up more. Losing focus and swiping at the strings during p24b @ 120.
Break.
Chords: C, F6, G, F(I6), Am, A7, Dm, D7, D x10
Fun: Reacquainting myself with Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
and Carulli Vals Op 241, No 1 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
- 2026-06-11 (RH 52%) Took a couple days off due to right forearm being tender at the widest part on the outermost side. Need to try stretching the hands and forearms before picking up the guitar.
Attempted to tune by ear. Tuning A3 and then tuning the other strings to match using harmonics at the 12th and 5th frets.
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, A, and E in first position. Once. More practice needed.
Chords: Am, C, G, Dm, F6, Am7, and D7, ten times each.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
, last six bars. Better at switching chords. Still far too slow.
Break.
Timing: Bit of work on the Five Melodies from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p24f at several tempi 70, 90, 100.
- 2026-06-08 (RH 51%) Right forearm tender at the widest part on the outermost side.
Left Hand Alignment: Two Finger Focus p55b from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, A, E and B in first position. Once. More practice needed. Included A at fifth position.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
, last three bars @ 40. Not placing the chords either reliably enough or quickly enough.
- 2026-06-07 (RH 70%) Switched back to the Maintain packets.
Chords: F6, C, G, Am, Dm, Am7, ten times each.
Repertoire: Practiced Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 70 once, 74 x6, 78 x6 good iterations with incomplete ones mixed in.
Break after about 40 minutes of practice.
New Repertroire: Look at Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Bit of refamiliarization.
- 2026-06-04 (RH 65%)
Chords: F6, Am7, Am, B7 (BII5), G, C, ten times each.
Fun: Starting to understand Tarrega Estudio in Em
. The B7 (BII5) chord remains challenging.
Fun: Explored Romanza.
Chords: F6, Am, Am7, Dm, ten times each.
Repertoire: Practiced Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 74 once, 78 thrice, 84 needs work. Tired after more than forty-five minutes of practice.
- 2026-06-03 (RH 68%)
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b and All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a, twice.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
Chords: Dm, Am, E, F, G, Am7, ten times each.
Fun: Additional exploration of Tarrega Estudio in Em
.
- 2026-06-02 (RH 65%)
Left Hand Alignment: All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55a, twice.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
Chords: Dm, Am, E, F, G ten times each.
Fun: Explored Tarrega Estudio in Em
Fun: Played with harmonics at the 12th fret in the context of pimami apeggios.
- 2026-06-01 (RH 46%) Replaced Maintain packets with Restore packets.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
Timing: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p25c @ 70, 80, 90, 100, and 110, once each. 120 thrice and 130 thrice. Busy at 130.
Timing: p25b @ 70, 80. 90 difficult. Focus?
Timing: p24a @ 90 easy without having played at 70 or 80.
Timing: p24b @ 90 comfortable with a bit of effort/concentration.
Timing: p24a @ 90 not easy, switching between quarter and half notes getting me at times.
Break.
Fun: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p28 free. Easy after reading the score before playing.
Dynamics: p31 easy and fun to play with volume and tone.
Timing: p30 needed a bit of practice at both 90 and 100 without prior play at slower speeds. End of the session, tiring?
- 2026-05-31 (RH 48%)
Fun: Explored the Prelude to the first cello suite a bit. Wow, some crazy fingerings and moves required, it seems. A ways off yet ;)
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
Sight Reading: In Fifth Position, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
pages 12, 14, 15, 24 and 25.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Focused on bars 25 to the end.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
- 2026-05-29 (RH 50%)
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Focused on bars 25 to the end @ 40. Making it sometimes. Too slow changing chords others. Need more facility at this. A lot more. Ragged due to tiredness at the end.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
- 2026-05-28 (RH 50%)
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, A, and E in first position. Once. More practice needed. Included A at fifth position.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Bit of refresh and iteration of certain sections before three correct iterations. Mistake on the fourth. Couple more correct. All @ 70. Tried 80, a bit fast, but not too difficult.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times. C Major is getting easier and repeatable. F6 is improving but the fourth finger remains slow and F6 requires shifting of other fingers towards the nut to accommodate the fourth finger.
- 2026-05-27 (RH 54%)
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, A, and E in first position. Once. More practice needed.
Chords: Switching between C and F6, ten times.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, m/a @ 80, 90, 100, 110 five times each; 120, 130, 140 ten times each.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Focused on bars 25 to the end @ 40. Making it sometimes. Too slow changing chords others. Need more facility at this. A lot more. Ragged due to tiredness at the end.
- 2026-05-26 (RH 55%) While playing chords and some single notes, pressing too hard with my left thumb. Need to reduce the pressure to the minimum required for a clean note.
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, A, and E in first position. Twice each. More practice needed.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. B section, that is bars 17 to end. Starting to see how the piece fits together. Focused on bars 25 to the end...need more facility with the C and partial F6 chords.
Break.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Focused on bars 25 to the end...need more facility with the C and partial F6 chords.
- 2026-05-25 (RH 55%)
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths C, G, D, A, and E in first position. Twice each. Bit out of practice.
Arpeggios: pima apeggio accenting a different note each repetition. In the first arpeggio, the D3; in the second, the G3; in the third, the B3; in the fourth, the E4.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Last five bars. Not finding F6 quickly enough. C is pretty secure, finding it quite often without looking.
Sight Reading: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
pages 24 and 25 @ 80 and 90. Losing focus. Getting tired so soon(?).
- 2026-05-24 (RH 53%) Left thumb lifting tendon has been a bit sore. Rested for several days.
Several days off and it shows. Having to think about where to place my left hand fingers and how to alternate right hand fingers.
Sight Reading: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p15 @ 70, p19 @ 70. pages 24 and 25 @ 70, 80, and 90. Losing focus. Getting tired so soon(?). Very good tone out of the last exercise on page 25. Stopped while attempting tempo 100.
Chords: Focused on building chords from the low notes to the higher notes, switching among C, G, Am, E, and Dm, with a few F (CI16) added to the mix.
- 2026-05-19 (RH 49%)
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Given up on tempo of 60...losing focus between notes. Easier at a tempo of 70 or 74. In bar 8, for G3 I'm often placing my finger too far from the fret. Seems that I have to look at my left hand to get the place right. Either look or place a G chord...I'm not fast at placing a G chord at this time. Need to get better sounding each note at the same volumne in the G and C chords of bars 8 and 16. Solution may be to keep the fourth finger on G5 throughout the bar and into the start of bar 9, thereby using G5 to provide a physical reference point for placing the third finger on G2.
Chords: Dm, F6, Am, G, F, C, E twenty times each.
- 2026-05-18 (RH 49%)
Open Strings: Open String Exercises Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, m/a @ 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 ten times.
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b, thrice. All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a, twice.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #2 pim and pia, right hand only, five iterations at each tempo 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130. Missing movement of p from string to string in the transition from playing pim to pia. Bit ragged towards the end.
Finished up the session with a bit of practice of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
and a few chords.
- 2026-05-17 (RH 50%) On 2026-05-14, replaced the Restore packets of the
with Maintain packets to lower the humidity into the 50's.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 90, 110 five times each; 120, 130, 140 ten times.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises p12b, m/a @ 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 ten times.
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, A, and E in first position. Twice each. Out of practice. Need to return to this for a week.
Sight Reading: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
page 14 @ 120. p15 @ 120. p19 @90. Getting tired. p20 @ 90. Lost focus. Not making 90 on page24f. Can do 70.
Fell into playing rest stroke a good bit today. Allowed the rest stroke to develop while focusing on the listed items above. Need to develop this skill.
- 2026-05-14 (RH 67%) Guitar felt, bit less so than yesterday?
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Unsatifactory results at 60bpm. Focused practice on F3 and D4 notes, that are easy for me to miss, till I got the notes in thier bar ten times running.
Chords: Dm, F6, C Major, Am, G twenty times each.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Results remain unsatifactory in my estimation.
- 2026-05-13 (RH 66%) Guitar felt surprisingly cool, bit less so than yesterday?
Chords: Dm, F6, C Major fifteen times each.
Practiced switching fron F6 to C and back some 20 times.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #2 pim and pia, right hand only, five iterations at each tempo 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Last two bars @ 60. Slow hands today. No satisfied. Not making the switch from F6 to C fast enough for 60bpm. Can do it for a tempo of 50bpm, particularly if the fingers are placed sequentially.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Complete free error @ 60. Slow hands today. No satisfied.
- 2026-05-12 (RH 65%) Guitar felt surprisingly cool upon taking it out of the case. Case stored in the usual place. Perhaps the open windows?
Hands a bit swollen from stump digging earlier today.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a thrice.
Chords: Dm, F6, C Major twenty times each.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Last two bars @ 60. Slow in getting the C chord set up for the start of the last bar.
Practiced switching fron F6 to C and back some 20+ times. Left hand started to tire.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #2 pim, right hand only, free tempo, focus on tone and string location.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Last two bars @ 60. Easier. Needs to improve a bit, but substantially better than earlier in the practice session.
- 2026-05-11 (RH 66%)
Scales: C Major Two Octave scale shifting on 3rd string @ 60 five times.
Chords: Dm, F6, A minor twenty times each, F (CI6) ten times.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. From bar 25 to the end. Getting it into my fingers. Starting to sound real.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90 five times each; 100, 110, 120, 130 ten times.
Chords: C and G twenty times each.
- 2026-05-10 (RH 47%)
Scales: C Major position scale free four times.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Last eight bars six times without error @ 60. Full piece @ 60, thrice without errors. Feels like its time to increase tempo.
Chords: Dm, F6, A minor, G, C twenty times each, skipping F (CI6).
Fun, New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Worked on the last five bars. Starting to come together a bit. Worked through the entire piece once to get a sense of it.
Replaced the Maintain packets of the
with Restore packets to raise the humidity into the 50's.
- 2026-05-08 (RH 45%)
Left thumb a bit sensitive. Need to reduce the amount of pressure used in playing chords.
Chords: Dm, A minor twenty times each. Switching between C and G, twenty times. F6 twenty times.
Scales: C Major position scale free twice, @ 60, thrice. Been too long.
Repertroire: Practiced Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Both the last eight bars @ 60, six or seven times running without error. The first half needs work.
Fun, New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Worked on the last five bars. Felt good. Some anticipation of what needs to be played next.
- 2026-05-07 (RH 47%)
Left thumb a bit sensitive. Need to reduce the amount of pressure used in playing chords.
Chords: Dm, F6, A minor twenty times each, skipping F (CI6). G7, G, C ten times each chord.
Scales: C Major position scale @ 60. First time in quite a while. Been too long.
Repertroire: Practiced Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Both the last eight bars and the full piece, without repeats. The first half needs a bit of work. Its' been quite a while since I've practiced that section.
- 2026-05-06 (RH 48%)
Shortened practice session due to Wednesday Night Races.
Chords: Dm, F6, A minor, F (CI6) twenty times each. G7, G, C ten times each chord.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Last eight bars six times without error @ 60. Additional iterations, perhaps five.
- 2026-05-05 (RH 44%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, parts 9 and 10.
Chords: F6, A minor, F (CI6), Dm, G7, G, C...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90 five times each; 100, 110, 120, 130 ten times.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Worked on the last five bars. Getting a bit smoother. Starting to feel the music.
- 2026-05-04 (RH 45%)
Busy day. Constrained practice time.
Chords: F6, A minor, F (CI6), Dm...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord.
Chords: G7, G, C...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord.
- 2026-05-03 (RH 45%)
Feeling under the weather or perhaps under the allegens.
Chords: F6, A minor, F (CI6), G7, G, C...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord. Practice switching between C and F6, 20 times.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Worked on the last five bars after completing the set of twenty for each of the chords above. Need to develop sureness and speed switching between C and F6.
Left Hand Alignment: Horizontal Clearance p56b, all strings, I, V, and IX position, once.
- 2026-05-01 (RH 45%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, parts 7 and 8.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Last eight bars up to four, five and six times without error @ 60. Other attempts at a streak broken by errors.
New Repertroire: Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
. Began work on the last five bars. Need to develop sureness and speed switching between C and F6.
Chords: F6, A minor, F (CI6), G7, G, C...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord. Practice switching between C and F6, 20 times.
- 2026-04-30 (RH 46%)
Left Hand Alignment: Left Hand Finger Clearance p56a, all strings, twice.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 five times each. 130 twenty times. 120 does seem so fast after playing 130 for a couple days.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Last eight bars up to three times without error @ 60.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord.
Break.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Last eight bars perhaps seven times correct. Still a bit weak on finding F3. Definite progress.
Chords: G7, G Major, C Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord. C Major is ringing out well.
- 2026-04-29 (RH 47%)
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130. Five times each. Another five if not satisfied with the first set of five.
Left Hand Alignment: All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
and Two Finger Focus p55b.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major, G7, G Major, C Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord. C Major is ringing out well.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Had the last two and then last three bars on repeat @ 60 with five to seven correct iterations in a row. Still having trouble hitting the F3 from time to time.
- 2026-04-28 (RH 47%)
Feeling tired and a bit under the weather, or under the pollen allegry today.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, part 6.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major, G7, G Major, C Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord. C Major is ringing out well.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a once. and 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b, once.
Fun / Sight Reading: about half an hour exploring various pieces from Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
. Good news is that my fingers are finding their place more quickly.
- 2026-04-27 (RH 47%)
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57e, all strings, all frets @ 60, up the fretboard only.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120. Ten times each.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major, G7, G Major, C Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord. C Major is ringing out well. That's a start.
Fun: Explored the start of the Prelude to the first Lute Suite BVW 996.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Had the last two and then last three bars on repeat @ 60 with five to seven correct iterations in a row. Feeling as if I have learned this bit of the piece.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, part 5.
- 2026-04-26 (RH 47%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, part 4.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57d, all strings, all frets @ 60, up the fretboard only.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major, G7, G Major, C Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Had the last eight bars @ 60.
- 2026-04-24 (RH 47%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, part 3.
Partially lifted the nail of the right hand index finger while working on the boat this morning. Skipped right hand exercises today.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57c, all strings, all frets @ 60, up the fretboard only.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major, G7, G Major, C Major...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord.
- 2026-04-23 (RH 47%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 13 The Art of Interpretation, parts 1 and 2.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57b, Up (only) each string, all frets.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Had the last four bars on repeat @ 60 with three correct iterations in a row several times. Found the source of some buzziness...easing pressure from my third finger when placing the C Major chord in the last bar.
Chords: A minor, F (CI6) Major, G7...drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times each chord.
- 2026-04-22 (RH 45%)
Chords: C Major, G Major, F (CI6) Major, G7, A minor...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90, 100 ten times each. Right a bit tired. Stopped.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57a, Up and down each string, all frets. First time felt right to practice with a bit more speed and facility. Flowing.
Break.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Refamiliarize and then focus on last four bars, tempo 60.
- 2026-04-21 (RH 45%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 12 Tools Of Expression, parts 5, 6, 7, and 8, completing the lesson.
Chords: C Major, G Major, F (CI6) Major, G7...drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times each chord.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12b, i/m @ 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120. All but 120 felt easy, relaxed, not rushed. 120 was slightly busy, but quite managable.
Left Hand Alignment: Left Hand Finger Clearance p56a, all strings, twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Horizontal Clearance p56b, G3 string, I, V, and IX position, as annotated, twice.
Repertroire: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Refamiliarize and then focus on last four bars, tempo 60. Need to be careful not to touch another string with the pad of my second finger when reaching for C4.
- 2026-04-20 (RH 46%)
Feeling rather poorly. Tired. Expect it due to the pollen.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 12 Tools Of Expression, parts 1 through 4.
Left Hand Alignment: Two Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #1 and #2 pim playing the triplets at 50 quarter notes per minute. Correctly ten times through, twice.
Repertroire: Practicing Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times. F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times.
- 2026-04-19 (RH 47%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 11 Understanding the Fretboard, parts 4, 5, and 6, completing the lesson.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times.
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54b and All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
. Twice. Free tempo.
Repertroire: Practicing Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
last 5 bars. Dm first inversion and C chords. Free tempo.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #1 and #2 pim playing the triplets at 50 quarter notes per minute. Tired. Ragged practice of the arpeggios.
- 2026-04-17 (RH 47%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 10 Finger Independence, parts 4 and 5, completing the lesson.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a twice.
Chord Sequence: C, G, G7, F, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #2 pim playing the triplets at 50 quarter notes per minute.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 11 Understanding the Fretboard, parts 1, 2, and 3.
- 2026-04-16 (RH 46%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 10 Finger Independence, parts 1, 2, and 3.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times.
Arpeggios: pim sequence for about five minutes @ 90. Careful attention to hitting the beat. p walking the open strings from E2 to G3.
Chord Sequence: C Major, G Major, F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 15 times. Tried a full F Major chord, which requires a six string barre, several times. Sounds good when I get it right.
Fun: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
pages 14 through 21 with metronome at speeds from 70 to 90.
- 2026-04-13 (RH 46%)
Between פסח limiting the days available, the pollen creating a continual mild headache, and preparing the boat, I've had little time or energy to practice.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times. F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. Finding the chords easily, slowly, but easily without looking.
Chord Sequence: C Major, G Major, F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times.
Arpeggios: pim sequence with deep focus on very slow diminuendo to a minimal amount of sound, followed by very slow crescendo to a much sound as I can get, and diminuendo back to a whisper.
Fun: Tried the accompaniment portion of Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p12 and Segreras Leccion No. 46 p13 in same.
- 2026-04-07 (RH 47%)
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times. F Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57e, all strings, all frets.
Scales: C Major, G Major, D Major.
Fun: Refamiliarize with Sor Opus 60 No. 1
.
- 2026-04-01 (RH 46%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 9 Timbre, parts 3, 4, and 5, completing the lesson.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #2 pim ten times @ 70, 80, and 90
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57d, all strings, all frets, mm70.
Rhythm: p20 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
@ 70. Drill the rhythm...has to be as good as I can get it.
- 2026-03-31 (RH 46%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 9 Timbre, parts 1 and 2.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times.
Arpeggios: Giuliani #2 pim ten times @ 70, 80, and 90
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57c, all strings, all frets.
Slurs: from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p81, four times each slurs before moving to the next pair on the same string, all strings, MM70.
Rhythm: p17 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
- 2026-03-30 (RH ??%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 8 Barre Chords, parts 3-6, completing the lesson.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times.
Arpeggios: pimi aimi sequence with p moving from E2 to A2 to D3 and back down. 6x. Close to Giuliani #83, MM70.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57b, all strings, all frets.
Rhythm: p14 and p15 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
tempi: 70, 80, 90, 100. More iterations as speed increased. Focused on hitting the beat as closely as possible.
- 2026-03-29 (RH 42%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 8 Barre Chords, parts 1 and 2.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 10 times. G Major, drop and shake hand, repeat 20 times.
Slurs: from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p81, four times each slurs before moving to the next pair on the same string, all strings, MM70.
Arpeggios: pimi aimi sequence with p moving from E2 to A2 to D3 and back down. 6x. Close to Giuliani #83, MM70.
Session cut short due to other responsibilities.
- 2026-03-27 (RH 46%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 8 Barre Chords, part 1.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat. 20 times.
Slurs: from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p81, four times each slurs before moving to the next pair on the same string, all strings, MM70.
Arpeggios: pimi aimi sequence with p moving from E2 to A2 to D3 and back down. 10x. Close to Giuliani #83, MM70.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises p57a, all strings, all frets, MM70.
Break after ~45 minutes.
Rhythm: p12 and p13 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
tempi: 70, 80, 90, 100. More iterations as speed increased. Focused on hitting the beat as closely as possible.
- 2026-03-26 (RH 45%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 7 Slurs, parts 4, 5 and 6.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat. 20 times.
Slurs: from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p81, all strings, twice.
Arpeggios: pimi aimi sequence with p moving from E2 to A2 to D3 and back down. ~10x. Close to Giuliani #83.
Left Hand Alignment: Horizontal Clearance p56b, twice.
Scales: F, C, G, D, A, E first position.
Fun: Several iterations of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Counting myself.
- 2026-03-25 (RH 42%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 7 Slurs, parts 1, 2 and 3.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat. 20 times.
Slurs: Hammer-ons at the fifth fret, all strings, twice.
Arpeggios: pimi aimi sequence with p moving from E2 to A2 to D3 and back down. ~10x.
Left Hand Alignment: Left Hand Finger Clearance from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56a, twice.
Repertroire: Practicing Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
last 5 bars. F6 and C chords. Free tempo.
Fun: Several iterations of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Counting myself.
- 2026-03-24 (RH 44%) About an hour practice.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat. 20 times. Getting it. Hand starting to fall into the chord whenever I think of the chord, rather than each finger acting separately.
Arpeggios: pimi aimi sequence with p moving from E2 to A2 to D3 and back down. Till my hand started to tire.
Slurs: Hammer-ons at the fifth fret, all strings, all fingers.
Left Hand Alignment: Two Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b. Tempo 80.
Repertroire: Practicing Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
last 5 bars. F6 and C chords. Free tempo.
Fun: Several iterations of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Counting myself.
- 2026-03-22 (RH 45%) Working on keeping the right hand high off the face of the guitar. Very easy to allow the hand to go flat and lose the bit of wrist arch required.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 6 Arpeggios, parts 6-8. Completes the set
.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat. 20 times. Getting it. Hand starting to fall into the chord whenever I think of the chord, rather than each finger acting separately.
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b and All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
. Twice. Free tempo.
Giuliani 120 Apreggio Excercises in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
Nos 1 and 2. Quite a number of times. Free tempo.
Repertroire: Explored Sor Opus 31 Etude No. 1
last 5 bars. F6 and C chords. Free tempo till the chords become at least somewhat familiar.
Fun: Several iterations of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Free tempo.
- 2026-03-20 (RH 44%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 6 Arpeggios, parts 1-5. Work begins on Giuliani's 120 Arpeggio Exercises. Use Giuliani 120 Apreggio Excercises Opus 1 part 1 arranged by Christopher Davies
.
Tone: a, m, i, m, a alternation of G3, B3, E4. Six minutes.
Chords: C Major, drop and shake hand, repeat. 20 times.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position p54a once.
Repertoire: Spanish Romance
tried a, m i on the E4 string. Does not seem to work for me. Need to alternate with i, m or m, a.
Fun: Several iterations of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
.
- 2026-03-19 (RH 42%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed all of lesson 5 How to Practice, parts 1-7.
Tone: a, m, i alternation of E4, B3, G3 both Rest and Free Stroke. Working on placing hand/knuckle correctly relative to the string, high off the the guitarface. About three minutes.
Scales: G Major @ 60bpm working to hit the beat as exactly while fretting accurately...bit of work to do. About ten minutes. Perhaps too fast without havng Left Hand Alignment exercises first.
Break...bit worn from concentration on timing.
Repertoire: Worked bar 11 of the first section of Spanish Romance
repeatedly till it became, at times, accurate and easy @ 60bpm while occasionally playing to the end at the same tempo. Metronome essential to prevent a sudden up tempo during the few couple bars of the section.
- 2026-03-18 (RH 43%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed all of lesson 4 Melody and Accompaniment, parts 1-6.
Tone: a, m, i alternation of E4, B3, G3. Working on placing hand/knuckle correctly relative to the string, high off the the guitarface.
Slurs: Hammer-ons and Pull-offs at the fifth fret, all strings, twice.
Explored a few possible new pieces.
Repertoire: Worked back to front on top voice from the last six bars of the A section of Spanish Romance
. Consolidating yesterday's work. Trouble moving from D5# to C5 and B5. About 35 minutes.
Chords: C Major chord progression: C F C Am Dm G C, five times
Chords: A Minor chord progression: Am C F Dm Am, five times
- 2026-03-17 (RH 44%) Tired after longboarding today. Late in the day after dinner.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 3 Achieving Good Technique, parts 1, 2, and 3.
Tone: a, m, i alternation of E4, B3, G3. Working on placing hand/knuckle correctly relative to the string, high off the the guitarface.
Left Hand Alignment: Slow Spider Crawl, all strings, careful finger placement, listening to tone. Using pick.
Repertoire: Worked back to front on top voice from the last six bars of the A section of Spanish Romance
. Consolidating yesterday's work. Trouble moving from D5# to C5 and B5. About 35 minutes.
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 3 Achieving Good Technique, part 4.
- 2026-03-16 (RH 45%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 2 Venturing Up The Fretboard, parts 2, 3, and 4.
Left Hand Alignment: All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
. Twice. Four minutes.
Repertoire: Worked back to front on top voice from the last six bars of the A section of Spanish Romance
after viewing the Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
lesson 2 Venturing Up The Fretboard, part 4. About 35 minutes.
Chords: C Major chord progression: C F C Am Dm G C, five times
Chords: A Minor chord progression: Am C F Dm Am, five times
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 2 Venturing Up The Fretboard, parts 5, 6, 7, and 8, completing the lesson.
- 2026-03-15 (RH 44%)
Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
viewed lesson 1 Getting Started, and lesson 2 Venturing Up The Fretboard part 1.
Tone: Slow right hand, trebles strings, listening. 3 minutes.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position p54a and 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
. Twice each. Seven minutes.
Chords: C Major chord progression: C F C Am Dm G C, five times
Chords: A Minor chord progression: Am C F Dm Am, five times
Right Hand Warmup: Very moderate pace Sagreras Leccion 55 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Four times.
Repertoire: Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Third (last) phrase five times, tempo 72. Good. Approaching easy, so long as I don't lose focus. Started working on the second phrase with the third, but losing focus too often...need a break after 35+ minutes.
Break.
Repertoire: Began work integrating the right hand into Rameau's Riguadon...simple pattern i, m, a, m repeating for each inverted turn works well. Practiced for ten minutes.
- 2026-03-13 (RH 46%)
Purchased Classical Guitar Pro: Technique & Repertoire
by Brandon Acker. 12 day refund.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
from p57e, once. ~7 minutes.
Chords: C Major chord progression: C F C Am Dm G C, six times
Chords: A Minor chord progression: Am C F Dm Am, five times
After using a glass nail file, and trying to implement the recommendations of The Tone & Sound Production Masterclass by Brandon Acker, noticed significant improvement in tone. Nail shape and smoothness significantly improved, combined with a higher wrist position, and actuation from the knuckle in place of the mid-finger joint, is producing fuller, rounded, and louder tone.
- 2026-03-12 (RH 46%)
Purchased The Tone & Sound Production Masterclass by Brandon Acker. Viewed the lesson twice, taking notes.
Tone: Repeated, slow free stroke on G3, B3, and E4 using i, m, and a working to improve the tone per the lesson above. ~7 minutes
After some seven minutes, played Sor Opus 60 No. 1
working for good and consistent tone. Hard. Getting some raspiness. Hitting an adjacent string at times. Working to keep the hand high. Trying to remove tension from the tip joint...seems quite rigid. Lot of movement from the middle joint with easy, quick, automatic return of the finger after playing the string. ~18 minutes.
Break to note down the above.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
from p57d, once. ~7 minutes.
Chords: C Major chord progression: C F C Am Dm G C, ten times
Fun: Practicing tone production using free stroke while reviewing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Still need to focus in extending 4 to reach F3# in bar 12. Trying to push into the string to get a "vertical" oscillation. ~15 minutes.
- 2026-03-11 (RH 46%)
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57c, once. ~7 minutes.
Scales: Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position. Once. ~8 minutes.
Chords: Alternating C,G; Dm,Am; C,F ten times. Nails too long, causing trouble fretting properly. ~8 minutes.
Break for twenty minutes.
Fun: Revisited Kuffer's Romance, Carulli Vals Op 241, No 1, Sagreras Leccion 46 and 55 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Seeing more of the chords. Need to get faster at placing the chords on the fretboard.
- 2026-03-10 (RH 44%) My recent emphasis on practicing chords comes from realizing that the ability to play a wide variety of chords with ease is essential. For an example see Diabelli's Op 39 No 11, the last piece is Simon Powis's Simon Powis Easy Classical Guitar Vol 1: Classical
. The piece is sixteen bars, common time, about thirty single notes, the other forty are chords. Similarly for the previous piece in that book, Op 39, No 10.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12a, all combinations of finger pairs, about 8 times. ~6 minutes.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from p57b, once. ~7 minutes.
Chords: Alternating C,G; Dm,Am; C,F ten times. Nails too long, causing trouble fretting properly. ~9 minutes.
Break ~20 minutes. Left forearm tired after that work.
Repertoire: Practiced Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Practiced the C#, D, and E inverted turns, taking the anacrusis as the start, counting myself at speed...perhaps 42bpm or faster...perhaps 15 times each. Afterward, practiced the sections and the piece at tempo 40bpm. ~25 minutes.
- 2026-03-08 (RH 47%) Reached 76* outside today. Quite humid after last night's rain.
Went to Sergio and Odair Assad concert at Linehan Hall UMBC organized by the The Baltimore Classic Guitar Society
.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12a, all combinations of finger pairs, about 8 times. ~7 minutes.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from p57a, once. ~8 minutes.
Break. Tired left hand after that work.
Repertoire: Practiced Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Tempo 36bpm. ~25 minutes.
Chords: Alternating C,G; Dm,Am; C,F ten times. C Major chord progression a couple times. ~8 minutes.
- 2026-03-07 (RH 45%)
Chords: Alternating C,G; Dm,Am; C,F ten times. ~8 minutes.
Scales: D Melodic Minor Position Scales. ~6 minutes.
Repertoire: Practiced Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Tempo 36bpm. Last section alone, then add from back to front. ~25 minutes till I started getting tired and then sloppy. Bradford Werner redition of the piece lasts 32 seconds, 17 bars at 4/4 or 128bpm.
- 2026-03-06 (RH 44%)
Scales: D Melodic Minor Position Scales. ~10 minutes.
Chords: Alternating C,G; Dm,Am; C,F ten times. ~10 minutes.
Open Strings: Open String Exercises p12a, all combinations of finger pairs, about 10 times. ~10 minutes.
Repertoire: Refamiliarizing myself with Le Petit Rien from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. ~15 minutes.
- 2026-03-05 (RH 43%) One hour practice.
May have been playing with the right arm and wrist too close to the face of the guitar forcing me to rely more on the outer finger joints to move the string rather than the knuckle joint!
Read article and watched video on "Right Hand Position Lesson for Classical Guitar". One of the bullet point is: Fingers move into the palm mainly from the upper knuckle joint.
Left Hand Alignment: Left Hand Finger Clearance from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56a, twice and Horizontal Clearance p56b, once.
Began efforts to correct right hand position by raising the wrist high enough that the fingers are about 75* to the wrist and the wrist is slightly bent from the forearm. More powerful finger stroke in this position resulting in more volume. Fingers automatically relax back to before the string sounded. No feeling of stress in the right forearm.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax, repeat ten times. Dm fifteen times to learn to use the fourth finger in place of the third for D4.
Break
Practiced last two sections of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor using a high right hand. Counting at my own pace. About Twenty minutes.
Practiced Sagreras Leccion No. 55 p33 using a high right hand, last three chords.
- 2026-03-04 (RH 41%)
Shortened practice. Tired today...too late in the evening after getting up at 5AM.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax, repeat five times. Dm fifteen times to learn to use the fourth finger in place of the third for D4. C Major chord progression (C F C Am Dm G C) Five times.
Scales: D Melodic Minor Position Scales.
Beginning to get into Sagreras Leccion No. 55 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p33 using the right hand. Chord sequence is Dm, A7, A7 (A3,G4 voicing), Dm, D7, Bb6\D, A7, Dm (i V7 V7 i7 VI6? V7 i).
- 2026-03-03 (RH 41%)
Left Hand Alignment: Two Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b. Five minutes.
Open Position Melodic Minor Scales: Dm, Am, Em, Bm, F#m, p66. Eight minutes
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax, repeat five times. Dm fifteen times to learn to use the fourth finger in place of the thrid for D4. C Major chord progression (C F C Am Dm G C) Five times. Twelve minutes.
Break
Practiced all of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor at tempo 60....slow. Hard to concentrate slow. Took too long a break. Got cold. Hard to get restarted. Twentry minutes.
Explored Sagreras Leccion No. 55 p33 using the right hand. Ten minutes.
- 2026-03-02 (RH 41%)
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax, repeat seven times. C Major chord progression (C F C Am Dm G C) seven times. Twelve minutes.
Scales: D Melodic Minor One Octave and Position Scales: Tempi 64. Fasting. Cold. Tired. Eighteen minutes.
Practiced all of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Bars 1 through 4 are repeated in bars 5 through 8 but for a quarter-note rest at the end of bar 4 and two eight-notes at the end of bar 8.
Counting at my own pace. About Twenty minutes.
Explored Sagreras Leccion No. 55 p33 using the right hand. First time using right hand since 2026-02-17?
Found out that I have been using the wrong finger for D4 in the Dm chord. Need to use 4 not 3!
- 2026-03-01 (RH 42%)
Scales: D Melodic Minor One Octave and Position Scales: Tempi 60, 64, and 68. At 68, I was muffing the B flat through poor finger placemeent. Seven minutes.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax, repeat five times, followed by playing the C Major chord progression (C F C Am Dm G C) five times. Eight minutes.
Began bars 5 through 8 Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Practiced bars 9 through 16. Counting at my own pace. About 30 minutes.
working out well. Not twisting by body. Soundhole is centered. Left leg straight ahead. Right leg well out to the right. Feels much better.
- 2026-02-28
Pablo Sainz-Villegas and Friends concert at The Hylton Center
Danza del molinero (de El sombrero de tres picos), Manuel de Falla; Asturias (Leyenda), Isaac Albeniz; La vida breve, Manuel de Falla; Spanish Romance; Recuerdos de al Alhambra, Francisco Tarrega; Malaguena, Vito, Queens, Joaquin Turina; Gran Jota de Concierto, Tarrega; Concierto de Aranjuez (2nd movement), Joaquin Rodrigo; La boda de Luis Alonso, Geronimo Gimenez (may have been skipped). Added Tico-Tico no Fubá, Z. de Abreu
- 2026-02-27 (RH 41%)
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b and All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
. Twice each. Seven minutes.
Scales: D Melodic Minor One Octave and Position Scales: Five minutes.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About ten times each. Eight minutes.
Practice bars 9 though 11 of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Practiced bars 12 through 16. Counting at my own pace. About 30 minutes.
- 2026-02-26 (RH 42%)
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About ten times each. Ten minutes.
Scales: D Melodic Minor One Octave and Position Scales: Seven minutes.
Began learning bars 9 though 11 of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Practiced bars 12 through 16. Counting at my own pace. About 35 minutes.
- 2026-02-24 (RH 44%)
Read the section on Seating Position in Stanley Yates Classical Guitar Technique Part 1 - Foundation
on p34. Well detailed description of the position of the torso and each limb of the body and placement of the guitar relative to the body. More detail than any other book that I have seen to date.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About fifteen times each. Thirteen minutes.
Left Hand Alignment: 1st and 4th Finger Focus p54b and All Fingers with Fourth Finger Focus p55a from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
. Thrice each. Fifteen minutes.
Scales: D Melodic Minor One Octave and Position Scales: Getting smoother. Remembering the changes between ascending and descending scales. Ten minutes.
Practiced last four bars of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor. Playing smoothly. Counting at my own pace.
Improved seating position based upon instructions in Stanley Yates Classical Guitar Technique Part 1 - Foundation
feels good. Less fatigued at the end of the session.
- 2026-02-23 (RH 42%)
Scales: D Melodic Minor One Octave Scale: ten minutes walking the scale, learning the notes. Care needed with B and C# on the way up and C and B-flat on the way down. Noticeably smoother movement by the end due to isolating the section from A3 to D4 and back down to A3. Practicing this series of seven notes slowly till they flowed, and only then increasing the tempo. Perhaps a model for handling rough patches.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About twelve times each.
Barre: Barre and Left Hand Position Playing from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p107abcd.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position p54a.
Break.
- 2026-02-22 (RH 43%)
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a, twice.
Slurs: Open String Ascending Slurs all strings, p81a, twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes More Horizontal Exercises p56e, all strings, all frets, once.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About ten times each. Hearing improvement. Ten minutes.
Break for twenty to thirty minutes.
Explored a bit of Rameau's Riguadon from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p32 in D minor, from the end per recommendations to prevent one from running ahead despite mistakes.
- 2026-02-20 (RH 44%)
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About ten times each. Hearing improvement. Ten minutes.
Slurs: Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice, Descending Slurs - Directional Strumming p80b, twice, and Descending Slurs - Left Hand Pluck twice from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57d, once. All strings, all frets. Six minutes.
- 2026-02-19 (RH 43%) Took yesterday off due to sore/tender right forearm. Will rest the forearm for a week, perhaps.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About ten times each. Hearing improvement. Ten minutes.
Slurs: Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice, Descending Slurs - Directional Strumming p80b, twice, and Descending Slurs - Left Hand Pluck twice from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
.
Left Hand Alignment: Walked the fretboard on each strings from the nut to the twelth fret.
Left Hand Alignment: Basic Four Finger Position p54a, twice.
- 2026-02-17 (RH 41%)
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About seven times each. Hearing improvement. Eight minutes.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57c, once. All strings, all frets. Six minutes.
Repertoire: Twenty-five minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at tempo 76. Not working today. Stumbling.
Scales: C Major Position Scale, tempo 76.
Feeling tenderness to a bit of ache in the top of my right hand a bit outboard of where the first metacarpal meets the wrist bones.
- 2026-02-16 (RH 40%)
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57b, once. All strings, all frets. Seven minutes.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About seven times each. Hearing improvement. Eight minutes.
Repertoire: Twenty-five minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at tempi 72, 80, and 84.
- 2026-02-15 (RH 41%) Between the music stand and the guitar support, I have better position, more upright, level shoulders. Combined with rotating the guitar a bit along the veritcal axis, moving the lower bout back and the neck forward, I have a more relaxed playing position.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About seven times each. Hearing improvement. Eleven minutes.
Scales: C Major Position Scale, tempi 72 and 76, each about five times or so. Twelve minutes.
Fun: Explored portions of the second half of the Prelude to Bach First Cello Suite
. Unexpected chromatic scale from A3 to D4 in bars 37 through 39.
Repertoire: Twenty-five minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at tempi 72, 76, and 80.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57a, once. All strings, all frets. Seven minutes.
Ended the practice session feeling more at ease, less stressed, than I have been accustomed to feeling. Could be a result of both the music stand and the guitar support.
- 2026-02-13 (RH 37%) Upon opening the case, found the D3 string core broken at the exit from the bridge, before the saddle, only the unspooled metal winding connecting the two parts.
Replaced the D4 string with one from a set of Pro-Arte EJ45 normal tension strings
, I had on-hand.
Abbreviated practice session as a result of having to replace a string before Shabbat.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. Seven+ times each. G Major is getting better while using 2, 3, and 4th fingers.
- 2026-02-12 (RH 41%) Starting to get a working position for GuitarLift Support, Medium
, a bit to left of body center, neck a bit rotated forward relative to body.
Chords: C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About seven times each. Hearing improvement.
Scales: C Major Position Scale, tempi 72 and 76, each about five times or so. Began to tire near the end. Time for a break.
Repertoire: Twenty-five minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at tempi 76, 80, and 84.
Found that I can slide the fingers of the right hand along the strings toward the bridge while playing free stroke to get a softer sound, even down to a whisper.
- 2026-02-11 (RH 42%) Seeking correct position for GuitarLift Support, Medium
.
Chords: Nine minutes C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About seven times each. Hearing improvement.
Scales: C Major Position Scale, tempi 68 and 72, each about five times or so. Began to tire near the end. Time for a break.
Break
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at tempi 68, 72, 76, and 80.
- 2026-02-10 (RH 41%) Seeking correct position for GuitarLift Support, Medium
.
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes Left Hand Finger Clearance from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56b, once.
Chords: Eight minutes C, F, Am, Dm, G in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. About five times each.
Scales: C Major Position Scale, tempo 68 five times through...a rough, needs more practice to hit each note at the right time.
Break
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempi 64 and 68. A bit tired. Need to play closer to the fret. Reaching to far up/out the fretboard. Could be due in part to position change as I get used to using the GuitarLift in place of the Gitano support.
- 2026-02-09 (RH 57%) After practice, replaced Restore Humidipaks with Maintain packets to increase humidity.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes Left Hand Finger Clearance from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56a, once.
Chords: Eight minutes C, F, Am, Dm. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. G needs a lot of work.
Open Strings: Six minutes Open String Exercises p12-2, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight reps.
Fun: Twenty minutes playing with a bit of practice Handel's Menuet in A, HWV545 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p26f.
- 2026-02-08 (RH 37%) After practice, replaced Maintain Humidipaks with Restore packets to increase humidity.
First time using GuitarLift Support, Medium
. Will take some time to get used to the new position of the guitar. Less twisting of my torso to the left compared to using the Gitano Guitar Support
. Upper edge of lower bout is higher, raising my right arm. Guitar sounds richer as the back surface can resonate free of my body. Need a music stand.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes Two Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b, once.
Chords: Six minutes C, F, Am, Dm, G, and C in Open Position. Play, release, relax hand, repeat. G needs a lot of work.
Open Strings: Six minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight reps.
Fun: Eight minutes Sagreras Leccion No 54 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p27.
Repertoire: Twenty-five minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempi 64, 68, and 72.
- 2026-02-06 (RH 40%)
Left Hand Alignment: Six minutes 1st and 4th Finger Focus and All Fingers with 4th Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54b and p55a, twice.
Chords: Eight minutes C Major, F Major, A minor, and D minor. Play, release, relax hand, repeat.
Barre: Four minutes Placement and Release and String Specific Barre Correction, p106a and b, twice.
Repertoire: Ten minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
.
- 2026-02-05 (RH 39%)
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes Horizontal Clearance from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56b, twice.
Chords: Four minutes C Major and F Major. Play, release, relax hand, repeat, about ten times each.
Scales: Twenty minutes twice free then at tempo. 60bpm thrice, 64 thrice, 68 thrice, 72 thrice. Getting easier. Fingers are close to the frets. Need to make sure to sound F2 clearly, finger tends to be a bit on the fret. Lose quiet focus and and error can happen.
Take a little break. Fifteen minutes.
Fun: Fifteen minutes freely practicing first eight bars of Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
. Starting to get the shapes.
- 2026-02-04 (RH 40%)
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes Basic Four Finger Position from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a, twice.
Barre: Four minutes Placement and Release and String Specific Barre Correction, p106a and b, twice.
Scales: Twenty-five minutes Level set...can I play a C Major Position Scale? Start at a tempo of 60...took half a dozen tries to get it clean, then thrice at tempo without error. Twice more at tempo without error. Tendency to overextend 4 and play D4 and G4 on the fret, partially muted rather that immediately outboard the fret. Increase tempo to 64...bit harder to hit C4 and D4...a persistent issue that keeps coming back. Thrice correct at tempo. Increase to 68...getting tired. Taking a break to record today's practice so far.
Fun: Fifteen minutes free play of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
at a bit livelier tempo. Need to focus in extending 4 to reach F3# in bar 12, and to remember the turn up in bar 11 vs the turn down in bar 15 after identical runs of 17 notes.
Fun: Ten minutes free play of Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
. Easier to hit the C Major chords after the chord practice on 2026-01-30.
- 2026-02-03 (RH 41%)
Fretboard Knowledge: Five minutes playing all A's and D's.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57e, all strings, all frets, once.
Scales: Ten minutes F Major Position Scale.
Fun: Twenty minutes or more freely practicing La Volte.
- 2026-02-02 (RH 41%) Strings a bit low, but less than yesterday. Strings appear to have settled.
Scales: Ten minutes F Major Position Scale.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at 72bpm.
Feeling off, perhaps tired, today. Took it easy compared to other days.
- 2026-02-01 (RH 41%) Strings a bit low. No bars above the letter on the MicroTuner. One or two bars showing below before tuning.
Slurs: Five minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice, Descending Slurs - Directional Strumming p80b, twice, and Descending Slurs - Left Hand Pluck twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57d, all strings, all frets, once.
Scales: Eight minutes F Major Position Scale a number of times, tempo 60, 64, and 68. Need practice descending from C4 to B3. Forgetting B♭ on the way down.
Repertoire: Ten minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at both 72 and 76. Bit tired.
Took a break for fifteen minutes.
Repertoire: Ten minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at both 76 and 80. Not as smooth as I would like, but improving.
- 2026-01-31 (RH 41%) Strings a bit low. Less tensioning needed than previously. The strings may be settling in after a week.
Left Hand Alignment: Six minutes More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57c, all strings, all frets, once.
Scales: Eleven minutes F Major Position Scale a number of times, tempo 60 and 64. Need practice descending from C4 to B3. Forgetting B♭ on the way down.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes refamiliarizing myself with Le Petit Rien from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
- 2026-01-30 (RH 42%)
Slurs: Six minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice, Descending Slurs - Directional Strumming p80b, twice, and Descending Slurs - Left Hand Pluck twice.
Scales: Fifteen minutes F Major Position Scale a number of times and its chords (F, C, Dm, C, F).
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57b, all strings, all frets, once.
Repertoire: Twelve minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at both 76 and 80.
- 2026-01-29 (RH 43%)
All strings a bit low today. Less so than before.
Left Hand Alignment: Ten minutes More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57a, all strings, all frets, once.
Scales: Ten minutes F Major Position Scale a number of times and its chords (F, C, Dm, C, F) a couple of times.
Watched the video lesson on F Major and Melody by Mertz from p29 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Mentions that the melody only is RCM Preliminary level and full piece grade 1 or 2.
Ten minutes exploring Melody by Mertz.
- 2026-01-28 (RH 43%)
All strings a bit less than one semitone low today.
Slurs: Six minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice, Descending Slurs - Directional Strumming p80b, twice, and Descending Slurs - Left Hand Pluck twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Six minutes Horizontal Clearance p56b, all strings twice.
Fretboard Knowledge: Few minutes playing all the F's on the fretboard.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
at both 76 and 80. Have not practiced this in a few days...noticeable effect.
At the end of practice, tuned all strings one semitone high, and allowed the guitar to sit for an hour per recommendation of Marshall Brune at the end of his How to String a Classical Guitar video. After an hour, eased the strings to a bit below tune and tuned up.
- 2026-01-26 (RH 46%)
All strings about one semitone low today. Tuned up and tuned several times while practicing and playing.
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes Left Hand Finger Clearance p56a, all strings five times.
Scales: Twenty minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, p64 at tempo 60. Getting better at it. More work needed.
Fun: Spent about thirty minutes playing various pieces from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
. Noticeably easier to play these pieces than the last time I tried, perhaps before June 2025.
- 2026-01-25 (RH 46%)
Replaced the original New Cristal Corum 500CJ high tension strings
with Creation Cantiga Premium 510MJP high tension strings
strings. Applied three small drops of light machine oil to the worm and each of each tuner. Removed all strings. Carefully wiped/buffed the entire guitar with a damp hot water cloth, in particular the fretboard.
Well past time to have replaced the strings. Dark spots on the A2 and D3 strings immediately outboard of the open position frets. When removed A2 and D3 were crimped, deformed, at the frets.
Scales: Twenty minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, p64 at tempo 60. More work needed. Repeated tuned the guitar while playing the scales...twenty minutes of playing and lots of time tuning. Stopped for an hour to let the strings settle.
Left Hand Alignment: Eight minutes Left Hand Finger Clearance p56a, all strings five times. Stopped for an hour to let the strings settle. Stopped for an hour to let the strings settle.
Slurs: Ten minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, several times, and Descending Slurs - Directional Strumming p80b, repeatedly. Stopped to let the strings settle.
Fun: Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, La Volte, and Sagreras Leccion 54. All from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
- 2026-01-23 (RH 46%)
Left Hand Alignment: Eight minutes Two Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b, all strings twice each.
Scales: Eight minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, p64 at tempo 60. More work needed.
Slurs: Five minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice.
Repertoire: Fifteen minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 76, and finished at tempo 80. Need to get better at the transition from the first to second sections.
- 2026-01-22 (RH 46%)
Slurs: Five minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises, first position up to ninth position all strings once each, p54b and p55a.
Scales: Eight minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, p64 at tempo 60. More work needed.
Barre: Four minutes Placement and Release and String Specific Barre Correction, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p106a and b, twice.
Fun: Twenty minutes practicing Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 page 20 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
- 2026-01-21 (RH 46%)
Barre: Four minutes Placement and Release and String Specific Barre Correction, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p106a and b, twice.
Harmonics: About ten minutes playing with harmonics at the 5th, 7th, and 12th frets. Ponticello makes a tremendous difference in ease of play.
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes More Horizontal Exercises, first position up to ninth position all strings once each, p54a.
Scales: Ten minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, p64 at tempo 60. Still not easy, perhaps better than yesterday. More work needed.
Slurs: Five minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice.
Fun: Several iterations of both Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12.
- 2026-01-20 (RH 40%) as of 0740. Reinstalled Restore packets of the
in the case to bring the humidity up 5 to 10% before changing to Maintain packets.
RH rose to 56% before practice at 1730 and fell to 44% during practice. Installed Maintain packets.
Barre: Four minutes Placement and Release and String Specific Barre Correction, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p106a and b, twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises, first position up to ninth position all strings onde each, p57e.
Scales: Fifteen minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, p64 at tempo 60. Not easy, actually difficult to play the notes, say the note names, scan the score, and keep pace with the metronome. Stumbled my way through. Practice required.
Slurs: Three minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, twice.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes playing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, tempo 76. Left hand relaxed, particularly from the middle of the practice period onward. Good to start to feel relaxed while playing at the designated pace.
Used a pick throughout this practice session as my right forearm a little bit sore.
- 2026-01-18 (RH 67%) Remove the Restore packets from the
in the case.
Chords: Four minutes of C, Am, D7 repeatedly. Not comfortable.
Slurs: Three minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p80a, twice.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice, p64.
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises, first position up to ninth position all strings onde each, p57d.
Barre: Four minutes String Specific Barre Correction, page 106b, thrice.
Took a break for a couple hours.
Repertoire: Thirty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 76, and finished at tempo 80. Felt a bit fast at first, then more comfortable. Not quite comfortable yet.
- 2026-01-16 (RH 62%)
Barre: Four minutes String Specific Barre Correction, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
, page 106b, thrice.
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises, first position up to ninth position all strings once each, p57c.
Scales: Four minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, once, p64.
Slurs: Three minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, p80a, thrice.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 76.
- 2026-01-15 (RH 59%)
Slurs: Three minutes Ascending Slurs - Directional Snap all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p80a, thrice.
Scales: Four minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, once, p64.
Left Hand Alignment: Eight minutes More Horizontal Exercises, first position up to ninth position all strings once each, p57b.
Repertoire: Twelve minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 72. Last two iterations at 76. Preceptively faster, but not difficult to adjust.
Fun: Five minutes or so playing Sagreras Leccion 54.
- 2026-01-14 (RH 62%)
Chords: Four minutes of C, Am, D7 repeatedly.
Left Hand Alignment: More Horizontal Exercises from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57a, once. All strings, all frets. Five minutes.
, first position up to ninth position on G3, D3, B3 strings.
Scales: Ten minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice, p64.
Repertoire: Fifteen minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 72. New dynamics, reaching highest volume in the middle of the last line before tapering and adding ritardando for the G2, B2, C3, chord and final C3.
Fun: About ten minutes total, a few minutes inserted between earlier items here and there, a bit of Bach, aspirational.
Kept the
after today's practice.
- 2026-01-13 (RH 39%)
Chords: Six minutes of C, Am, D7 repeatedly.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
, in first position, twice, p64.
Left Hand Alignment: Ten minutes Horizontal Clearance, first position, p56b, thrice.
Finger Independence: Six minutes, Finger Independence and Sustain once, each string p96.
Fun: Ten minutes playing with Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Added the
after today's practice.
- 2026-01-12 (RH 40%)
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes Left Hand Finger Clearance, fifth position, all strings, p56a.
Barre: Three minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first six strings, page 107, once. Still hard to reach the first string while barring six. Still hurts.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice, p64.
Fun: Twenty minutes practicing Handel's Menuet in A, HWV545 and Sagreras Leccion 54 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p26f.
- 2026-01-11 (RH 42%)
Left Hand Alignment: Three minutes Two Finger Focus, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b, twice.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice, p64.
Abbreviated practice seesion due to taking my wife, Tal, and two grandchildren to a Maryland Women's Basketball game against Ohio State.
- 2026-01-09 (RH 41%)
Finger Independence: Six minutes, Finger Independence and Sustain once, each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p96.
Scales: Three minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, once, p64.
Twenty minutes playing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
at higher speed.
- 2026-01-08 (RH 42%) Drop of 22% humidity in a single day without the humidification packets.
Tuned using Pro Metronome iPhone app
and then again using the D'Addario Micro Headstock Tuner
. The D'Addario is more accurate, allowing me to tune such that the guitar resonates, sustains noticeably longer.
Feeling tired and a bit out of sorts today. Played purely for the joy of it for about forty minutes. Revisited a couple pieces from earlier last year. No practice.
Before playing repeatedly dipped the nails of my right hand in HOT water to soften them, and used the fingers of the other hand to press the "hook" out of the nail from underneath. Worked well. No catching, "hooking", of the strings. Need to do this each time I play.
- 2026-01-07 (RH 64%) Excessively high humidity in the case. Returned the humidification packets from their sleeves to the ziplock bag in which they were shipped.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, Finger Independence and Sustain once, each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p96.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice, p64.
Repertoire: Thirty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 72. New dynamics, reaching highest volume in the middle of the last line before tapering and adding ritardando for the G2, B2, C3, chord and final C3.
- 2026-01-06 (RH 59%) Left forearm a bit sensitive.
Scales: Few minutes playing open position C Major scale as a set of destination points per Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
.
Repertoire: Less then twenty minutes attempting Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 72.
Feeling sluggish, unfocused. Stopped so that I would not practice playing poorly.
- 2026-01-05 (RH 56%) Relative Humidity in the case reads as 56% when opened for today's practicve. All strings flat...about 15 cents.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice. Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p64.
Open Strings: Six minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight reps, tempo 64 per quarter-note.
Left Hand Alignment: Three minutes Basic Four Finger Position, fifth position, all strings, p55b, thrice.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, Basic Finger Independence five times each finger from p93.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 68. Feel easy, but a bit tired and losing focus. Stopping for a break for twenty to thirty minutes.
After a twenty-five minute break, returned to Sor, tempo 68. Still a bit tired, but playing with ease. Upped tempo to 72 and played with ease. Wife says that "You sound a lot more relaxed."
- 2026-01-04 (RH 30%)
Relative Humidity in the case reads as 30%. Will start using the
after today's practice.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes Basic Four Finger Position, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55a, thrice.
Barre: Five minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, page 106, thrice.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice.
Repertoire: Thirty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, with a break after some twenty minutes. Freely first couple times, then tempo 64, finished with tempo 68 and a very nice redition. Need to be more careful of finger placement, to be tight to the fret.
- 2026-01-03
Scales: Ten minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, F, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice.
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes More Horizontal Clearance, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57de, once each.
Fun: Twenty minutes on Carcassi's Prelude in E Minor and Sagreras Leccion 54 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p27.
- 2026-01-02
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes More Horizontal Clearance, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57abc, once each.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, C, G, D, and A, in first position, twice.
Repertoire: Couple minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, no metronome. Freely first couple times to get fingers moving, then by counting.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No1, tempo 60, followed by tempo 64. Not perfect, but better. Introducing dynamics and accentuation.
- 2026-01-01
Scales: Three minutes Chromatic Scale Starting on E to G4 p58, twice.
Open Strings: Eight minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight reps, tempo 64 per quarter-note.
Left Hand Alignment: Four minutes Horizontal Clearance, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56b, thrice.
Scales: Six minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, C, G, D, and A, in first position, once.
Repertoire: Ten minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, no metronome. Freely first couple times to get fingers moving, then by counting.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No1, tempo 60. Better. Seems it was good to give is couple weeks off.
- 2025-12-30
Left Hand Alignment: Three minutes Two Finger Focus, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b, twice.
Scales: Three minutes Chromatic Scale Starting on E to G4, p58, twice.
Open Strings: Six minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight reps, tempo 64 per quarter-note. Had to trim right hand nails. Too long, hooking strings.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Handel's Menuet in A, HWV545 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p26.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sagreras Leccion 54 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p27.
- 2025-12-29 Tuned by ear; checked with electronic tuner, G3 low (~ -12).
Left Hand Alignment: Six minutes Two Finger Focus, fifth position, all strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p55b, twice.
Open Strings: Six minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight reps, tempo 64 per quarter-note.
Scales: Ten minutes Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, C, G, D, A, and E, in first position, twice.
Scales: Three minutes Chromatic Scale Starting on E to G4, p58, twice.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes practicing Handel's Menuet in A, HWV545 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p26. Bit for trouble using ring finger to fret C4. Chunking the A section into four chunks of four bars each. Each ends on a half or dotted half note.
- 2025-12-28 Tuned by ear, no changes needed; check with electronic tuner, no changes.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice Basic Finger Independence five times each finger from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p93.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes More Horizontal Exercises fifth, on G3, p55a, twice five times.
Scales: Ten minutes, C Major, Major Scales with Open String Shifts p75, tempo 64.
Barre: Five minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, page 106, thrice.
Open Strings: Ten minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12, tempo 64 per quarter-note.
- 2025-12-26
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes More Horizontal Exercises fifth, on G3, p55b, five times.
Scales: Five minutes, C Major, Major Scales with Open String Shifts p75
Finger Independence: Four minutes, two times through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Barre: Four minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first six strings, page 107, once. Still hard to reach the first string while barring six. Still hurts.
Chords: Six minutes C, Am, D7; A, D
Fun: Five minutes Sagreras Leccion 54 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p27.
- 2025-12-25
Open Strings: Six minutes Open String Exercises p12-5, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, thrice, from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
Chords: Five minutes C, Am, D7
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Left Hand Alignment: Ten minutes More Horizontal Exercises fifth, on G3, p57, thrice.
Scales: Fifteen minutes, C Major, Major Scales with Open String Shifts p75, tempo 60
Fun: Ten minutes, Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, couple refresh iterations with spot practice.
- 2025-12-24
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises third and fourth, on G3 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57, thrice.
Scales: Ten minutes, C Major, tempo 60...have been playing scales significantly slower.
Open Strings: Ten minutes Open String Exercises p12-3 and 4, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, once each.
Barre: Three minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first six strings, page 107, once. Hard to fret the E4 string w/5 string and 6 string barre, particularly 6th string...very hard. Hurts.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Fun: Ten minutes Sagreras Leccion 54 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p27, and Le Petit Rien.
- 2025-12-23 Implementing a recommendation from Christopher Berg Practicing Music by Design
p48 to change the order of technical exercises from day to day.
Finger Independence: Four minutes, two times through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Barre: Three minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first six strings, Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
page 107, once. Hard to fret the E4 string w/5 string and 6 string barre, particularly 6th string...very hard. Hurts.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Scales: Twelve minutes, starting from C/C#, cycle through C, G, D, A, and E Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, in both First and Fifth positions.
Rest for a couple hours.
Repertoire: Thirty minutes reexamining Handel's Menuet in A, HWV545 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p26. Chunking the A section into four chunks of four bars each. Each ends on a half or dotted half note. Last time I looked at this piece was 2025-11-18.
- 2025-12-22
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes More Horizontal Exercises first two, on G3 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p57, thrice.
Scales: Twelve minutes, starting from B, cycle through C, G, D, A, and E Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, in both First and Fifth positions.
Open Strings: Seven minutes Open String Exercises p12-1, all combinations of finger pairs, eighth-notes, eight times each.
Fun: Ten minutes Sagreras Leccion 54 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
p27, twice with some speed but for the chord changes.
- 2025-12-21
Left Hand Alignment: Six minutes Horizontal Clearance on B3, G3, and D3 from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56b, twice.
Scales: Seven minutes C, G, D, A, and E Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, twice.
Barre: Five minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first six strings, page 107, once. Hard to fret the E4 string w/5 string barre. Bit painful in left forearm. Stopped after five strings.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Fretboard Knowledge: Five minutes playing all the A's, C's, and E's on the fretboard.
Finished with playing a bit of Le Petit Rien by Couperin, purely for the pleasure of it.
- 2025-12-19
Short day due to children coming to visit.
Scales: Three minutes C Major, three times as warm up.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Several iterations were good, but not two in a row. Lose focus...miss a note.
- 2025-12-18
Left Hand Alignment: Ten minutes fifth position, Left Hand Finger Clearance from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56a, once.
Scales: Five minutes C, G, D, and A Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, twice.
Barre: Five minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first six strings, page 107, once. Hard to fret the E4 string w/ 6 string barre, particularly B4 flat is vary hard. Bit of buzzing in G3 on 6 strings barre.
Rest: While watching the Barre Lesson (Bar, Capo) and Exercises for Guitar video from This is Classical Guitar
.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Having trouble finding F3 on the D3 strings at end of measure 12 with no other finger on the fretboard. Several iterations were good, but not two in a row. Lose focus...miss a note.
- 2025-12-17
Left Hand Alignment: Ten minutes fifth position, Two Finger Focus from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56b, once.
Scales: Five minutes C, G, D, and A Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths p64, twice.
Barre: Five minutes Barre and Left Hand Position Playing, first five strings, page 107, once.
Spent twenty minutes, getting reacquanited, not really practicing, with La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
for the pure joy of listening to the sound.
- 2025-12-16
Open String: Seven minutes, all finger pairs, eighth-notes. Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p12-1. Need to relax the left hand more.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes fifth position, All Fingers with 4th Finger Focus p55c.
Scales: Five minutes C, G, D, and A Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths twice p64.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Bit out of sorts today. Having trouble finding F3 on the D3 strings at end of measure 12 with no other finger on the fretboard.
Rest: Ten minutes
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60.a
Barre: Five minutes 4 strings, ringing, positions 2 through 12.
- 2025-12-15
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes fifth position focus on first and fourth fingers from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54b.
Scales: Seven minutes C, G, D, and A Major from Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths on p64.
Arpeggio: Three minutes opens strings p a m i
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Closer. More relaxed.
Rest: Ten minutes
Barre: 4 strings, ringing, positions 2 through 12 -- 5
Repertoire: Twenty-five minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Last three iterations were good. Qualifies. Need to repeat without error.
- 2025-12-14
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes on G3, D3, A2, and E2 in first, fifth and ninth positions from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a.
Scales: Three minutes C Major two octaves twice through preparation for Sor.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Not quite yet.
Rest: Fifteen minutes
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, both hands, tempo 60. Last three iterations were good. Qualifies, its repeatable.
- 2025-12-13
Left Hand Alignment: Seven minutes on G3, D3, A2, and E2 in first, fifth and ninth positions from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a.
Open Scales: Seven minutes on C, G, D, A, same book p64.
Chords: Fout minutes switching C, Am, and D7 as a set. A and D as a pair.
Repertoire: Thirty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Nearly there. Lose focus and miss, at times. Not in the same place, just waiting at this pace for the next note.
- 2025-12-12
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes on G3, D3, A2, and E2 in first, fifth and ninth positions from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p54a.
Open Scales: Five minutes on C, G, D, A, same book p64.
Chords: Five minutes switching C, Am, and D7 as a set. A and D as a pair.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
1 both hands, tempo 60.
Repertoire: Ten minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
using a pick, tempo 68.
- 2025-12-11
Started the Bradford Werner lesson on finger independence. That video refers one to the left hand alignment exercises are a prerequisite.
Watched the video lesson on Alignment Exercises for the Left Hand from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
.
Left Hand Alignment: Five minutes on G3, D3, A2, and E2 in first, fifth and ninth positions from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
p56b.
Open Scales: Five minutes on C, G, D, A p64.
Chords: Five minutes switching C, Am, and D7 as a set. A and D as a pair.
Repertoire: Fifteen minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
both hands, tempo 60. Hard to reintegrate the right hand. Limited time to protect the forearm.
Repertoire: Twenty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
using a pick, tempo 72.
Watched the video lesson on Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Technique
.
- 2025-12-10
Finger Independence: Four minutes, three times through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Scales: Four minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Chords: Seven minutes switching C, Am, and D7 as a set. A and D as a pair.
Fifteen minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Using a pick after yesterday. Counting at about 76bpm in place of metronome. Six plus iterations with repeats on measures, phrases with errors.
- 2025-12-09
Scales: Four minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Thirty minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Reintroduced the right hand after a week's rest. Out of practice. Struggling to maintain a tempo of 60. More practice needed.
Barre: Couple minutes, first four strings.
Fifteen minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. More practice needed. Amazing how reintroducing the right hand can be so challenging.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, three times.
Right forearm slightly sore at the end. Too much?
- 2025-12-08
Scales: Four minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
One iteration of Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, tempo 76. Buzzed a note. Inserted an extra measure between first and second section. Sounded good.
Eleven minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1, tempo 60. Twice through, on time, no errors.
Five minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1, tempo 64. Missed C4 in final measure a couple times. Need specific practice.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, three times. Reached past the target string with the second finger while moving up the width of the fretboard, several times.
Chords: Five minutes switching between C, Am, D7.
Barre: Five minutes, first four strings. No thumb. Ringing out.
Five minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1, tempo 64. Tired.
- 2025-12-07
Scales: Four minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Fifteen minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, both sections. Nearly without error more than once. Two issues that recur are landing thrid finger on D4 and landing first finger on C4 while holding C3.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, three times through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Fifteen minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Very close to having the piece. One note in error, or a finger lightly contacting an adjacent string (rarely). Bit more work required.
- 2025-12-05
Ten minutes on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
. Starting practicing after being meaningfully irritated. Gave up on music after ten minutes of frustration. Time for technique work.
Finger Independence: Three minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Scales: Three minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Barre: Eight minutes barring the first three strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Slurs: Five minutes of practice.
- 2025-12-04
Finger Independence: Three minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Scales: Three minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Fifteen minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, second section.
Fifteen minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1, A section.
Ten minutes, Sor Opus 60 No. 1, both sections.
Still can't repeat at will. Try. Get tired after a while and the tiredness makes my sloppy. An example: missing D4 by placing my finger on the G3 string at the thrid fret.
- 2025-12-03
Right forearm feeling less sore. Time off may be helping. Practice restricted to left hand and plectrum.
Finger Independence: Four minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Scales: Four minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Thirty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, both sections, tempo 60. Able to repeat the A section, without breaks, five times with very few errors. First time I have been able to do so. The second section is less practiced, and more tired by this point. Having some difficulty with the last three bars.
Finished with trying hammer-ons and pull-offs for the first time using chapter 11 of Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
.
Followed that with a bit of pieces with two parts from chapter 10 of Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
.
- 2025-12-02
Right forearm feeling a bit sore, despite using a pick. Squeezing the pick too hard? Practice restricted to left hand and plectrum.
Scales: Four minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95.
Thirty minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, both sections, tempo 60. Diffuse and distracted by concern about my right forearm. Don't want to take days off. Perhaps I can get a thumb pick.
- 2025-12-01
Right forearm feeling a bit tender. Practice restricted to left hand and plectrum.
Finger Independence: Six minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95
Ten minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section, left hand fingering, tempo 60. By the end, several repeats in a row without errors.
Twenty five minutes Sor Opus 60 No. 1, second section, left hand fingering, tempo free. Figuring it out. Quite a bit more lyrical than the A section, particularly the last five bars.
- 2025-11-30
Abbreviated practice session today...late in the evening.
Finger Independence: Six minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Arpreggios: Seven minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, once through each one with metronome set to 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 120.
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
Several minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section, right hand fingering, tempo 60. Four iterations without error.
Several minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1, A section, left hand fingering, tempo 60. Getting tired. Hard to repeat with loss of focus and errors.
Several minutes, both hands, tired, losing focus, tempo 60. Too many errors. Stopped.
- 2025-11-29
Abbreviated practice session today...late in the evening.
Finger Independence: Four minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95
Relaxation: Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Arpreggios: Seven minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, once through each one with metronome set to 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 120.
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position, four iterations.
- 2025-11-28
Finger Independence: Four minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95
Relaxation: Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Arpreggios: Seven minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, once through each one with metronome set to 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 120.
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first position in prepration for Sor Opus 60 No. 1, four iterations.
Seven minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
A section reinforcing the recommended left hand fingering, tempo 60. Nearly got five iterations without error.
Eight minutes focused work on the right hand fingering, tempo 60. Nearly got four iterations without error.
Ten minutes, both hands, tired, losing focus, tempo 60.
- 2025-11-27
Finger Independence: Four minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95 Increasing independence. The work is showing in my movements. Not perfect, but improving.
Relaxation: Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Twenty-five minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section reinforcing the recommended left hand fingering, tempo 60.
Fifteen minutes focused work on the right hand fingering, tempo 60.
Twenty minutes, both hands, losing focus waiting for the beat, tempo 60. Very hard to keep focus at this tempo.
- 2025-11-26
Tired after partially winterizing the boat, arriving home hungry, dinner, shower, etc. and so did not start till 8pm.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95 Working on keeping every finger down till it must be moved. Getting easier to perform this exercise.
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position in prepration for Sor Opus 60 No. 1. Working on keeping every finger down till it must be moved.
Thirty minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section reinforcing the recommended right hand fingering, tempo 60. Getting a couple repeats, then an error, then a couple repeats. In the end got five repeats without error, but it took a while.
Twenty minutes focused work on the left hand...tired...not getting through once without an error of some type. Finally got several repeats with less than an error per repeat.
Ten minutes of both hands! Losing the prescribed right hand fingering...in the end got two repeats.
- 2025-11-25
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p95 Working on keeping every finger down till it must be moved. Getting easier to perform this exercise.
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position in prepration for Sor Opus 60 No. 1. Working on keeping every finger down till it must be moved.
Thirty minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section reinforcing the recommended right hand fingering, tempo 60. Hard to play at this speed and keep concentration, but it did reveal a two places that I was sloppy with the fingering. By the end, I could play the right hand of the A section, on repeat without error, three times in a row.
After about half an hour...
Twenty minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1, A section only, left hand fingering. By the end, could nearly play repeats without error. Still having a bit of an issue with the fourth finger landin on the G3 string in place of the B3 when seeking to play D4. Need to fix this. Landing the D7 chord, each finger in sequence, as needed, is no longer difficult.
- 2025-11-24
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position in prepration for Sor Opus 60 No. 1.
Thirty minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section (all of eight bars) reinforcing the recommended fingering and dynamics. Working on the D7 chord in measure 7. Using both hands(!). Counting carefully by foot at about 60bpm. Sounding better.
Several hours pass....
Watched video lesson for Sor Opus 60 No. 1 from This is Classical Guitar
. Duration 57 seconds, nearly 128bpm.
About thirty minutes practicing Sor Opus 60 No. 1. Figured out better fingering in the 3rd (and perhaps 8th) bars for legato play.
- 2025-11-23
Watched the lesson, text and videos provided by Classical Guitar Shed
. Duration 68 seconds,112 bpm.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Scales: Five minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position in prepration for Sor Opus 60 No. 1.
Arpreggios: Ten minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, five times through each one with metronome set to 60, 70, 80, and 90.
Thirty minutes focused work on Sor Opus 60 No. 1
, A section (all of eight bars) trying to get the recommended fingering down with an approximation of the dynamic and accent suggested in the lesson. tempo 60.
- 2025-11-22
Latest music theory lesson from This is Classical Guitar
: 2a Why do we use music notation? from
.
Scales: Twenty minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position. D Major in second position. G Major and A Major in first position.
Arpreggios: Ten minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, five times through each one with metronome set to 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and finally 120.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Barre: Five minutes barring the first three strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Finished with a couple runs at Le Petit Rien by Couperin, both sections.
- 2025-11-21
Scales: Twenty minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first, second/fifth, and fifth position. D Major in second position. G Major and A Major in first position.
Arpreggios: Ten minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, four times each at tempi of 60, 70, 80, and 90 per the Vladimir Gorbach video referenced in Scales and Positions above. Cut short upon feeling some irritation in my right forearm.
Lost patience. Want to practice music rather than drill technique.
About twenty minutes practicing La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Repeatedly playing the second measure to learn the jumps F4 to B4/G3 to G4/E2. First section is coming together.
- 2025-11-20
Scales: Twenty minutes deliberately practicing C Major in first, second/fifth, and fifth position. D Major in second position. G Major and A Major in first position.
Arpreggios: Six minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, four times each at tempi of 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 120 per the Vladimir Gorbach video referenced in Scales and Positions above
Barre: Eight minutes barring the first three strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings. Time at add another note.
Fretboard Knowledge: Couple minutes playing all the A's and C's on the fretboard.
- 2025-11-19
Scales: Ten minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position. D Major in second position. G Major and A Major in first position.
Arpreggios: Six minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, ten times through each one with metronome set to 94.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Five minutes barring the first three strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Finished this portion with practicing a bit of Asturias at greater speed, markedly faster than before.
- 2025-11-18
Scales: Seventeen minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position. D Major in second position. G Major and A Major in first position.
Arpreggios: Eight minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, ten times through each one with metronome set to 90.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Five minutes barring the first three strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Fretboard Knowledge: Couple minutes playing all the A's and C's on the fretboard.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Noodling section: finished this session with two dual octave run throughs of the F Major scale; couple runs of Sagreras Leccion No 54; and a couple runs of the first section of Handel's Menuet in A, HWV 545.
After a couple hours, practiced Handel's Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
carefully, concentrating on the rhythms, fingerings, durations, for more than half and hour.
- 2025-11-17
Scales: Ten minutes deliberately practicing C Major in both first and fifth position. D Major in second position. G Major and A Major in first position.
Arpreggios: Eight minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p i m a m i arpreggio and No 8 p a m i m a arpeggio from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Exercises 108 and 109 on p. 91, ten times through each one with metronome set to 90.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Five minutes barring the first three strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
After a couple hours, examined Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
p49, which is Asturias and found that there is one bass line figure (A) that repeats six times in the first section, and with modified fingering another six times in the second section; another figure (B) that repeats four times in the first section (absent from the second section); two others (C and D) that appear once in each section; and four measures that do not repeat anywhere. Practiced (A) repeatedly till I could play it ten times without error using the first section fingering. Tried to get the section section fingering to the same standard, but more work is required. Worked on (B) some, starting to get that figure. Twenty minutes of concentrated effort.
Finished with ten minutes of playing/practicing Petzold's Minuet in G.
- 2025-11-16
Scales: Ten minutes deliberately practicing in both first and fifth position: C Major, G Major, D Major, and A Major.
Arpreggios: Four minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93, ten times through each one.
Relaxation: Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Starting barre technique. Several minutes barring the first two strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Fretboard Knowledge: Couple minutes playing all the A's and C's on the fretboard.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Practiced the first section of Petzold's Minuet in G a couple times, needs work. Explored the second section for the first time. The only challenges are the B4 in the first two bars, and the move from G3 to F3# in 25, 26, and 28 due to difficulty in keeping the fourth finger clear of the G3 string while fretting F3#.
- 2025-11-15
First two music theory lessons from This is Classical Guitar
: 1a Pitch Direction and Letter Names and 1b Musical Time from
.
Scales: Twenty minutes deliberately practicing in both first and fifth position: C Major, G Major, D Major, and A Major. Mistakenly, practiced C Major scale starting at differnt notes (G, D, A). Had to go back and redo with the sharps appropriate to each scale. Twice through each scale at each position.
Arpreggios: Three minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93, ten times through each one.
Relaxation: Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Starting barre technique. Couple minutes barring the first two strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Fretboard Knowledge: Several minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's. First time since Nov 3rd. Had a hard time remembering their locations.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
- 2025-11-14
Scales: Ten minutes deliberately practicing in both first and fifth position: C Major, G Major, D Major, and A Major. Twice through each.
Arpreggios: Four minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93, ten times through each one.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Starting barre technique. Couple minutes barring the first two strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Fretboard Knowledge: Several minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's. First time since Nov 3rd. Had a hard time remembering their locations.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Spent about fifteen minutes practicing the base line of the first section of Asturias. After practicing the bass line some half dozen times with modestly increasing speed, added the middle finger E4 between each base line note. Finished with the first three bars, all identical, base line and E4 drone, at speed.
- 2025-11-13
Scales: Eight minutes deliberately practicing in both first and fifth position: C Major, G Major, D Major, and A Major. Twice through each.
Arpreggios: Four minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93, ten times through each one.
Relaxation: Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2, all strings.
Barre: Starting barre technique. Couple minutes barring the first two strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first seven frets in turn.
Fretboard Knowledge: Several minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's. First time since Nov 3rd. Had a hard time remembering their locations.
Finger Independence: Four minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Played/practiced Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
p49, which is Asturias by Albeniz, for fun and for the right hand practice.
End the session, playing Petzold's Minuet in G on page 70 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
, which I have not played since 23 June. Need to reacquaint myself with first position, and fourth finger for D4. Playing this piece was just fun...errors and working on the errors included.
- 2025-11-12
Relaxation: Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the E2, A2, D3, G3 E4 strings.
Scales: Four minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings from A2 through C5.
Barre: Starting barre technique. Couple minutes barring the first two strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first five frets in turn.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Arpreggios: Six minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93.
Fretboard Knowledge: Several minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's. First time since Nov 3rd. Had a hard time remembering their locations.
Finished off the session, exploring and then playing You are my Sunshine from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
.
- 2025-11-11
Relaxation: Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the E2, A2, D3, G3 E4 strings.
Warm up: Four minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings from A2 through C5.
Barre: Starting barre technique. Couple minutes barring the first two strings, followed by placing the other fingers of the left hand, one finger per fret, while holding the barre. Each of the first five frets in turn.
Fretboard Knowledge: Several minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's. First time since Nov 3rd. Had a hard time remembering their locations.
Ten minutes playing Ode to Joy from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
at fifth position.
Took a break for several hours.
Finger Independence: Five minutes, twice through Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Arpreggios: Six minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93.
Twenty minutes attempting Lesson 7 exercises 58 - 61...all thumb. Not used to this at all! Felt strange to play in first position after 2-1/2 weeks playing fifth position.
- 2025-11-10
Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the D3, G3, B3, E4 strings.
Four minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings from A2 through C5.
Four minutes Left Hand Technique Routine No 3 (1 4 3 4 2 4) pattern on each string from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 95
Four minutes Right Hand Technique Routine No 7 p a m i arpreggio and No 8 p i m a arpeggio from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p. 93. First work on focused right hand technique since Sep. 3rd.
Thirty minutes working on Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
exercise 140 from Lesson 17 on page 129. Unusual fingering required in measures 1 and 7, as well as a half-barre in measure 4 (could use a half-barre in measure 1, as well). Have not learned the half-barre. That was in lesson 10 which I skipped having wanted a new challenge and decided on learning fifth position on Nov. 4th. Feels like I know the tune but can't place the name at this time.
- 2025-11-09
Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the D3, G3, B3, E4 strings.
Seven minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings from A2 through C5. Need to push the G3 string upward when playing C4, lest the open B3 string hit my first finger of the left hand and distort.
Feeling tired at the end of the day. Had resolved to get in fifteen minutes of practice. Then tried exercise 138 of Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
, just for fun, just once through.
Thrity-five minutes practicing fifth position using Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
exercises 138 through 140 from Lesson 17. Exercise 138 (Lilliburlero page 128) sounding like music. Needs to be considerably faster. Words for all twelve verses are on page 104f of Reliquery of English Song.
- 2025-11-08
Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the D3, G3, B3, E4 strings.
Six minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings from A2 through C5. Need to push the G3 string upward when playing C4, lest the open B3 string hit my first finger of the left hand and distort.
Forty minutes practicing fifth position using Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
exercises 135 through 137 from Lesson 17. Perhaps ten minutes on 135 and 136. Comfortable enough in fifth position to start working on the rhythyms of exercise 137 in place of concentrating on finding the notes on the fretboard. Measure 25 ends with A3, the next measure starts with D4...finger 3 indicated for both, which would require some mini-barre to sound them without an audible break. Another option is to use 2nd finger for A3 and third for D4; an eighth-note B3 gives a moment to make the stretch from the preceding C4 with first finger to A3 with second. Very nice repeated figure from measure 25 to the end. Another use of a chromatic, G3# to enhance ending of the exercise. Tried playing exercise 137 in first position, just to check that I remember how to play there. Did feel a bit weird after nearly a week of fifth position. Exercise 137 is harder to play in first position due to the jump required to reach C5 in the second measure.
- 2025-11-07
Six minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the D3, G3, B3, E4 strings.
Seven minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings from A2 through C5.
Thirty minutes practicing fifth position using Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
exercises 135 through 140 from Lesson 17 which concentrate on the notes G3 through C5 in fifth position. Fingers are starting to move immediately, without concious though to the right fret. Tone quality is not what I would like at this time. When playing B3 on the open string, need to pluck the string at mid-length to provide the same tone as the other strings...can hear the difference in overtones(?) between B3 plucked at the sound hole and B3 plucked at mid-length. Mid-length fits with the sound/tone of C3 and D3 played in fifth position.
Left thumb remains a bit sensitive, so foregoing chord work since Monday Nov. 3rd.
- 2025-11-05
Seven minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the D3, G3, B3, E4 strings.
Five minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings.
In fifth position, twenty-five minutes practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
exercises for notes on the B3 and E4 strings up through exercise 34.
Twenty minutes practicing the first section of Handel's Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
, particularly measures 9 through 12 which require playing C4# using the third finger so that the second finger is available for A3. Starting to come together.
- 2025-11-04
Received an email from Classical Guitar Corner
about sight reading. The lesson is conducted at the fifth position. So in preparation for the lesson:
Five minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the treble strings.
Five minutes deliberately starting to learn the C Major scale at fifth position on the treble strings.
Twenty plus minutes working/playing though the "Sight Reading Lesson for Classical Guitar" video at Classical Guitar Corner
.
A few hours later, spent twenty-five minutes practicing fifth position. Tried Le Petit Rien in fifth position...fifth position is not suitable for D Major. The C3#, F3#, B3, C5#, all require reaching the 9th fret.
- 2025-11-03
Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the four lowest (E2 - G3) strings.
Four minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's
Four minutes playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear. Works my left forearm and left thumb. Left thumb getting sore much too quickly.
Five plus minutes deliberately playing the Two Octave A Major Scale. Bringing the left elbow closer to the joint of the fingerboard and the body of the guitar helps my fingers to reach and stand on their tips when playing notes on the E2 and A2 strings.
Spent a few minutes exploring the first line of each of the three variations in Carulli's Waltz and Three Variations Opus 241 No. 1(?), just for fun.
Twenty minutes practicing the first section of Handel's Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
, tempo 52. Getting the hang of it. First section is coming together.
- 2025-11-02
Twenty minutes devoted to deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the four lowest (E2 - G3) strings; playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's; deliberately playing the A Major Position Scale; playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear. Works my left forearm and left thumb. Focused on not pressing too hard. Tiring for my left foreearm. Sounding clear.
Ten minutes practicing Leccion No 54 by Julio Segreras from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
After taking a walk, worked on recovering the first section, first four bars in particular, of Handel's Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
for twenty-five minutes. Tempo 52. Feels slow.
- 2025-10-30
Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the three bass strings.
Four minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's
Seven minutes deliberately playing the Two Octave A Major Scale.
Four minutes playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear. Works my left forearm and left thumb. Focused on not pressing too hard. Tiring for my left foreearm. Sounding clear.
About thirty minutes practicing La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Repeatedly playing the second measure to learn the jumps F4 to B4/G3 to G4/E2. Striving for dynamics in the first three measures of the second section: loud, moderate, quiet so that the identical measures sound better.
- 2025-10-29
Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the three bass strings.
Four minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's
Seven minutes deliberately playing the Two Octave A Major Scale.
Five minutes playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear. Works my left forearm and left thumb. Pressing too hard. Need firm but relaxed chords. Sounding clear.
Twenty minutes practicing the first section of Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
by Handel. Started by repeating the first measure several times till it began to flow, then added the second measure till both flowed. Need to work on the stretch from C4 to D#4 in measure 14. Will need to work on initiating the repeat of the first section. The E3 finger can stay in place to guide the 1st and 3rd fingers to their locations on the G string. At tempo 48, have to make sure to hold the half notes and dotted half notes for their full value.
- 2025-10-28
Four minutes deliberately practicing Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the three bass strings.
Couple minutes playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's
Seven minutes deliberately playing the Two Octave A Major Scale.
Five minutes playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear. At the end of the period, both tired left forearm and placement getting sloppy.
Thirty minutes practicing the first section of Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
by Handel. Repeated the first measure more than ten times till I got it right consistently. Approached each challenging measure in the same manner, repeated correct play to learn the correct motion. Finished with playing the first section through several times, tempo 48. Upon any error, stopped and repeated that particular measure or couple of bars some ten times. Need to make sure to give full duration to the half notes. All this per the Practicing perfect section (page 8) of Practice Technique for a Musician
.
- 2025-10-27
Read the lesson text and watched video from This is Classical Guitar
for the A Major scale. He plays Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
by Handel in 42 seconds, about 120bpm, and Leccion No 54 in 29 seconds including ritardando...about 66bpm.
Seven minutes deliberately practicing Douglas Neidt
Press and Release Exercise Part 1 and 2 on the three bass strings and Playing all the A's on the fretboard: both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's
Ten minutes deliberately playing the Two Octave A Major Scale with particular emphasis on the transistion from G#3 to F#3.
Five minutes playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear.
Twenty-five minutes split more or less evenly between practicing Leccion No 54 by Julio Segreras, which needs the transition from one chord to another to move much faster, and first look at the first secrtion of Handel Minuet in A HWV 545
by Handel from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
- 2025-10-26
More than five minutes playing the A and D chords carefully, ensuring each note is clear.
Two five minute sessions alternating between A and D chords.
After driving home from New Jersey, a few minutes playing both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's several times.
Thirty minutes playing Excercises 55, 56, and 57 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 6. Mainly Exercise 55. The fingering seems inexplicably challenging.
Tuning the guitar well enough now, using the Micro Tuner, that after sounding an open string, and muting that one string, the guitar continues to sound due to sympathetic vibrations of the other strings.
- 2025-10-24
Five minutes learning the A Major scale. Played the A Major Position Scale several times, slowly, trying to get myself grounded as to which notes are sharpened.
Five minutes plus playing both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's several times comparing the notes.
About thirty minutes practicing La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Abandoned "a. m. i" right hand fingering for the runs of three descending notes.
About ten minutes practicing Leccion No 54 by Julio Segreras from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 27.
- 2025-10-23
As a first step to learning the keyboard, mapped out every A on the fretboard. Spent five minutes plus playing both A2's, the three A3's, and two A4's several times comparing the notes.
Started learning the A Major scale. Played the A Major Position Scale several times, slowly, trying to get myself grounded as to which notes are sharpened. Then played a bit faster.
About twenty minutes practicing La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Decided upon a right hand fingering for the runs of three descending notes. Annotated the piece.
About ten minutes exploring Leccion No 54 by Julio Segreras from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 27.
- 2025-10-22
Feeling a bit cross-grained. Spent fifteen minutes beginning to familiarize myself with fifth position...just playing through the notes, adding B3 on the fourth string ninth fret.
Twenty minutes playing Exercise 49 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5, trying for a bit more speed. Getting a bit faster.
Stressing my left forearm by pushing my left elbow out away from my body...need to concentrate on keeping the elbow closer to me to reduce the strain on the outside of the forearm.
- 2025-10-21
Five minutes on Exercise 49 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5. Better yet.
Thirty minutes on Exercises 50 through 57, all of the exercises in chapter six from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 6. Need to practice the exact fingering of Exercise 55 some more, as well as preparing the thumb and fingers for playing arpeggio exercises 56 and 57.
Ten minutes finishing up with Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
and Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
to end with some music. Each one sounder a bit better.
- 2025-10-20
Forty minutes on Exercise 49 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5. Getting smoother. Practiced Exercises 49a and 49b as well. Same as 49 but for different arpeggios. Near the end, switched to using a pick to protect my right forearm. Nearly got the tempo up to 80.
- 2025-10-19
Fifty minutes practice without a metronome. Played Carcassi's Prelude in E Minor (fingers), Schumann's Erster Verlust (pick), and couple iterations of Le Petit Rien (pick)
- 2025-10-17
Three or four minutes of the D Major scale to warm up.
Thirty-five minutes of Le Petit Rien at tempo 64 and then 68. Playing a bit slow in the second section...needs more work.
Ten minutes of La Volte without a metronome. Getting the feel of the music itself.
- 2025-10-16
Thrity-five to forty minutes of review, without a metronome, of earlier pieces: Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
; Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
; Leccion No 46 by Segraras; and Minuet by Bach.
Played Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
with a pick. The others free stroke. No issues with my right forearm.
Very nice to come back to these pieces. After a couple iterations, each one quickly became somewhat familiar, particularly Bach's Minuet.
- 2025-10-13
Thirty minutes working on La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
using the fingers of the right hand, tempo dropped to 40. Starting to get the first section, all eight bars. By the end of the thirty minutes, played the piece nearly right at tempo 40. Video of Bradford Werner playing the piece with remarks. About 24 seconds to play the piece. Perhaps more practice of the melody alone would help.
Twenty minutes working on Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, both sections, tempo 64. Nearly there at this tempo. Just a bit more polishing required.
- 2025-10-12
Fifteen minutes starting to work on La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
using the fingers of the right hand, tempo 48.
Thirty-five minutes working on Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, both sections, tempo 64.
- 2025-10-10
Twenty minutes beginning to familiarize myself with La Volte from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
using the fingers of the right hand.
Thirty minutes working on Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, both sections, tempi of 60 and 64.
- 2025-10-09
Forty-five minutes working on Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, both sections, tempi of 52, 56, and 60.
- 2025-10-08
Thirty minutes working on Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, both sections, with some emphasis on shifting from D4 to A4 and back.
A bit tough. Playing G4 and A4 requires a good spread from second to fourth finger while C4 to D4 requires the same to fingers tight, even a bit crowded together.
Finished up with several iterations from start to finish, repeating weaker bars as needed to improve. Tempo 52.
- 2025-10-06
Five minutes practicing the D Major Scale, both single octave and position scale, using second position per page 22 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Twenty-five minutes working on the second section of Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin. The second section is played in second position. Practiced jumping from A4 in second position back to D4 in first position, as required to move the the second section back to the start of the first section.
By the end, the A4 and E4 among other notes are ringing out like a bell, sounds nearly crystaline in their clarity, at least to me. ;)
- 2025-10-05
Five minutes practicing the D Major Scale, both single octave and position scale, using second position per page 22 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Thirty minutes working on the first section of Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, tempi 56, 60, and 64 quarter-notes per minute. Smoothly three times through at each tempo before increasing. Need more work at 64bpm.
Stopped, even though I wanted to continue, as the forearm muscles for closing the fingers in my left hand started to become tender and warm to the touch.
- 2025-10-03
Five minutes practicing the D Major Scale, both single octave and position scale, using second position per page 22 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Twenty-five minutes working on the first section of Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, tempi 52 and 56 quarter-notes per minute. Smoothly three times through at each tempo before increasing.
- 2025-10-01
Five minutes practicing the D Major Scale, both single octave and position scale, using second position per page 22 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Twenty-five minutes working on the first section of Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, tempo 52 quarter-notes per minute. At the end of this session, played the first section through without error, three times in a row. No dropped beats. No dynamics yet, much less tasto vs ponticello, etc. but seem to have the fingering down, once I'm fully warmed up to the piece. Time to start increasing the tempo.
- 2025-09-30
Five minutes exploring the D Major Scale, both single octave and position scale, using second position per page 22 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Five minutes playing the D Major chord progression: D, G, D, A, D.
Forty minutes working on the first section of Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, tempo 52 quarter-notes per minute. Difficulty with the seventh to eight measure. In particular, the sequence B3, A3, F3#. The reach to the fourth fret working but my hand tends to fall, incorrectly, on the G3 string in place of the D3 string. All in first position. The second section of the piece is played in second position.
- 2025-09-29
Ten minutes exploring the D Major Scale, both single octave and position scale, using second position per page 22 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. First time playing in second position.
Twenty-five minuters exploring Le Petit Rien by Francois Couperin, page 23 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
. Requires shifting from first position to second position once, and back again once.
Watch the lesson video.
- 2025-09-26
Seven minutes E Melodic Minor Position Scale using the fingers of my right hand of the first time since 2025-09-03.
Practicing the second part of Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 page 20 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
several times.
Total of less than fifteen minutes so that I don't shock or overtax my right hand.
- 2025-09-22
Five minutes C Major and chromatic scale in first position. Chromatic scale in first position is a real workout for the left forearm in trying to spread the fingers enough to place each finger directly behind the fret while holding the previous fingers in place on the same string. Very intense at this time. Limited the amount to protect my forearm.
Thirty minutes on Exercise 49, tempo 60, from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5. Getting smoother. Finding the string and fret more ofetn in playing the Asus4/E and F6 chords. Starting to develop a bit of left hand finger independence.
Twenty minutes on 44 and 45 focusing on the rests and ties, tempo 64 and 68.
No looking at the left hand and getting better at finding the right string and fret. More work needed but making progress. Also focusing on playing on the tip of the finger, hence the problem with my nails yesterday despite the nails being quite short. After trimming no dead part (white) remains...all the nail is pink, trimmed back to the nail bed.
- 2025-09-21
Five minutes or so practicing C Major scale slowly with concentration on finger positioning close to the fret and clean sound.
Fifty+ minutes on the 3/4 Exercises 37 - 48 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5 at tempo 64. Challenges getting the rests and damping right.
Twenty minutes on Exercise 49, first time, at 60. Challenges getting my left hand to hold the Asus4/E and F6 chords. Requires 1 and 3 independence. Started to get the chords after a while. Need to drim my nails on the left hand, as the nail is lifting and rotating the fingertip. Trimmed my nails after practicing.
- 2025-09-19
Five minutes or so practicing C Major scale slowly with concentration on finger positioning close to the fret and clean sound.
Sixty+ minutes on the 4/4 Exercises 37 - 48 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5 at tempi 64, 68, and 72.
Start to get tired about thirty minutes in, begin to lose focus about forty-five minutes in, but so close, just want to play each one twice through, without stopping, correctly.
No looking at the left hand at all anymore. ;)
- 2025-09-18
Five minutes or so practicing C Major scale slowly with concentration on finger positioning close to the fret and clean sound.
Forty minutes on Exercise 47 from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 5 at tempo 60. Concentrating on getting the fingering right, playing two bars half a dozen times over to build muscle memory. Once good at 60, increased speed to 64 and 68. Find myself getting a beat of two ahead during the formerly troublesome parts, at times now.
- 2025-09-17
Thirty minutes of E Melodic Minor position scale at tempo 60, focusing on remembering the D3# and placement just behind each fret.
After a break of a couple hours, practiced at a slow tempo, using a pick, Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 page 20 of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
for some thirty minutes.
- 2025-09-16
Thirty minutes of Exercises 37 - 48 from Lesson 5 Notes, Rests, and Ties of Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
, at tempo 64.
Exercise 47, full bar 8 giving me fits trying to land the thrid finger on D4 without any other finger on the fretboard.
May be causing me to hunch my right shoulder causing a bit of pain at the bottom of the shoulder blade.
Perhaps one reason that it is hard to play at this tempo is that there is so little to keep one's attention focused on the piece. video short.
After a couple hours, practiced C Major, A Melodic Minor, and G Major scales, tempo 80, for five minutes each.
- 2025-09-15
Decided to push on to Lesson 5: Notes, Rests, and Ties of Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
. Jumping strings using the pick is a problem still, but I feel that I am stagnating, not practicing the rest of the notes in first position.
Sixty minutes of Exercises 37 - 48 at tempo 60 and 64. Muting the guitar at rests is new. Taking a bit of time to get the hang of muting and to allow the full value of the rest.
Little sequence of E4, A3, D4, B3, C4 in Exercise 47 needs practice. Not used to the A3 followed by D4 and then the same string open. Strange.
Feel like I am losing some skill during this time resting my right forearm.
- 2025-09-14
Want to play music (pieces) rather than exercises, as I have been doing since 2025-09-03. Missing the use of the fingers of my right hand.
Thirty minutes focused on Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
. At first playing through identifying and addressing areas that need work.
At the end, playing with a metronome at 84, 88, 92, and 96. The last tempo is a bit too fast at this time, still good to play a piece of music. Need to think about the dynamics for the piece. The notes alone are a bit repeative, each half repeated and then the first section played and repeated again.
- 2025-09-12
Fifty minuters hour practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4, Exercises 22 - 31 (p24ff) first position, second string, fretted notes, at tempo 84.
Simple mistakes. Feeling a bit tired, not focused, diffuse after riding this afternoon for the first time in two weeks. Bit of a frustrating session...groundwork for improvement.
- 2025-09-11
One hour practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4, Exercises 22 - 31 (p24ff) first position, second string, fretted notes, starting at tempo 72 through 84, increment by 4, without looking away from the sheet music.
Skipping strings still tough, causes me to lose a beat from time to time...do it again till I get it right...no lost beats.
- 2025-09-10
One hour practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4, Exercises 22 - 31 (p24ff) first position, second string, fretted notes, starting at tempo 60 through 72, increment by 4, without looking away from the sheet music.
- 2025-09-08
Forty-five minutes practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4, Exercises 22 - 31 (p24ff) first position, second string, fretted notes, starting at tempo 60, 64, and 68, without looking away from the sheet music.
Having troubles with the pick. Hitting the wrong string when jumping over strings or touching an unintended string while jumping. Need more practice...miss being able to use a finger per string. Wednesday makes one week of pick in place of fingers.
Still a bit of soreness, at times, in the right forearm.
- 2025-09-07
Thirty minutes practicin Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4, Exercises 22 - 26 (p24f) first position, second string, fretted notes, without looking away from the sheet music.
- 2025-09-05
Sixty minutes practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4, Exercises 16 - 21 (p21-23) first position, first string, fretted notes, starting at tempo 60 and incrementing by 4 to 96, inclusive.
Exercises 21 not smooth enough due to anacrusis and switching from quarter to half notes on the 2nd beat.
- 2025-09-04
Forty minutes practicing Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 3, Exercises 7 - 11 (p17ff) on the open treble and bass strings, starting at tempo 60 and incrementing by 4 to 92, inclusive.
Ten minutes reviewing C Major, A Melodic Minor, G Major, and E Melodic Minor scales using a pick...bit different.
One effect of reviewing fundamentals from the beginning is an improvement in counting/timing.
- 2025-09-03 Right forearm slightly warm and swollen. Guessing the cause is repetitive stress of fingerpicking.
Taking a break from classical (fingerstyle) by using a plectrum/pick, till my right forearm heals.
Opportunity to return the fundamentals, the beginning, from the start of Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
.
Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 1, position; Lesson 2 right-hand (skipped, using a pick); Lesson 3 beginning to read music...counting and open treble strings.
Thirty minutes practicing Lesson 3, Exercises 1 - 6 (p16f) on the open treble strings, starting at tempo 60 and incrementing by 4 to 84, inclusive.
Ten minutes reviewing C Major, A Melodic Minor, G Major, and E Melodic Minor scales using a pick...bit different.
The pick makes sets up a much stronger vibration in the instrument. The timbre is quite different.
- 2025-09-02 Ten iterations of each of the six Basic Arpeggio Patterns Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 61, tempo 84. pami and pima are easy. The paim pattern appears the most in need of practice.
Ten+ minutes of E Melodic Minor Position Scale. Two iterations, slow and very deliberate; the rest at 84 with concentration. Focus is key.
Right forearm a bit sore where the index and middle finger tendons lie. Been practicing for about forty minutes clock time.
- 2025-09-01 Ten iterations of each of the six Basic Arpeggio Patterns Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 61, tempo 84. pami and pima are easy. Others need more several iterations till I fall into the pattern.
Eight+ minutes of E Melodic Minor Position Scale. Two iterations, slow and very deliberate; the rest at 84 with concentration. Missed D# once and F# once. Better.
Focused practice on the D3, D4, C4 notes, followed by
Twenty minutes of Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68, tempo 72 eighth-notes per minute...much better.
Couple iterations of Bach's Minuet without looking at the left hand, trying for tempo 84 eighth-notes per minute...too fast.
- 2025-08-31 Some ten minutes practiceing E Melodic Minor Position Scale without a metronome. Bit easier to remember D#.
Thirty-five minutes practicing Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 at slow tempo. Don't have the fingering, particularly when playing D3 with the thumb followed by D4. Working on the piece without looking at the left hand.
Fifteen minutes practicing Bach's Minuet without looking at the left hand. Remains a challenge.
- 2025-08-29 Fifteen minutes, ten iterations of each of the six Basic Arpeggio Patterns Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 61. Particularly challenged with p, a, m, i.
Three minutes practicing switching between C Major and A minor chords arpeggiated. 22 repetitions in three minutes.
Three minutes practicing switching between A minor and D minor chords arpeggiated. 21 repetitions in three minutes.
- 2025-08-28 Twelve minutes of the C Major Position Scale tempo 80 as a check on being able to keep time. Few problems. After playing three scales with F# for weeks, I found myself playing F# automatically at times. Once in to the rhythm of it was able to string together three iterations of the scale without missing a beat. So there's an issue with E Melodic Minor rather than with all scales.
Fifteen minutes, ten iterations of each of the six Basic Arpeggio Patterns Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 61.
Several iterations of both Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12. and of Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras.
Couple iterations of Bach's Minuet without looking at the left hand and repeating the rough spots...harder without looking. Needs work.
One hour practice total.
- 2025-08-27 Ten minutes, ten iterations of each of the first four Basic Arpeggio Patterns Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 61.
Fifteen minutes of E Melodic Minor Position Scale at 80 without looking at left hand. Still missing the D# from time to time. Still missing a beat from time to time.
Twenty-five minutes practicing Prelude in E Minor at a comfortable tempo. Working on landing the fingering smoothly without looking at the left hand.
- 2025-08-25 Thirty minutes trying to play the E Melodic Minor Position Scale at 84 smoothly and cleanly without looking at left hand. Very tough. Dropping beats. Forgetting the D#. Was able to string together two iterations, on time, a couple times, but only a couple times. Goodness!
- 2025-08-22 About ten minutes of E Melodic Minor Position Scale at 83 without looking at left hand...been kidding myself. Dropping a beat from time to time.
Arpeggio practice exercises 12 through 15 in Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 3. Ten iterations each.
About forty-five minutes practicing sight reading and timing at 83 exercises 25 through 36 in Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lesson 4. Really don't like that each note is marked in three ways: position on clef, left hand fingering, and right hand fingering...the presentation is too busy.
Several review iterations of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
at speed. Felt good to let loose on this piece after the strict drill above.
- 2025-08-21 About ten minutes of E Melodic Minor Position Scale at 88 without looking at left hand. Better. Still, whenever I allow my mind to wander, I play D in place of D#, as if the hand believes that every string gets an open string note. The Melodic Minor Scale is the first scale in which there is not an open string note on every string.
Thirty-five minutes practicing exercies in Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lessons 3 and 4, from exercise 1 to 24 at 83. Timing is meaningfully better than the first attempt. Plan is NOT to memorize these, but rather to develop both proper timing and better sight reading.
Finished with two or more iterations of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
, Leccion No. 46, and Bach's Minuet.
- 2025-08-19 Tried playing each exercise in Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
Lessons 3 and 4, from the exercise 1 to 36 on page 29 at 90...my timing and sight reading need work. This should have been easy.
Two iterations of Bach's Minuet without looking at the left hand and repeating the rough spots...harder without looking. Needs work.
Hour total...perhaps fifteen minutes on Bach. Noise of children and their declaiming parents is not conducive to quality practice.
- 2025-08-18 Three iteration of Prelude in E Minor at a comfortable tempo. Just enjoying the music. Trying to form the chords more easily.
Practicing E Melodic Minor Position Scale striving not to look at the left hand, rather to keep my eyes on the sheet music. Ten or more iterations at 88. Not natural. If I lose focus, I revert back to C Major.
Worked on fingering of Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 at slow tempo. Just dont have the fingering. Needs more work before starting with a metronome and working on increaed tempo.
Several iterations of Bach's Minuet without looking at the left hand and repeating the rough spots...harder without looking. Needs work.
- 2025-08-17 While practicing at the the Outer Banks, received (1800) notice of a mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island (35.2° N, 75.5°W) due to Hurricane Erin located at 21.7°N 68.5°W (1700)...this is quite a distraction.
Practicing E Melodic Minor Position Scale without looking at the left hand. Three or more iterations at tempi 84, 88. Due to the bother, missing D# at 88 more often than previously.
Tried playing Bach's Minuet at 84 and find myself making errors in parts that I previously had well in hand. Bother.
Returned to practicing E Melodic Minor Position Scale. Three or more iterations at tempi 88, 92, 96, and 100. Better as I have to concentrate more. Fewer spare cycles for Hurricane Erin.
Tried Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 at slow tempo, but again too bothered to perform well.
Stopped after an hour.
- 2025-08-15 Ten minutes drilling E Melodic Minor Position Scale. Three to four iterations at each tempi 80, 84, 88, and 92. Better, missed the D# only a few times at the higher tempi.
Twenty minutes practicing Prelude in E Minor loosely based upon Carcassi, several iterations at 76, 80, 84, and 88.
Twenty-five minutes working on the fingering of Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 at a slow tempo.
Two iterations of Bach's Minuet, with repeats to finish the day.
Watched the video for the lesson. Bradford plays Prelude in E Minor in 28 seconds.
- 2025-08-14 Twelve minutes drilling E Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 88. Still missing D# too often. Drilled an additional five minutes on the bass strings only to get more practice remembering the D#.
Twenty minutes fumbling with Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
. Can't land a C Major chord. Completely out of sorts.
Ten minutes playing Bach's Minuet. Best playing of the day so far...who would have expected this result?!
Fifteen minutes exploring then practicing the second section of Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 adapted from Schumann Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 20.
Least musical day that I have had in a considerable period of time.
- 2025-08-13 Twelve minutes drilling E Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 88. Missing D# too often. Either I'm thickheaded today or I have been kidding myself regarding this scale. It's not "burned in".Have to deliberately remember to play C# and D#. The F#'s fall into place...the weakest being F3# (on the D3 string)
Forty mintues plus working quite deliberately on Prelude in E Minor loosely based upon Carcassi, tempi 63, 66, 69.
- 2025-08-12 Three minutes learning the E Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated Em and B7 chords. Should be playing F...that chord is more common and must be learned.
Ten minutes practicing the second section of Bach's Minuet concentrating on the rougher parts, Tempo 104 eighth-notes.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated E and D minor chords. 17 repetitions.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated G Major and E minor. 21 repetitions.
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated C Major and A minor chords. 32 repetitions.
Viewed Classical Guitar Corner
introductory lessons 1 (position, synchronization, tone) and 3 (rhythm, tonal variety, legato).
Ten minutes practicing Prelude in E Minor loosely based upon Carcassi in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 21.
Ten minutes exploring then practicing the first section of Erster Verlust No 16 Op 68 adapted from Schumann Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 20.
- 2025-08-11 Fifteen minutes learning the E Melodic Minor Position Scale, two iterations for tempi 80, 84, 88, and 92. Five minutes feeling out the E minor chord progression: Em, C, Am, B7, and Em.
Twenty-five minutes exploring Prelude in E Minor loosely based upon Carcassi in Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
page 21.
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated C Major and A minor chords. 32 repetitions. Left forearm a bit tight.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated A minor and D minor chords. 24 repetitions.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated G Major and E minor using proper fingerings intentionally. 19 repetitions. Started easier, still tough.
One full iteration of Bach's Minuet with practice of the rougher parts, Tempo 104 eighth-notes.
- 2025-08-10
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 108.
Several iterations of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, tempo 108.
Several iterations of Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
. Slow...not landing the chords quickly enough to play faster.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 108.
Several iterations of Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12. and of Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras. Tempo 108 eighth-notes.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 108.
A number of iterations practicing Bach's Minuet, in particular the second section. Tempo 108 eighth-notes.
Began to look at the E Melodic Minor Scale and Prelude in E Minor.
- 2025-08-08
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated C Major and A minor chords. 29 repetitions. Left forearm tight.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated A minor and D minor chords. 21 repetitions. Playing scales relaxes the forearm a bit.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated G Major and E minor using proper fingerings intentionally. 17 repetitions.
Five minutes learning rest stroke from Fredrick Noad Solo Guitar Playing - Book 1, 4th Edition
p4f.
Twenty minutes practicing Bach's Minuet, in particular the second section. Tempo 88 eighth-notes.
Fifteen minutes practicing Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras. Tempo 88.
- 2025-08-07
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104.
Couple iterations of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104.
Couple iterations of Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12. and of Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104.
Couple iterations of Bach's Minuet.
Gotten to the point that I can play these three pieces, slowly with errors, for enjoyment.
- 2025-08-06
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated C Major and A minor chords. 28 repetitions. Exhausting.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated A minor and D minor chords. 21 repetitions.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of the second section of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated G Major and E minor using proper fingerings intentionally. 12 repetitions. Feeling it in my left forearm.
Stopping to give the left forearm a break from practice. Landing the G Major chord using 2, 3, and 4 is requiring me to bend the wrist markedly. Not good.
- 2025-08-05
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated C Major and A minor chords. Did not count.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated A minor and D minor chords. 22 repetitions.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Three minutes alternating arpeggiated G Major and E minor using irregular fingerings unintentionally. 18 repetitions.
A couple hours later... Twenty-five minutes working on second section of Bach's Minuet, tempo 80 eighth-notes. Worked out a fingering that was bothersome.
- 2025-08-04 Two day off due to שבת וט׳ באב. Feeling the missing days in my playing.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104.
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104.
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 11, 23, 12, 8?, 0.75. Rather ragged for lack of practice.
Twenty minutes looking at Kean O'Hara for the first time.
Ten minutes looking at the E minor Melodic Scale.
- 2025-08-01
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes.
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes.
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104. About ten repetitions of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes.
Twenty-five minutes working on first section of Bach's Minuet, tempo 104 eighth-notes. Sounding like music. Very pleased.
- 2025-07-31
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104
Five minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104. Having a bit of trouble with this one today, hence the extra time.
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104.
Twenty-five minutes working on fingering and a bit on phrasing of Bach's Minuet.
After a break of several hours:
Three minutes practicing switching between C Major and A minor chords arpeggiated. 23 repetitions in three minutes.
Three minutes practicing switching between A minor and D minor chords arpeggiated. 21 repetitions in three minutes.
Three minutes practicing switching between C Major and G Major chords arpeggiated. 14 repetitions in three minutes.
- 2025-07-30 Bit of a review day.
Three minutes practicing the G Major Position Scale, tempo 104
Three minutes practicing the A Melodic Minor Position Scale, tempo 104.
Three minutes practicing the C Major Position Scale, tempo 104.
Three minutes practicing switching between C Major and A minor chords arpeggiated. 25 repetitions in three minutes.
Three minutes practicing switching between A minor and D minor chords arpeggiated. 20 repetitions in three minutes.
Three minutes practicing switching between C Major and G Major chords arpeggiated. 10 repetitions in three minutes.
Seven minutes refresh of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
Seven minutes refresh of Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
.
- 2025-07-29
Ten minutes of the G Major Position Scale. Several passes, perhaps three, and the rest at 104bpm.
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 12, 24, 13, 11, 2.0.
Took a break and watched 5 Benefits of Practicing Arpeggios on Single Strings.
Fifteen minutes on the first section of Bach's Minuet at 80 eight-notes.
Fifteen minutes on the second section of Bach's Minuet at 80 eighth-notes. Need to work on the transition to the triplet, the triplet, and the following bar.
Rewatched Practice at 3 Tempos (Never Stop Practicing Music Slowly).
- 2025-07-28
Five minutes on the G Major Position Scale @ 100bpm.
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 12, 22+, 10, 10, 1.5.
Fifteen minutes on the first section of Bach's Minuet at 76 eight-notes. Muscule memory starting to kick-in. In the recorded 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 12, 24, 8, 8, 1,25.
Fifteen minutes on the fingering of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet at 72 eight-note. Starting to come together a liitle bit.
Fifteen minutes on the first section of Bach's Minuet @ 72 eighth-note. Starting to sound like music.
Had been feeling a bit discouraged by the difficulties I've encountered in Bach's Minuet. Feeling much better about the piece after today's practice.
After several hours: Practiced changing from C to Am and back for about 10 minutes. Then about five minutes of the C Major chord progression: C, F, C, Am, Dm, G, and C in Open Position.
- 2025-07-25
Few minutes on the G Major Position Scale. A bit hard, as playing F# on E4 triggers me to play the G# in place of the G.
Few minutes on first two exercises of 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1.
Twenty-five minutes on the fingering of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet. Started to work on the rest of the piece. First two bars still killing me.
- 2025-07-24
Seven minutes on the G Major Position Scale @ 72. A bit hard, as playing F# on E4 triggers me to play the G# in place of the G.
Twenty-five minutes on the fingering of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet. Started to explore the rest of the piece.
Ten minutes reviewing Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12.
Ten minutes reviewing Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras.
- 2025-07-23
Ten minutes on the G Major Position Scale @ 72. A bit hard, as playing F# on E4triggers me to play the G# in place of the G.
Ten minutes on G Major chord progression: G, C, G, Em, Am, D, and G, arpeggiated to make sure each note is clean.
Twenty minutes on the fingering of the first two bars of Bach's Minuet. These two bars, the most challenging technically, occur four times in the first section (50%, 8 of 16 bars)) and twice in the second section (4 of 24 bars).
- 2025-07-22
Ten minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale @ 100. Feels a bit fast.
Seven minutes on A Minor chord progression: Am, C, F, Dm, E, and Am, arpeggiated to make sure each note is clean.
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 10, 21, 11, 9, 1.5
Ten minutes on Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras. Got the idea. Need to land the chords faster, Dm in particular. Chord sequence is Am, E, E7, Am, A7, Dm, Am\E, E, Am. Easier to land the Dm when you polay the C# of the A7 correctly, in place of playing C in error!
Eight minutes reviewing Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12.
- 2025-07-21
Ten minutes on C Major chord progression: C, F, C, Am, Dm, G, and C in Open Position, arpeggiated to make sure each note is clean.
Ten minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale @ 96. Fairly relaxed.
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 9, 21, 9, 8, 0.75
Twenty-five minutes working on fingering and rhythms of Star of County Down. Might be better to play this without trying to hold an Am chord for much of the piece, rather finger each note as it appears.
- 2025-07-20
Five minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale @ 92. Fairly relaxed.
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 9, 20, 8, 6, 0.5
Twenty-five minutes working on fingering and rhythms of Star of County Down. Lots of trouble at first holding both A3 and D4. By the end, was able to find D4. Now I need to find G4 wihtout losing A3.
Ten minutes refresh of Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
Third section is improving. Need to get the other two sections to match the level of the third.
- 2025-07-18
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 8, 21, 5, 6, 1
Twenty-five minutes on Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras. Starting to understand the piece better.
- 2025-07-17
Ten minutes on 10 Minute Acoustic Guitar Workout
Chart 1: 5, 16, 4, 4, 1
Break for a דף.
Twelve minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale.
Five minutes practicing A Minor chord progression: Am, C, F, Dm, E, and Am, arpeggiated to make sure each note is clean.
Thirty minutes practicing Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12 with metronome at 72, then at 76. Seems best to count this 6/8 time piece in two sets of 3 per bar.
- 2025-07-16
Twelve minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale.
Five minutes practicing C Major chord progression: C, F, C, Am, Dm, G, and C in Open Position.
Five minutes practicing A Minor chord progression: Am, C, F, Dm, E, and Am.
Five minutes refresh of Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
Five minute refresh of Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
.
- 2025-07-15
Watched the A Melodic Minor, Romance by Kuffner, Leccion No.46 by Sagreras, Star of County Down second video on the lesson page.
Ten minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale.
About five minutes practicing chords A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, and G. Left forearm tired already.
About five minutes working on the fingering of Morning Has Broken p10.
Several hours pass.
Thirty minutes working the fingering sequence of Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12.
Found working on melody much more enjoyable than the scales and chords that I have been practicing lately. Need both.
- 2025-07-14
Couple minutes on One Octave A Melodic Minor Scale.
Five minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale.
Five minutes practicing chords A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, and G. Left forearm tired already.
Twenty minutes on Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras.
Fifteen minutes exploring the fingering on both Romance No. 14, Op. 168 by Kuffner p12 and Star of County Down p14. Both from Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Need to make an Anki deck of chords so that I come to recognize the set of notes that make up each chord.
- 2025-07-11
Couple minutes on One Octave A Melodic Minor Scale.
Ten minutes on the A Melodic Minor Position Scale.
Fifteen minutes practicing chords A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, and G. Getting the G using 2, 3, 4 by filing the nail on 4 all the way down.
Twenty minutes on Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras. Now understand why Bradford Werner marked the C# in bar 5 with 3, to faciliate landing the Dm chord in the next bar. No metronome yet, need to land the chords faster before using a metronome.
- 2025-07-10
Ten minutes practicing chords A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, and G.
Five minutes practicing p, i, m, i, a, i, a, i arpeggio pattern in preparation for Giuliani's Allegro, at some future date. Also, rest left hand after chord work.
Watched the A Melodic Minor, Romance by Kuffner, Leccion No.46 by Sagreras, Star of County Down first video on the lesson page.
Fifteen minutes on One Octave A Melodic Minor Scale and A Melodic Minor Position Scale p11.
Twenty-five minutes on Leccion No. 46 by Sagreras. Structure of the piece became clear as arpeggiated chords. Right hand pattern learned quickly. Feels like its "starting to come together" a bit.
- Spent a bit of time identifying the chords: Am, E, E7 Am, A7, Dm, Am/E, E, Am. (chords from Chord Identifier)
- Picked up the apreggio pattern of p, i, m, a, i, m quickly.
- Played slowly the piece trying to recognize the chords as they appear and land the chords on the neck.
- Tried for a bit of emphasis on the first and fourth beat of each bar.
- 2025-07-09
Eight minutes practicing C Major Position Scale with i, m alternation, tempo 104.
Fifteen minutes practicing chords C, F, Am, Dm, and G of the Chord Progression in C Major.
Fifteen minutes working on the fingering of Morning Has Broken p10.
Five minutes practicing p Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, just for fun.
- 2025-07-08
Seven minutes practicing C Major Position Scale with i, m alternation, tempo 104.
Fifteen minutes practicing Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
at a slow tempo without metronome working on the fingering and the switches from arpeggio to scales and back.
Ten minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, first on the phrases. Repeating till they start to fall under my fingers. Then at tempo 76.
Ten minutes practicing chords C, F, Am, Dm, and G of the Chord Progression in C Major.
Fifteen minutes practicing Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
at a slow tempo without metronome working on the fingering and the switches from arpeggio to scales and back.
- 2025-07-07
Seven minutes practicing C Major Position Scale with i, m alternation, tempo 104.
Ten minutes practicing chords C, F, Am, Dm, and G of the Chord Progression in C Major.
Fifteen minutes practicing Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
at a slow tempo without metronome working on the fingering and the switches from arpeggio to scales and back.
Ten minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, first on the phrases. Repeating till they start to fall under my fingers. Then at tempo 76.
Fifteen minutes exploring the melody line of Morning Has Broken p10.
- 2025-07-06
Seven minutes practicing C Major Position Scale with m, a alternation.
Ten minutes practicing chords C, F, Am, and Dm of the Chord Progression in C Major. Added a couple attempts at G...not easy spreading the thrid and fourth fingers from E to e.
Twenty-five minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, first on the phrases. Repeating till they start to fall under my fingers. Then at tempo 72.
Fifteen minutes practicing Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
at a slow tempo without metronome working on the fingering and the switches from arpeggio to scales and back.
- 2025-07-04
Seven minutes practicing chords C, F, Am, and Dm of the Chord Progression in C Major. Working on using less pressure. No need to death-grip the neck.
Eight minutes practicing One Octave C Major Scale, C Major Position Scale with m, a alternation, tempo 100.
Twenty-five minutes beginning to practice Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
at a slow tempo without metronome. Seeking to learn the movements and switching from arpeggio to scales and back.
- 2025-07-03
Ten minutes practicing One Octave C Major Scale, C Major Position Scale with m, a alternation, tempo 96
Rest interval.
Five minutes looking at Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
Twenty-five minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, tempo 72. C chord is starting to forn up smoothly.
- 2025-07-02
Ten minutes practicing One Octave C Major Scale, C Major Position Scale with m, a alternation, tempo 92
Ten minutes practicing chords C, F and Am of the Chord Progression in C Major
Twenty-five minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, working on accuracy, phrasing, and a bit on dynamics.
Ten minutes looking at Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
Watched the Carulli Vals Opus 241 No 1
video.
- 2025-07-01
Feeling a bit slow today. Thirty minutes practicing One Octave C Major Scale, C Major Position Scale with m, a alternation, tempo 80; One Octave C Major Arpeggio with p, i, m, a, tempo 80; C Major Triads with p, i, m and chords C, F and Am of the Chord Progression in C Major
Rest interval. Practicing chords causes the muscles on the outside of my left forearm to tighten.
Twenty-five minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
. Working on accuracy, phrasing, and a bit on dynamics.
- 2025-06-30
Started Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 2
.
Watched the C Major Scales, Triads, Chords video.
Twenty minutes practicing One Octave C Major Scale, C Major Position Scale with m, a alternation; One Octave C Major Arpeggio with p, i, m, a; C Major Triads with p, i, m and chords C, F and Am of the Chord Progression in C Major
Watched the < Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
. video. Took about an hour off.
C Major Scale a few times to warm up, followed by twenty minutes practicing Rameau Menuet en Rondeau
, followed by several minutes of C, F, and Am arpeggio practice.
- 2025-06-26
Five minutes of all natural notes in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 100.
Few minutes of chromatic scale practice.
Focused practice on Siciliano by Carcassi p71 starting from a very slow tempo ~60. Start of familiarization with the piece by playing the melody alone before adding the bass.
Few iterations of Farewall p72. Need to practice the melody, the arpeggio technique, and then bring them together.
Watched video on the two pieces.
- 2025-06-25
Began practicing in the kitchen as the dining was dedicated to grandchild activities.
Five minutes of all natural notes in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 96. Forgot to check previous tempo.
A minute or two of practicing p, m alternation.
Chased from the kitchen due to grandparent directed grandchild migration.
Focused iterations of Layenda Theme with p, m alteration with metronome...gave up after a bit due to level of noise and disruption.
Left to go racing.
- 2025-06-23
Five minutes of all natural notes in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 100.
A minute or two of practicing p, m alternation.
Focused iterations of Layenda Theme with p, m alteration with metronome set to 69.
Focused iterations of Malaguenas with p, i alteration with metronome set to 69.
Several minutes of the chromatic scale from E to g', using one finger per fret.
For fun played Greensleeves and Minuet in G
Getting the guitar well enough tuned that I can play an open string, mute that string, and hear the other strings and the guitar body continuing to sound.
- 2025-06-22
Five minutes of all natural notes in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 96.
Couple iterations of Layenda Theme with p, m alteration with metronome set to 66.
Couple iterations of Malaguenas with p, i alteration with metronome set to 66.
Focused practice of Minuet in G by Charles Petzold p70 at 66, as well. A very nice piece, quite a pleasant surprise to find it included.
- 2025-06-20
Five minutes of all natural notes in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 96.
Several minutes practicing p, i alternation in prepration for Malaguenas.
Focused practice of Malaguenas p69 at tempo of 60 for some twenty minutes. Not good. No flow today. Stumbling.
Played several earlier pieces as a relief from stubling.
Returned to Malaguenas for a couple run throughs.
- 2025-06-19
Watch the Malaguenas video.
Five minutes of all natural notes in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 96.
Several minutes practicing p, i alternation in prepration for Malaguenas.
Focused practice of Malaguenas p69 at tempo of 60 for some twenty minutes.
Finished with a couple of iterations of Flow Gently, Sweet Afton p52f.
About forty minutes of practice total.
- 2025-06-18:
Pressed for time prior to driving to Annapolis to race.
Ten minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63.
Ten minutes of the chromatic scale from E to g', using one finger per fret.
Some time spend exploring the first couple phrases of The Circle Game, last song in the Joni Mitchell Songbook -- Complete Vol 1 (1966-1970)
- 2025-06-17:
Five minutes p, m eight-note alternation at 60.
Five minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 45 (too slow), 60, 80, and 92;
Practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 with p, m eight-note alternation at 60 for the first time.
For fun at then end a bit of Greenselves p68, and a bit of Farewell p72.
- 2025-06-16:
Several minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 45 (too slow), 60, 80, and 92;
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 bass line (melody) only at 92.
At Hava and Avi's. Not focused practice...but better than skipping a day.
- 2025-06-13:
Lesson on "Repetition in Music Practice". The piece is Allegro, No.6, Op.50 by Giuliani. Lesson on the same.
6 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 100;
Couple minutes of p, m alteration between A and e' in preparation for incorporation into the Layenda Theme.
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 bass line (melody) only at 100. Getting better. More musical. Developing some rhythm and drive.
Been a bit lazy, allowing my fingers to rotate a bit away from the tips. Rotating back to the tips produces a much clearer, cleaner sound.
Two run throughs of the accidentals, all notes, from g to g' Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p66.
- 2025-06-12:
8 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 96;
Sight read The Imitation Game p64 several times. Still harder than one would expect, but getting a better.
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 bass line (melody) only at 96. Getting better, more musical today. Now thinking of the bass line as triplets repeated several times in different order. More melodic today with emphasis on the first note in the bar and a secondary emphasis on the first note of the second triplet in the bar.
Need to start practicing p, m alternation so that its solid and ready to injected into playing the bass line melody.
- 2025-06-11:
7 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 92;
Sight read The Imitation Game p64 several times. Still harder than one would expect, but getting a bit better.
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 bass line (melody) only at 92. Thinking once the bass line is solid at full tempo, I could drop back to a considerably slower tempo, add the repeated e' eighth-notes, and increase tempo.
- 2025-06-10:
9 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 92;
Sight read The Imitation Game p64 several times. Harder than one would expect.
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 at a slow tempo working to get the motion of the piece.
- 2025-06-09:
5 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 92;
Sight read The Imitation Game p64 several times. Harder than one would expect.
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 at a slow tempo working to get the motion of the piece.
- 2025-06-08:
5 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 92;
Sight read The Imitation Game p64 several times. Harder than one would expect. Watched the accompanying video.
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Layenda Theme p65 at a slow tempo working to get the motion of the piece. Watched the accompanying video.
- 2025-06-06:
A bit pressed for time. 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 108;
5 minutes of all natural notesgc in first position (E to g') on p63 with metronome set to 92;
- 2025-06-05:
5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 92;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 108;
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Birch Tree in the Field p58, followed by fewer repeats of The Skye Boat Song and the Fifth String Notes and Sixth String Notes.
- 2025-06-04:
After Shavuot. 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 88;
Couple minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 with metronome set to 120;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 104;
Focused practice of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Birch Tree in the Field p58.
- 2025-05-30:
5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 88;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 104;
Focused on playing Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Minuet p 49 at 60, 72, 88, and 100. Practiced Birch Tree in the Field p58 repeatedly to improve the fingering and timing. Per the video (10:11), I should be playing the melody to fluency and then adding the bass notes, rather than starting with all the notes from the beginning.
- 2025-05-28: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 84;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 100;
Focused on playing Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Birch Tree in the Field p58. Ended with Ode to Joy at 100 several times through. Seems far easier that it did a month or two ago. Also seems a bit bald or naked as a single line of melody without any bass accompaniment.
- 2025-05-27: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 80;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 96;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Etudes No. 8, 9, 10, 11, Flow Gently, Sweet Afton, and intro to Little Birch Tree in the Field.
- 2025-05-26: Return after spending time with Devorah, Azriel, and children in Israel.
5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 120;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 90;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
pages 44 through 56 inclusive.
- 2025-05-13: 6 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 4 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 80;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 104;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
various and scales from A to g'.
- 2025-05-11: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 120;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 100;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Etude No. 8 at 120, Minuet p49, Flow Gently, Sweet Afton p52f, Etudes No. 10, 11, The Skye Boat Song.
- 2025-05-09: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 120;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 100;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
The Skye Boat Song video.
- 2025-05-07: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 116;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 92;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Etudes No. 8, 9, 10, 11 and Flow Gently, Sweet Afton video.
- 2025-05-06: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 116;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 92;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Etudes No. 8, 9, 10, 11 and Flow Gently, Sweet Afton video.
- 2025-05-05: 5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45;
Focused on Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton p52f and added first attempts at Etude No. 10 p55.
- 2025-05-02: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 116;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 92;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton p52f and various other pieces.
- 2025-04-30: 7 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 116;
7 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 92;
- 2025-04-29: 7 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton p52f.
- 2025-04-28: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 112;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 88;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton p52f, video; tempi 115 and 75.
- 2025-04-27: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 108;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
Etude No. 6 (p40), page 43 (octave jumps), Etude No. 8 (p44), page 47, Minuet page 49, Etude No. 9 (p50), pages 51, 52, 53.
- 2025-04-24: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 108;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
pages 48 through 51 and 56
- 2025-04-23: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 104;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
page 48 Angeline the Baker and a few earlier pieces.
- 2025-04-22: Spent most of the day readying Constance for racing. Tired.
7 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
page 48 Angeline the Baker and a few earlier pieces.
- 2025-04-21: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 104;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
pages 46, 47 and 48 with emphasis on Angeline the Baker (see video at 5:25. Molly Tuttle's version.
- 2025-04-18: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 104;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
practicing eighth notes on page 47 Frers Jacques..
- 2025-04-17: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 100;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
practicing eighth notes on pages 46 and 47.
- 2025-04-15: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 96;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
particular practice on Note Review with jumps from f' to f; e' to e; d' to d; a to A; and e to E.
- 2025-04-11: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 96;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p40 - 47 introducing eighth notes.
- 2025-04-10: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 96;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 84;
Back to start of the book and played each etude and song through page 37.
- 2025-04-08: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 92;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 80;
C Major, Eighth Notes, Etude 9, Vsi so venci Vejli.
- 2025-04-07: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 88;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45 with metronome set to 76;
Minuet p36, Morning p37, Etude No. 5, 6, 7 and 8 p39-44 at about 76; Sounding more lyrical. Starting to be music.
- 2025-04-06: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 84;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45;
Etude No. 8 and concentration on New Notes p42...finding c, e, f with some facility still eludes me. Still better than last time.
Likewise the octave jumps downward in Note Review p43 remain difficult.
- 2025-04-04: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 84;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45;
Etudes No. 5, 6, 7, 8;
- 2025-04-03: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 80;
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45;
Etudes No. 6, 7, 8;
Paul Davids' Music Theory Playlist Episode 5.
- 2025-04-02: 5 minutes of right hand technique routine No. 1 Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p92 with metronome set to 76.
5 minutes of C Major scale (c to c') on p45.
Note Review p43.
Etude No. 8 p44.
Focus today on learning and incorporating notes c, d, e, and, f with the existing set from g to g'.
- 2025-04-01: 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: {E,A,d}, b, g, e' with metronome set to 76. 5 minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p38-43.
- 2025-03-31: Review day. 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: {E,A,d}, b, g, e' with metronome set to 76. 5 minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p36-37 with particular emphasis on trying to play Morning by Diabelli lyrically.
- 2025-03-30: Review day. 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e' with metronome set to 76. 5 minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p35-41.
Perhaps the most lyrical playing yet of Etude Nos. 6 & 7. About fifty minutes of practice total.
- 2025-03-29: Review day. 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e' with metronome set to 72. 5 minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p36-39.
- 2025-03-28: Review day. 6 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e' with metronome set to 72. 5 minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p38-40.
Beginner Etudes No. 5, 6, 7, 8 using open bass notes.
- 2025-03-26: Review day. 7 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e' with metronome set to 72. Couple minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p23-29 with emphasis on "Note Review" p29..
- 2025-03-25: Bit tired. Review day. 7 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e with metronome set to 72. Couple minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p23-29.
- 2025-03-24: Tired. Review day. 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e'. Couple minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p1-29.
- 2025-03-23: 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e'. Couple minutes of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p26-37.
Morning by Diabelli.
At the end of the day, a second practice session consisting of 5 minutes of right-hand alternation: d, b, g, e only.
- 2025-03-21: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p26-35
Staccato Articulation
- 2025-03-19: Minute of right-hand i, m alternation. Minute of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p26-34
- 2025-03-17: Minute of right-hand i, m alternation. Minute of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p25-31
Twinkle Twinkle, Etude No. 4, Au clair de la lune, Oh Susanna
- 2025-03-16: Minute of right-hand i, m alternation. Minute of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p21-29 and
First Dynamics and Etude No.3
- 2025-03-15: Minute of right-hand i, m alternation. Minute of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p21-26.
- 2025-03-14: Minute of right-hand i, m alternation. Minute of C Major scale.
Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p21-25.
- 2025-03-13: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p21-25.
Five Melodies.
- 2025-03-11: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p21-24. Bit tired from 90 minutes of longboarding this morning.
- 2025-03-10: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p23 only. Tired from being at the boatyard some five hours today.
- 2025-03-09: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p17-23 and
First Left Hand Note
- 2025-03-07: Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p17-23.
Using the 4th finger in first position and
Matthew McAllister's Left Hand Technique with each finger climbing and descending a fret, finger pairs walking a pair of frets, barre from two strings to six and back with sucessively higher notes on the e' string.
Practiced walking the first and second fingers, separately and as a pair. Demanding exercise.
Practiced right hand fingerpicking from Etude No. 2 Arpeggios.
- 2025-03-06: First lesson of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p12-15 and
video,
practice through page 19 and
Left Hand Position Lesson.
- 2025-03-05: First lesson of Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p12-15 and
Right Hand Position Lesson.
- 2025-02-28 -- 20250304: First lesson of Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book Vol. 1.
Started Bradford Werner's Classical Guitar Method Vol 1
p12-15
Posture and Sitting Position Lesson.
- 2025-02-28: Unboxed guitar after waiting 20+ hours.
- 2025-02-27: Guitar arrived via FedEx.
Box label strongly recommends (requires) waiting 24 hours before opening the box.
