Lesson with diegord

Originally Posted by diegord

I'll see if I can get the solo, but first I'd rather learn the compulsory pieces. Any tips for memorizing? I need to do that with all of the pieces, except for the studies, but I find it really hard. A teacher told me to read all the material first, and read it while I play, but I know I'll have to face memorization sooner or later.

If you're looking to memorize, then I find that it's far better to break a piece up into parts, and memorize them seperately. slowly linking them together to form the whole piece

that might work but be sure to try other ways to see which way suits you best

really small parts maybe... that should work. I wish I had more time, I'll give it a try and see if it works.

Originally Posted by diegord

really small parts maybe... that should work. I wish I had more time, I'll give it a try and see if it works.

Ok, just remember not to rush it, nothing good was ever done in a hurry

Originally Posted by Will Kirk

Ok, just remember not to rush it, nothing good was ever done in a hurry

[Offtopic] Except for Star Wars of course

It is giving me good results to try to play it by hard, without looking at the sheet at all, and try to force my memory, looking at my left hand all the time. Obviously I can't do than while I'm reading.

Originally Posted by diegord

It is giving me good results to try to play it by hard, without looking at the sheet at all, and try to force my memory, looking at my left hand all the time. Obviously I can't do than while I'm reading.

Very good, keep working on it

All right, thanks for the patience master.
I'm doing all Sor studies, Leo Brower studies I and VI, Carcassi's 25 studies, I through VIII, Milan's pavanes I and II, a Sor's minuett no. 10, and later I will study a Barroque suite by Scheit and some Argentinian music that is also compulsory.
I need a couple of tips regarding volume and body pain. These are two issues I've been dealing with since long ago. My spine hurts, so does my neck, parts of my back, my forearm, after studying for reasonable periods of time.
As regards volume, I can't get loud volume without losing tidyness in my technique, very noticiable in forte passages, specially when it's forte and marcatto.
Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by diegord

All right, thanks for the patience master.
I'm doing all Sor studies, Leo Brower studies I and VI, Carcassi's 25 studies, I through VIII, Milan's pavanes I and II, a Sor's minuett no. 10, and later I will study a Barroque suite by Scheit and some Argentinian music that is also compulsory.
I need a couple of tips regarding volume and body pain. These are two issues I've been dealing with since long ago. My spine hurts, so does my neck, parts of my back, my forearm, after studying for reasonable periods of time.
As regards volume, I can't get loud volume without losing tidyness in my technique, very noticiable in forte passages, specially when it's forte and marcatto.
Any suggestions?

I have a few

As for the pain make sure that you are sitting straight up when you're playing. If you are hunched over at all it might be just enough to cause pain. Also, make sure your elbow isn't poking out on top of the guitar, your elbow should be level with the surface of the guitar when playing.

As for volume. Make sure your nails are as long as you need them, don't let them get too long or else your sound will become absolute garbage, I'll provide some video links to players who have not done a good job on tone, so you can see what not to do and sound like

Here's an example of what NOT to do with nails

YouTube - Edgar Cruz - Bohemian Rhapsody (classical guitar)

Notice how horrificly thin and snappy his tone is. He acheives volume, but he sacrifices nearly all of his tone while doing so. This comes from his ridiculously long fingernails and lack of touch.

Now here is probably the best example possible of good tone.

YouTube - Bach: Sarabande, Gavotte en Rondeau

Notice how he acheives a balance between bright and warm tones, and his nails aren't 5 inches long lol

Now, for volume you must play a little hard, but not so hard that it snaps your strings against the fretboard. A balance must be acheived

My teacher told me once that Segovia is a great guitarrist (we all know that of course) but his right hand technique shouldn't be adopted. His right hand is too perpedicular to the neck of the guitar. So is Edgar Cruz's right hand, which I believe is bad for his sound. I'll make my nails shorter, I'm positive about that, I believe it'll work.
Besides the sound, I love that arrangement for Bohemian Rhapsody!! What do you think about it?

Originally Posted by diegord

My teacher told me once that Segovia is a great guitarrist (we all know that of course) but his right hand technique shouldn't be adopted. His right hand is too perpedicular to the neck of the guitar. So is Edgar Cruz's right hand, which I believe is bad for his sound. I'll make my nails shorter, I'm positive about that, I believe it'll work.
Besides the sound, I love that arrangement for Bohemian Rhapsody!! What do you think about it?

well look at it like this, Segovia held his hand like that because it was comfortable for him. Cruz holds his hand like that because it's comfy for him. There is a way to hold your hand to get better tone, there's no right or wrong way, just what sounds and works best for each individual player.

As for the arrangment, I think it's quite good but Edgar Cruz has some of the worst tone I've ever heard