Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, and Arpeggios

Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, and Arpeggios – PDF or Hardcopy technique book with free video lessons for each exercise. Notation Only with Fingering, String Numbers, and Positions. PDF Download or Hardcopy, 122 Pages. 2019 Edition. By Bradford Werner

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Includes: Practice Routines, Tips, 100 Open String Exercises, 120 Giuliani Arpeggios, Selected Scales (Major, Minor, 3rds, 6ths, Octaves, 10ths), Slur Exercises, Shifts, Finger Independence, Alignment, Stretch, Barre, Tremolo, Common Harmonics, Speed and Relaxation, and more. View the Table of Contents

Info: This book focuses on essential exercises for the development of classical guitar technique. All the exercises from the headings of the table of contents progress from easy to advanced in a progressive format. Although this is a book of exercises rather than a method, I have included many helpful tips throughout the book to aid students. As with all my materials, the video lessons are an added educational advantage.

Level: Intended for beginner to early-advanced classical guitar students (approximately RCM Toronto Grade 1-9). As a basic prerequisite students would have completed both Volume One and Two of my beginner method book series or an equivalent. There are a number of exercises in upper positions that include accidentals, therefore, additional reading experience is required if you wish to study the entire book. The inclusion of fingering, string numbers, and position marks should make the exercises easy to understand. The 100 open string exercises should be very accessible to beginners and advanced students alike.

Video Lessons for this Book

The lessons below cover multiple exercises in one video but see the indented lessons that cover specific exercises and topics in greater detail. You might also want to review this lesson on how to play legato on classical guitar.

• Technique Routines (Discussions on Time Management)
• Beginner Technique Routine 
• Late-Beginner Technique Routine
• Early-Intermediate Technique Routine
• Intermediate Technique Routine
• Late-Intermediate Technique Routine
• Early-Advanced Technique Routine
• How to Use Large Technique Books: Maintenance & Exploration

• Lessons for Part 1 – Right Hand Exercises
• Right Hand Open String with i, m, a, No. 1-19 (Page 12-16)
  • Skipping Strings Exercise, No.11 (Page 14)
• Right Hand Open String with p,i,m,a, No.20-35 (Page 17-20)
• Preparation (Planting) in the Right Hand (Page 21)
• Open String Exercises, No. 36-71 (Page 22-28)
• Open String Exercises, No. 72-100 (Page 29-32)
• How to Practice Giuliani’s 120 Right Hand Studies (Page 33-53)
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.1-3
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.4-6
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.7-10 & Common Fingering
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.11-15
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.16-17
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.18, 19, 20
  • Giuliani Arpeggios No.21-24

• Lessons for Part 2 – Left Hand Alignment, Shifts, and Scales
• Alignment Exercises for the Left Hand (Page 54-57)
  • Horizontal Alignment 1-4-2-4-3-4 (Page 57)
• Chromatic Scale Exercises (Page 58-60)
  • Descending Shifts During E Chromatic (Page 58)
• Variations and Ideas for Practicing Scales (Page 61-63)
• Open Position Scales – Circle of Fifths (Page 64-67)
• One Octave Moveable Major Scales (Page 68-69)
• Shift and String Squeak Exercises (Page 70-71)
• Favourite Two and Three Octave Moveable Scales (Page 72-74)
• Major Scales with Open String Shifts (Page 75-76)
• Triadic Arpeggios (Page 77-79)
  • C Major Triadic Arpeggio (Page 77)

• Lessons for Part 3 – Slurs, Finger Independence, and Stretch
• Slur Exercises (Hammer-ons, Pull-offs) (Page 80-90)
  • Alignment & Slur Exercise with Fixed Fingers (Page 84)
  • Slurs in Groups of Six and Rhythmic Accents (Page 89)
• Selected Slur Scales (Page 91-92)
• Left Hand Independence, Alignment, and Stretch (Page 93-100)
  • Vertical Stretch Exercises (Page 94, 95, 97)
  • Horizontal Stretch Exercises (Page 100)
• Major Scales in 3rds, 6ths, Octaves, and 10ths  (Page 101-105)
  • C Major Scale in 3rds for Guitar (Page 102)
  • C Major Scale in 6ths (Page 103)
  • E Chromatic Scale in Octaves (Page 104)

• Lessons for Part 4 – Additional Techniques
• Barre Exercises (Page 106-108)
• Tremolo Exercises (Page 109-113)
• Basic Rasgueado (Page 114-115)
• Common Natural and Artificial Harmonics (Page 116-119)
• Speed and Relaxation (Page 120-122)

Customer Question & Answers

• Does this book include TAB? No, it is notation only. However, I think you will find everything very easy to read since it is highly pattern oriented with fingering, string numbers and positions marks. Plus, the open string and arpeggio exercises are super easy to read. If you need TAB try my 20 Favorite Exercises Book.
• How similar is this book to 20 Favorite Exercises? This book has hundreds of exercises and the full extent of what I teach my students when it comes to technique. 20 Favorite Exercises is pretty small but it includes tab which some people will want. Most of the 20 Favorite exercises are included in this book although some are altered.
• There are so many exercises, how to I manage my time? Too much material? First, see the practice routines in the book and routine videos for your level. Remember to stay focused on the core elements of Scales, Arpeggios, Slurs, and Barre. If you can get a little of each of those in every practice session then you are doing well. For the open string exercises, first go through all of them and make sure you can play each one at a reasonable speed. Do only one of them during a session if needed. Check them off as you go. Once you’ve covered them all, focus on a select few that give you trouble. After that you can probably just play the Giuliani Arpeggios to save time. Pretty much the same advice for all the sections, go through everything, focus on your weaknesses and make them your strengths.

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