Lesson: Practicing Giuliani’s 120 Right Hand Arpeggio Exercises Op.1

This exercise is from my new book Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, and Arpeggios.The 122 page book includes: Practice Routines, Tips, 100 Open String Exercises, 120 Giuliani Arpeggios, Scales, Slur Exercises, Shifts, Finger Independence, Barre, Tremolo, Common Harmonics, and much more.

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Giuliani’s 120 Arpeggio Exercises for the Right Hand from Op.1 – These patterns represent a significant study of classical era guitar playing and offer an opportunity to develop dexterity in the right hand. Practice as solid chords and broken as well as with full and sequential plants. For extra practice, try playing a light rest stroke thumb with free stroke fingers which can help to develop a secure right hand. See the practice routines in the preface for an order based on your level.

Bradford Werner
Bradford Werner

Bradford Werner is a classical guitarist and music publisher from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He originally created this site for his students at the Victoria Conservatory of Music but now shares content worldwide. Curating guitar content helps students absorb the culture, musical ideas, and technique of the classical guitar. Bradford also has a YouTube channel with over 94,000 subscribers and 13 million views. He taught classical guitar at the Victoria Conservatory of Music for 16 years and freelanced in Greater Victoria for 20 years and now dedicates much of his time curating content online and helping connect the classical guitar community. See more at his personal website.

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  1. I was practicing Arpeggio #120, page 53, for quite a while and after I completed it, I noticed that it appeared that I had been doing it wrong. In the first measure you have a “b” instead of a “c” for the 3rd note. It seemed a little awkward, but I practiced it that way until I could play it smoothly. Then I checked some other versions of the arpeggio and found out that it actually was a “c” and not a “b.” Maybe I read the notes more carefully than most, but I think you might want to correct it or explain if this is the correct note. Thanks for your work.

  2. I have a question about Giuliani’s 120 Arpeggio Exercises for the Right Hand. Since the study is for the right hand, why use such a (for me) awkward version of G7. In fact, should the left hand fingering even matter?

    • You can certainly practice them with open strings but there is an element of synchronization between the hands. In my technique book I present 100 open string exercises first and then the Giuliani 120. If the G7 chord give you trouble you might want to look into your position and left hand technique but also just practice them in small doses to reduce potential strain.

  3. Hi Bradford, Have you by any chance explained anywhere tips for improving the placement of the 2nd finger LH on the G7 chord to stop it from touching the D string? I have twisted myself into contortions to stop that buzzing! AND I have really small hands so it is really difficult. Thanks, Laura