Triads & Arpeggios Etude

No. 20 – Triads & Arpeggios Etude for Classical Guitar – from my technique book 20 Favorite Exercises (with TAB) but you can also check out my more extensive Classical Guitar Technique (Notation only, 122 pages). YouTube Video Lesson Link (4k)

This is an adaptation and re-write of Giuliani’s Exercise Op. 48, No. 6. Guitarists are notorious for not practicing triads due to their difficulty on guitar. However, piano students practice these shapes from the first lesson and we should too. Practice very slowly and make sure to feel and visualize each group of three notes as one triad (three note chord). This etude bares little resemblance to Giuliani’s original except for the concept of arpeggios and the basic harmonies. I wanted a more straight-forward arpeggio workout. You may wish to come up with your own right-hand fingerings in a few spots or you can follow mine. However, I think it’s best that you use the left-hand fingerings provided as I wrote the etude for specific reasons related to position shifts and chord forms.

If you find this too difficult just practice each triad (group of three) separately and make small exercises out of it. It is an exercise book after all and I don’t expect beginners to blaze through this one.

Check out more free video lessons at the lesson archive.

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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