How do you learn to play classical guitar?

Regardless of philosophies, theoretical understandings, or brilliant inspiration, if your fingers don’t move, the music won’t flow. Guitar technique is part of the daily endeavor that is the classical guitar. The main goal is to play beautifully, but to do that we need solid fundamentals and effective technique. Some ways to get started: How To Sit and Hold the Guitar, The Fundamentals of Movement on the Guitar, Arpeggio Technique, Scales on the Classical Guitar, Off-Guitar Exercise to Build Strength and Dexterity in Both Hands. If you’re truly interested in having beautiful sound and great technique, you may like to explore The Woodshed.

What is a classical guitar?

Here are some characteristics of classical guitars: A classical guitar typically has strings made of nylon or a similar composite. (3 strings look like fishing line.). The guitar neck is wider, with the strings spaced further apart. This makes playing guitar with the right-hand fingers easier. The classical guitar has a smaller body shape than regular acoustic guitars. The body meets the neck at the 12th fret. The sound is mostly soft and warm, comparatively.

How do you tune a classical guitar?

In standard tuning, the guitar strings are tuned to the notes: E A D G B E (low to high sounding). You can tune using a digital tuner. You can tune your guitar “by ear”, which simply means that you listen and adjust according to what you hear, instead of using a tuner or app. You can also tune your guitar using harmonics. This method is similar to the above method in that you tune one string to another, and that to the next. There are multiple methods to tune a classical guitar, and each has its strengths. Eventually, you may like to master all of these and find others as well.

What is the difference between acoustic and classical guitar?

Here are some characteristics of classical guitars: A classical guitar typically has strings made of nylon or a similar composite. (3 strings look like fishing line.). The guitar neck is wider, with the strings spaced further apart. This makes playing guitar with the right-hand fingers easier. The classical guitar has a smaller body shape than regular acoustic guitars. The body meets the neck at the 12th fret. The sound is mostly soft and warm, comparatively. Here are some characteristics of steel-string acoustic guitars: Steel-string acoustic guitar strings are made of metal wire, some wound and some not. The neck is thinner than most classical guitars. This width varies by the maker. The body can be very large (jumbo) or small (parlor). The body meets the neck at (oftentimes) the 14th fret. This varies by maker and model. The sound is mostly bright and metallic, comparatively.

Beginning Classical Guitar – Practice-Along Videos to Get Started

Whether you’re an absolute beginner at classical guitar, or if you already play other styles of guitar, you’ll find solid fundamentals below. These will help you get started with strong basics. That way, you can launch forward and make good progress, knowing you’re on the right track. You’ll play fluently and proficiently….

…So that soon you’ll be playing for friends and family, or for your own pleasure. It may not always be flawless – perfection takes time. But it will be fun and rewarding. And it can happen sooner than you think, if you train your hands well.

The lessons below are applicable to classical guitar, finger-style guitar, or any other genre of guitar music.

Here’s the rule: If you move your hands well, you can play any style you choose. The basics are the basics, and if you put your attention on them, you’ll grow and advance.

The Beginner Toolbox

How to Use this Guide: This Guide will show you the basics you’ll need to know to start learning guitar. In the “For Your Hands” section below, you’ll discover how to use your hands. In the “What to Know” section, you’ll get a basic introduction to essential skills and knowledge.

Scroll Down for practice-along videos guiding you through areas of your practice.

Beginner Classical Guitar Lessons For Your Hands:

Click each box to open the lesson.

The Basic Right Hand Movement

Practice-Along: Chunk Chords

Left Hand Tips

Practice-Along: Left-Hand Finger-Walking

3 Common Chords

Chords are the “language of guitar”. Every style of guitar uses them, including classical guitar. Below are three of the most common. Many people think chords are just for folk music. But in fact, these three chords are as common in Bach and Beethoven as they are in any other style. Chords are part of guitar, and one of your highest-leverage practice areas.

Practice switching these back and forth.

Click here to print a cheat-sheet of these chords.

Practice Tips:

Keep your thumb behind your fingers.
Practice placing each finger down first, in turn.
Practice in short bursts – sprints not marathons.
Ignore the right hand.
Don’t nitpick – keep switching between them.
Practice from memory. Don’t look until you’ve tried to remember.

Reading Music Notation: Notes on the 1st String

Playing From Musical Notation

Welcome to the wonderful world of “sight-reading”. Sight-reading is the act of seeing a musical note and playing it.

Do not be afraid!!

The goal when sight-reading is to keep going. When you’re learning a piece of music, you’ll use a different process. Then you’ll want to go slow and minimize mistakes. But when sight-reading, it’s more important to keep your eyes moving forward.

Sight-reading is a skill that will help you to learn music more quickly and easily, just as having good right-hand technique will help you to play pieces more fluidly.

In this lesson, we focus on the notes on the first string, in the first position.

Notes On the First String

notes on the first string

You will likely be tempted to stop before the end of the video. Keep going! If you get off, just take a deep breath, find an upcoming note, and jump back into the game. When you push play, commit to the ~3 minutes of sight-reading practice, and finish it, regardless of how many notes you miss.

As an alternative, practice with the video for one minute, then pause it. Practice something else. A few minutes later, come back for another minute. Then once more later in your practice. This is called “interleaving”, and is wonderful for learning.

Remember: Keep going! If you miss a note, it’s gone. Just focus on the next one.

15-Minute Guided Practice: A Complete Practice Session

Guided Practice

In this video you’ll go through one of the most productive practice sessions possible for you. You’ll spend just a minute on each of the four practice areas, rotating between them.

It’s normal to feel challenge on these. You may not fully “get” each area before moving on. This may feel a little frustrating at times, but it’s been proven to help you learn faster, and retain what you learn for longer.

So the goal is just to stay focused and keep going. If you don’t master the material, that’s fine. Instead, focused attention is the metric for success here.

And if you feel like stopping, don’t! Just keep going.

You can practice along with this video as many time per day as you like. Multiple short practices are better than one big practice (though any practice is great).

Have fun!

Cheers,Allen

Other Bits You May Enjoy…

Quick Warmup, Strength and Stretch Routine

How to Sit and Hold Your Guitar

How to Use a Tuner or Tuning App

How to Read Guitar Grids

Mindset Tips

Know that guitar takes time. Just keep going!
Remember: you’re in this for fun.
Be gentle on yourself. This stuff is hard for everyone.
Notice and work on the small details. Your energy and attention are your greatest assets.

Print Reference Materials

How to Create a Guitar Routine: Practice Along

Guitar takes time and repetition. Increase your chances of success by setting a routine. Make it easier on yourself by making it easy to pick up the guitar and practice:

Time – Is there a consistent time you can practice each day? If so, great! Make it a habit by linking practice with whatever comes just before it. For example: “After breakfast, I pick up the guitar.”

Place – Keep everything you need in one place. Ideally, you practice away from distraction. So close the door and set the phone to airplane mode. Set a timer so you don’t have to watch the clock. And remove anything distracting from in front of you. The goal is to focus for a few minutes, so anything that may get in the way, handle it.

Materials – Have everything you need at hand, so you don’t have to go searching. Have your guitar and tuner ready. Have your papers within reach. Have webpages like this one bookmarked (or use the “favorites” button above.)

And above all, make success easy. Just one minute of practice counts as a successful practice day. The goal is to have as many successful practice days as possible. So set the bar low – just pick up the guitar and do something – anything. And you win for the day! Then tomorrow, do it again.

Would you like the Fast Track to be more proficient and fluent on guitar in the least time possible?

Click Here to Learn More Quickly

Hi, I’m Allen Mathews.

I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Despite a lot of practice and schooling, I still couldn’t get my music to flow well. I struggled with excess tension. My music sounded forced. And my hands and body were often sore. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two other stellar teachers – one focused on the technical movements, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Now I help guitarists find more comfort and flow in their music, so they play more beautifully.
Click here for a sample formula.

I just upgraded. I have been thinking about it since day one, but wanted to see how it works out for me. I have to say, even though I did not put as much effort in as I expected to, I already hear and feel Improvements when playing compositions I learned some time ago, before joining The Woodshed.
Thanks!

-Alexey Neyman

I came on board three months ago and I’m loving it more than ever. I have maintained my practice pattern. I’m sticking wholeheartedly with the program as written. That makes it easy to see what I NEED to work on rather than just playing the shiny places I’ve gone beyond…..I’ve learned to focus 100% on what I’m doing that very minute….I’m developing strength in my left hand...I spend time with the videos in the evenings and always find something more to help me. I’m not looking for info anywhere else. Everything I need is right here in The Woodshed. You say “Jump” and I say “How high.” I’m so grateful I found you. You speak in a language I understand.

-Gloria Mader

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