PIMAMI Arpeggio Pattern for Classical Guitar

This common pattern is another “combination pattern”. This means that we combine our primary arpeggios to come up with longer, more complex patterns (like this one!)
You can graduate to this pattern after mastering the primary arpeggio patterns.

We can think of PIMAMI as a combination of 3 different things:

an IMA pattern
an AMI pattern
an alternation (P to I)

You may notice, this is an elaboration of IMAM (aka AMIM), and is also similar to PIMA.

To play PIMAMI:

P plays, alternates with I
I plays, M and A throw
M plays
A plays, M and I throw
M plays
I plays, alternates with P

When first practicing this one, be sure to take your time and articulate each movement as a “snap” (as opposed to drifting from note to note).

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 stellar teachers – one focused on the technical, 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 think the program levels are a great way to teach the guitar. I have had several teachers over the past few years and none came close to the structured organization that you have put together.

-Peter Marior

I am a 61 year old physician, reconnecting with the classical guitar after a hiatus of nearly 40 years. After a couple of weeks [in the program], I’m now producing a much clearer, yet somehow more mellow and beautiful sound. It was really good to feel it happening in my hand, and that it felt more comfortable and somehow “right”, compared to the way I had played before (“curved picking”). The fog started to lift and I found that I was remembering more, and it felt great (also a bit of a relief!), giving me confidence to keep going. Thank you for making your course available - your love of music and the guitar shines through the teaching. I am very happy I found and registered with CGS.

-Brian Davey

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