Where to play it?

[mjamer]

I have a question about standard notation. The last few months I have been learning to read notes on a grand staff (to teach my wife how to play piano). On a piano (like your other thread said) there's only one place to play each note, that and working with my wife made me remember why I stopped learning to read standard notation many years ago. Now that I have you all, I might change my mind.

The other thread said that you need tablature to know where to play a certain note. Does that mean there is no other way to look at standard notation and know where to play notes? I'm asking because I so desparately want to learn to play classical guitar, but I don't know where to start (aside from practicing PIMA techniques and trems). I have tons of classical scores arranged for guitar, it's just that I have no idea how to play them. I can read the notes, but like you said, that same note can be played in numerous positions.

Is there anything, anywhere to help me learn to know which notes to play where or is it just a matter of figuring out the best fingering to do the job, and experience gradually making it automatic when reading new scores?

Any help is appreciated, thanks =)

mjamer

[cyberfret]

Standard notation for classical guitar is a little different. You will a lot of times see a position mark like

V_____________

That would tell you that a particular passage is played in the 5th position. But if there is not an indication like that, you just have to find the best place to play the notes yourself. This does take a good knowledge of the fretboard.

If you want an excellent book on how to play Classical Guitar, check out this.

Classic Guitar Technique (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898985722/cyberfcomonlinec) - by Aaron Shearer

Here is book 2

Classic Guitar Technique Vol 2 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898985730/cyberfcomonlinec)

There are 3 supplement books that are in this series. I have the 1st and the 3rd.

First Supplement (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898987024/cyberfcomonlinec) - Slur, ornament and reach development exercises. (this is a great book for building technique)

Second Supplement (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898987008/cyberfcomonlinec) - Basic elements of music theory for the guitar.

Third Supplement (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0769212778/cyberfcomonlinec) - Scale pattern studies. (This is a very thick book of scale patterns in different position and keys. Helpful in learn to read in every position)

I can't recommend these books enough. They are what I started out on all those years ago :) I started with classical guitar lessons.

Aaron Shearer wrote another series of books for the publisher Mel Bay. So don't be confused, it is this older series that you what. I don't think the one that he wrote later for Mel Bay even compares. And I have never seen another classical method book that I have liked.

For reading in a more Jazz context, I would recommend the Berklee series "A Modern method for guitar". Before starting in this series I would probably go through some other basic guitar reading book, this one starts with reading natural notes in the entire first position and goes from there.

A Modern Method For Guitar vol 1 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0793525454/cyberfcomonlinec) - by William G. Leavitt

A Modern Method For Guitar vol 2 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0793525721/cyberfcomonlinec)

A Modern Method For Guitar vol 3 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0793525985/cyberfcomonlinec)

Or you can get one really thick book with all three. This is a lifetime worth of practice material.

Modern Method for Guitar : Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0634012339/cyberfcomonlinec)

When learning to read standard notation, you just have to take it one step at a time. First you will learn to read in the 1st position. Then learn the 2nd position, 3rd etc. Until finally you can read all over the neck, and making the decision of where to play a particular note will be much easier. But reading on this level is going to take a couple of years of study. So take it one day at a time.

--Shawn

[mjamer]

Thank you very much. I hadn't really got into classical when I first started playing. It was more skynyrd, crosby stills and nash, and the like. After being in NY and seeing some operas and ballets, and a few classical guitarists perform, I was hooked. I like the perceived strict discipline to playing the classical guitar, and the perceived lifelong study. Maybe it just looks that way until I cross to that side of the road. Thanks again for the information.

mjamer

[Coffee]

Two suggestions. Try to find a good sight reading book. Tommy Tedesco put one out years ago that's very good for jazz style reading. It will be very difficult to find. For classical, you'll still be able to get "Carcassi's Classical Guitar Method" which is very good. This book will have you reading standard in no time but moves quickly enough that a person who has some skill can handle it no problem.

One other suggestion. No doubt you're learning to read chords in standard too with the keyboard stuff you're going through. Always in classical music look for the underlying chord. Most classical music for guitar is written with arpeggios and simple alterations. Find the chord, put your hand in that position, and then move fingers as needed.

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/ has Carcassi Classical Guitar Method by Carl Fischer for $14 buck.