Andrés Segovia: The Finest Pieces from his Repertoire

Guitar Techniques

Article

ENRIQUE GRANADOS La Maja de Goya

Nov 18, 2020

Bridget Mermikides brings us her rendition of a piece made famous by this legendary classical guitarist. This issue’s piece stands as a tribute to the classical guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream OBE (1933-2020) who passed away this year. Bream’s c

Guitar Player

Article

Ida Presti

Jul 30, 2019

FRENCH CLASSICAL GUITARIST Ida Presti was a phenomenal player, and she has a fascinating story. Born in 1924, she began as a child prodigy and quickly rose to fame in the classical world in France. In 1952, she joined forces with her husband, Alexand

Guitar Techniques

Article

FERNANDO SOR Study No.18 Opus 35

Jul 1, 2021

In this issue we are focusing on two fundamental techniques of the classical guitar: the free stroke (‘tirando’) and rest stroke (‘apoyando’), and how we control them in order to balance a melody with its accompaniment. While a pianist might achieve

Guitar Player

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The Paganini of Paraguay

Mar 10, 2020

AGUSTÍN BARRIOS WAS born in Paraguay in 1885 and began his formal guitar studies at 13. He improved quickly and went on to give virtuoso performances that made him a legend throughout South America. His repertoire and writing were influenced by Ferna

Guitar Techniques

Article

Julio Sagreras Violetas -Vals

Nov 20, 2019

In this issue we tackle a work by the Argentine guitarist and educator Julio Sagreras (1879-1942). Sagreras was deeply embedded in guitar culture; both of his parents were professional guitarists and he was taught by them from an early age, even taki

Guitar Player

Article

Andrés Segovia, Masters of the Guitar

Aug 27, 2019

ANDRÉS SEGOVIA WAS a classical guitar pioneer who popularized the instrument in the early 20th century, when it wasn’t accepted as a legitimate classical instrument. Ignoring the guitar’s limitations, Segovia magnified its strengths and in the proces

Guitar Techniques

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FRANCISCO TÁRREGA Pepita

Dec 15, 2021

Francisco de Asís Tárrega y Eixea, or ‘Quiquet’ (Frank) as his friends called him, was born November 21st, 1852, and had a somewhat complicated start in life after a traumatic incident as an infant left him partially blind. One version of this backst

Guitar Techniques

Article

DADGAD Tuning Two Celtic pieces

Apr 8, 2020

In this lesson I’m going to take a look at a couple of traditional pieces in DADGAD tuning – a tuning that for many is the default when it comes to playing this repertoire. The tuning found its origins in the 1960s via the travels of legendary Britis

Guitar Techniques

Article

Ultimate Sweep Picking

Aug 26, 2020

If there was ever a technique that’s both feared and revered, its sweep picking. Sweep picking gets some bad press, and to some it’s written off as nothing more than ‘show boating’, or for playing the soundtrack to Super Mario. But sweep picking has

Guitar Techniques

Article

Frédéric Chopin Tristesse Etude Opus 10, No 3

Jun 3, 2020

For this latest issue, we turn to a work by the extraordinary pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849). Despite his astonishing piano virtuosity, Chopin possessed the rare ability and sensitivity to compose works that employed - and even sacr

Guitar Techniques

Article

J S BACH Allemande

Oct 20, 2021

(from Lute Suite No.1 BWV996) ach’s 1st Lute Suite is perhaps best known for its infamous Bourrée, as played around the world by classical and electric guitarists alike. The suite itself is a six-movement work and features this evocative Allemande as

Guitarist

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200 WAYS To Be A Better Player

Aug 23, 2019

While there is much pleasure to be had in owning guitars, which are undeniably beautiful things, nothing will enhance your enjoyment of the instrument more than learning how to play it a little better each day. The clue is in the name: it’s an instru

BBC Music Magazine

Article

The Kantorows Set The Bar In Saint-Saëns Concertos

Jun 14, 2022

Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2; Valse-Caprice, ‘Wedding Cake’; Allegro appassionato, Op. 70; Rapsodie d’Auvergne; Africa, Op. 89 Alexandre Kantorow (piano); Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow BIS BIS-2400 (CD/SACD) 85:02 mins This is very special.

Guitar World

Article

Performance Notes

Sep 10, 2019

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN’S “Riviera Paradise” is a terrific introduction to jazz chords (check out the frames at the beginning of the transcription including those for the keyboard part, arranged for guitar), not to mention a treasure trove of soulful pent