Learn to Play Guitar Classical DVD

About Classical Guitar

Virtually anyone can learn to play guitar, but classical guitar seems to have been reserved for only the most serious guitarists with an aim toward reaching the concert stage. As the guitar continued to evolve over the last 500 years, it gradually gained acceptance in the highest circles, even finding great favor with royalty across Europe and beyond. As the guitar's cache increased, classical composers like J.S. Bach began to write masterful compositions for it that required greater than average skill to play.

Today, many of these classical pieces are still heard along side modern compositions in concert halls, but classical guitar technique isn't just reserved for classical music anymore. These days, you'll find its influence in everything from flamenco to jazz and even pop.

The hallmark of playing classical guitar is the ability to play fluid, intricate and often rapidfire melodies using the fingernails to pluck and sometimes energetically strum the strings. For this reason, a classical guitar is strung with a combination of nylon and metal strings. The three treble strings are strictly nylon, while the base strings are made from nylon wrapped in silver-plated copper wire.

Learn to Play Guitar Classical DVD Suggestions

The following DVDs are useful for learning and/or improving your skills as a classical guitar musician.

The Segovia Style: Classical Guitar Of The Maestro

This instructional DVD, The Segovia Style-Classical Guitar Of The Maestro, is presented by modern master and Segovia protégé Eliot Fisk. Fisk covers topics such as hand positions and how to produce the proper tones on the strings, as well as the importance of interpreting a piece.

The format of this DVD includes the use of split screen so you can watch Fisk's hands close up as he demonstrates classical technique. Fisk also analyzes some of Segovia's best loved performances.

Classical Guitar Technique and Musicianship

Frederic Hand DVD

In this classical guitar tutorial, Classical Guitar Technique and Musicianship, Frederic Hand delivers tips about fingering and improving your dexterity, as well as many other important techniques that will help you grasp the classical method of playing. Scales and arpeggios are covered along with techniques for creating vibrato. You'll even lean how to shape your fingernails and improve your posture to improve your playing.

This DVD is most useful to classical beginners, and if you enjoy it, you may want to check out Hand's follow up instructional DVD, Classical Guitar: Seven Easy Pieces.

Basic Classical Guitar Method

This DVD and instruction book set, Basic Classical Guitar Method, is presented by Scott Tennant, and approaches the topic from the very beginning of selecting the proper guitar, right and left hand techniques and more. The book makes it easier to refer back to the lessons when playing the DVD isn't practical. If you like volume one, volume two is also available for purchase.

Although there is really no substitution for one-on-one lessons from a classical guitar master, a high quality learn to play guitar classical DVD can give you a good grounding in all the major techniques. Use these DVD lessons to get your feet wet, and if you find you really have a desire to excel, you can seek formal instructions from there.