Play Leyenda, Canarios, and Bach on Classical Guitar

Learn how to make sense of scale practice, develop relaxed and efficient technique, and perform with confidence.

Created byBrian Riggs

Last updated 11/2015

English

What you'll learn

Play "Canarios" by Gasper Sanz, "Gavottes 1 and 2" by J.S. Bach, and "Leyenda" by Isaac Albeniz up to a performance standard
Improve your technique and play in a relaxed and efficient way as you play technical exercises that are unique to the course and prepare for every challenge in each of the pieces
Learn the point of practicing scales and how to make the most of your scale practice.

Course content

17 sections • 70 lectures • 7h 30m total length

Introduction- How to course is laid and how to make the most of it2:18

Rhythm- What you need to understand about note lengths2:48
This lecture contains the downloadable PDF file that you will use for this and the next two lectures.

0:34- Close up of both hands
Meter Signatures- How to play each of the meter signatures that you'll encounter4:48
0:16 close up of both hands
Practice reading meter signatures-put you're knowledge to the test2:32
Close-up of both hands 0:20

Your first exercise to prepare for "Canarios"- expand on your scale playing6:59
This lecture contains the downloadable PDF file for the technical exercises that you'll use in this section to prepare to play Canarios.

Musical example with close-up of both hands 0:41

Close-up of right hand 1:30

Close-up of left hand 4:20
This exercise looks easy, but it's essential you get the accents right8:05
Musical example with close-up of both hands 0:36

Close-up of right hand 1:47

Close-up of left hand 5:43
Work on your hammer-ons and pull-offs, this a big part of "Canarios"4:31
Musical example with close-up of both hands 0:23

Close-up of left hand 1:55

Close-up of right hand 3:07
This exercise will help you develop an efficient and effective right-hand7:04
Musical example with close-up of both hands 0:34

Close-up of right hand 1:24

Close-up of left hand 3:28

Make a strong opening statement with "Canarios"- the pickup measure to measure 810:20
This lecture has the downloadable PDF file of the sheet music that you'll be using for Canarios.

Notes up to speed 0:14

Slow 0:28

Close-up of left hand 2:20

Close-up of right hand 5:45
Moving up the fret-board and alternating between 6/8 and 3/4--measure 8 to 169:41
Notes up to speed 0:18

Slow 0:31

Close-up of left hand 1:58

Close-up of right hand 6:50
Shifting accurately and with confidence-measures 16 to 2812:43
Notes up to speed 0:23

Slow 0:40

Close-up to left hand 2:30

Close-up of right hand 7:40
Going into the development section of "Canarios"-measure 16 to 409:07
Notes up to speed 0:22

Slow 0:40

Close-up of left hand 2:21

Close-up of right hand 5:35
Using your right hand to keep the energy going- measure 41 to 486:58
Notes up to speed 0:31

Slow 0:59

Close-up of right hand 2:21

Close-up of left hand 4:35
Playing "Canarios" all the way through- Putting the notes together4:02
The piece 0:24

Discussion 2:00
Make sure you give "Canarios" a strong ending- measure 49 to the end12:36
Notes up to speed 0:22

Slow 0:37

Close-up of left hand 2:20

Close-up of right hand 7:30

Developing the rhythmic idea that you'll be using in the Gavotte 15:19
This lecture contains the downloadable PDF file that contains all the musical examples that you'll use in this section as you prepare for the Gavotte 1 and 2.

Musical exercise 0:44

Close-up of right hand 1:41

Close-up of left hand 3:46
Use your technique to keep the flow going even as you add more notes4:30
Musical exercise 0:30

Close-up of right hand 1:18

Close-up of left hand 3:07
Triplets with quarter note bass notes- how to start sounding like 2 guitarists5:31
Musical exercise 0:24

Close-up of right hand 1:23

Close-up of left hand 3:09
Developing loose but secure barres and hinges so you can play the Gavotte 28:22
Musical exercise 0:43

Close-up of left hand 1:53

Close-up of right hand 6:36

How to get the Gavotte dance feel right away- measures 1 to 67:43
This lecture contains the PDF file of the sheet music for the Gavotte 1. The Gavotte 2 sheet music file is in the first lecture of the next section.

Notes up to speed 0:20

Slow 0:36

Close-up of left hand 1:40

Close-up of right hand 5:25
Working up the fret-board and develop your left-hand- measure 6 to 1212:57
Notes up to speed 0:20

Slow 0:37

Close-up of left hand 1:57

Close-up of right hand 8:23
This section will continue to keep your left-hand on it's toes- measure 12 to 168:46
Notes up to speed 0:20

Slow 0:32

Close-up of left hand 1:41

Close-up of right hand 5:22
Build the drama as you move towards a cadence on C Major- measures 17 to 2411:44
Notes up to speed 0:31

Slow 0:32

Close-up of left hand 2:07

Close-up of right hand 6:37
Build the musical tension while keeping your hands relaxed- measures 24 to 309:24
Notes up to speed 0:15

Slow 0:32

Close-up of left hand 1:50

Close-up of right hand 5:50
Bring the Gavotte 1 to a strong finish-measure 30 to the end7:50
Notes up to speed 0:17

Slow 0:32

Close-up of left hand 2:05

Close-up of right hand 4:20
Playing the "Gavotte 1" all the way through- Put the musical ideas together3:52
Performance 0:26

Discussion 1:44

The main theme, execute this well and you're in good shape- pickup to measure 49:16
This lecture contains the PDF file for the sheet music for Gavotte 2.

Notes up to speed 0:15

Slow 0:27

Close-up of right hand 1:29

Close-up of left hand 5:18
The beginning of the B Section- a doable challenge- measures 4 to 811:34
Notes up to speed 0:19

Slow 0:31

Close-up of left hand 2:14

Close-up of right hand 7:01
Re-state the main theme and then move on-measures 8 to 1412:17
Notes up to speed 0:19

Slow 0:39

Close-up of left hand 2:31

Close-up of right hand 9:03
Continue building the musical drama as you near the end- measures 15 to 179:16
Notes up to speed 0:22

Slow 0:32

Close-up of left hand 1:52

Close-up of right hand 6:55
Finish the Gavotte 2 with reckless abandon- measures 18 to the end9:56
Notes up to speed 0:13

Slow 0:24

Close-up of left hand 2:10

Close-up of right hand 6:09
Playing the Gavotte 2 all the way through- some strategies for practicing4:46
Performance 0:30

Discussion 1:28

Requirements

You should be able to play at least simple pieces, studies, etudes, etc. on the guitar
You don't need to be an expert on reading notes by any means (every note in the course is demonstrated on video, so you can always follow along that way), but a basic knowledge of musical notation would be helpful
You can choose to follow along with the videos, but you may find it helpful to download and/or print the sheet music PDFs. Multiple lectures are on one sheet, so it's easy to follow along and you won't be overwhelmed with pages.

Description

This course is all about helping you realize your potential as a classical guitarist as you learn to play 3 great pieces from the classical guitar repertoire, Canarios, Gavottes 1 and 2, and Leyenda. You’ll follow a step-by-step course that shows you the most beneficial way to practice scales, how to use technical exercises, and how to play the 3 pieces at a performance standard.

What you can expect to get out of the course

You'll be able to see consistent progress as you follow an organized system
Practicing will be a pleasure as you improve your guitar skills, have more relaxed finger movements, and develop greater ability of musical expression
You'll feel the encouraging sense of accomplishment as you play pieces all the way through
You'll get answers to many of your questions about classical guitar playing

Your main goal for the course is to play 3 pieces from the classical guitar repertoire, Canarios, Gavottes 1 and 2, and Leyenda. The premise of the course is that you'll have much more success if you thoughtfully prepare before jumping into the pieces.

Playing the classical guitar is such a multi-sensory experience, and a video-based course is a great way to learn at your own pace. You know that there are no shortcuts, but by following a logical course that starts easy and gradually gets more challenging your experience will be much easier and rewarding.

Classical guitar is beautiful and complex, but that complexity can be intimidating, so in this course every musical phrase will be broken into a manageable piece that's easy to work with, and easy to put back into the whole of the piece.

The course starts with some brief introductory lectures that review the basics of the classical guitar approach, and then moves into scales. You'll customize your scale practice so that you're ready for each piece. It would be good to have some experience playing higher up on the fret-board, but you'll review the notes on the fret-board in the scales section, so you're prepared for everything that follows. Next, you'll start playing technical exercises that are unique to this course to prepare you for the piece that you'll be playing.

The lectures show the hands from a variety of angles, and in the lecture descriptions you can find the time where each camera angle changes. The lectures on the pieces start with a small chunk played up to speed, then a slow walk-through the notes, followed by a more in-depth lesson on each hand.

You'll also get downloadable PDF files of every scale, exercise, and piece, so not only will you receive a full score of "Leyenda" and the other pieces that are in the course, but you'll have a clear view of how to play every single note. This course doesn't contain any guitar tablature, but remember that you will be able to see and hear every last note in the course in the video lectures.

I hope you'll continue your journey with this course by clicking the button that says "Start Learning Now" and enrolling in the course and enjoying lifetime access to the lecture videos and sheet music files. Thanks for reading and I wish you the best with your guitar playing.

Who this course is for:

This course is for intermediate and beyond classical guitarists
If you have played classical guitar for a while already and want to realize your potential, this will be a great course for you
This course is not for beginning guitarists or guitarists who want to learn from tabs (the musical examples don't include tablature)
If you are an advanced rock/blues/jazz player who wants to learn how to play classical guitar pieces, you'll enjoy this course

Play Leyenda, Canarios, and Bach on Classical Guitar

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

A brief classical guitar overview before jumping in.2 lectures • 3min

Making Sense of Rhythm and Meter- make sure this section makes sense3 lectures • 10min

Connect your Scales to "Canarios"- How to practice so you're well-prepared2 lectures • 9min

Develop relaxed technique so you can play "Canarios" in a well-executed way4 lectures • 27min

Playing the piece- This is where you start learning the notes to "Canarios"7 lectures • 1hr 5min

Scale playing and "Gavottes 1 and 2 "- Make the most of your practice time2 lectures • 9min

Gavottes 1 and 2- Progressive exercises that will prepare your technique4 lectures • 24min

Playing the piece- Start playing "Gavotte 1"7 lectures • 1hr 2min

Playing the Gavotte 2 (sometimes called the "Gavotte Double"6 lectures • 57min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: