Classical Guitar Nottinghamshire

I have been playing the classical guitar since I was about 6 or 7, and whilst other instruments have come and gone in my life, this is one of the few that has remained! I now not only enjoy still playing this instrument, but also offering lessons for the classical guitar. Nottinghamshire is one of the areas I cover.

The Classical guitar is sometimes referred to as the “Spanish” guitar, and whilst there are many Spanish pieces composed for the classical guitar (including Flamenco guitar), this is by no means the extent of its flexibility! A few well known composers of classical guitar music are Andres Segovia, Villa Lobos, Francisco Tarrega, Joaquin Rodrigo, and they are constantly included in classical guitar concerts and repertoire. Classical Gas by Mason Williams is one of the more famous pieces of contemporary classical guitar music.

If you search on www.YouTube.com, for the string “classical guitar songs” the list shown will help show you the flexibility of this beautiful instrument, tunes and songs arranged and performed on the classical guitar such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Pink Panther, computer game themes such as Super Mario Bros!, as well as versions of rock and popular songs from the charts and from movies, for example Annie’s Song, and Bohemian Rhapsody – yes the one by Queen! You can perform any style of song or music on a classical guitar, just as you may on an instrument such as a piano, clarinet or flute!

There are so many styles of guitar playing that it is sometimes difficult to tell which is which! For example electric guitars, acoustic guitars, the classical guitar, and then flamenco guitars and bass guitars!

How can you identify a classical guitar? The acoustic guitar is often mistaken for a classical guitar, but the key variation is that the classical guitar strings are nylon. Acoustic guitar strings are made of steel and may be called a “steel string” guitar. The composition of the inside of the guitar is also different, even if visually to compare, they look very similar – you could describe it as the differences or similarities between a Horse and a Zebra!

The sound of a classical guitar in the hands of an expert guitarist is just amazing and there have been in times past, arguments that have come to blows nearly between people who are new to listening to classical guitar music who could not quite understand that the piece of music was being performed by just one performer!

Whilst it can be easy with the assistance of a plectrum to play the acoustic guitar quite loudly, at one concert in 2008 where I saw the classical guitarist Mark Ashford, in a room situated at the foot of the Bell Tower of Lincoln Cathedral, the cathedral bells had a difficult task to be heard over Mr Ashford’s wonderful guitar playing – without the aid of speakers or amplifiers!

If you are interested and would like to know more about discovering the classical guitar, please contact me to arrange a lesson or a chat. It will take time and practise to truly master the classical guitar; however, before you realise it you will soon be playing beautiful pieces with a little practise and guidance!