Don't forget to visit the Audio Page for some examples of Classical Guitar.

The classical guitar is a nylon stringed instrument which has a smaller body than a typical steel string guitar and with a slightly wider neck (see the picture above).

It didn’t always look like this but has been developed over the years from smaller bodied instruments.

There is some evidence of guitar-like instruments from as early as 1800 BC but instruments more akin to today’s shape of guitar date from the 16th Century. You can see what some of them looked like below...

Strictly speaking “Classical” music dates from the mid 1700’s to the early 1800’s. The music played on the the classic guitar, however, is much broader than that and also includes music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, 20th Century and Contemporary eras - many styles.

Much of the music played on Classical Guitar was not originally written for the guitar but has been “borrowed” from other instruments. As a result we can get to play the music of great composers such as Dowland, JS Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Albeniz and others.

There are loads of great guitar composers too such as Barrios, Sor, Giuliani, Carcassi, Rodrigo, Brouwer, Villa Lobos, Lauro, A York and many more.

At JCM Guitar Tuition you can study Classical guitar on many levels and will receive sound advice on technique, posture, musicality and all the elements needed for you to get the most out of your playing.

Classical Guitar music ranges from the simple to the very complex and challenging so there is something for players of all levels.

Beginners will be guided through the early stages in manageable steps and will get a solid grounding covering guitar basics, technique, rhythm and music reading.

Experienced players will be able to expand their repertoire and will be given help to develop their playing and understanding of music. Issues of expression and tone production will be covered along with many tips and helps on technique.

One of the nice things about a nylon string guitar is the great variety of sounds it can produce. It is possible to create sharp piercing tones, warm mellow sounds, full bodied notes, silky timbres shimmering with harmonics and everything in between. We use the term “tone colour” to describe the varied sounds you can produce on the guitar.

Tone colour can be used to transform your playing from “nice” to amazing. It is a vital tool for musical expression on the guitar and is given lots of emphasis at JCM Guitar Tuition.

Classical guitar music comes in the form of “Standard Music Notation” and learning how to read this goes hand in hand with learning Classical Guitar.

As I said on my Acoustic page, some people are intimidated by the idea of music notation and make the assumption that it is too tricky and not for them. All I would say is you’ll not know until you try. At JCM Guitar Tuition you will be taught what you need in logical, manageable steps and, as I say to my students, the most complex things are just a load of simple things joined together!

For people who have been playing other styles of guitar for a while and who are familiar with TAB, I have a number of very nice classical type tunes which are in this format. You could try these to whet your appetite without learning notation in detail. The best long-term advice however would be to invest your time in becoming familiar with Standard Music Notation.

At JCM Guitar Tuition I have helped many students achieve success in exams for the Classical Guitar (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music).

Exams require dedication, focussed commitment and are not for everyone, but there are benefits to be gained from pursuing them. They are a way to formally keep track of your progress and give you a goal to aim for. They give you the opportunity to get deep into the various aspects of the music. A music exam certificate can be used to demonstrate your achievements to Universities and the like. You may simply get a sense of achievement from the process.

No one is forced into taking exams! If you feel they are not for you, do not worry. You will still get great benefit from studying Classical Guitar at JCM Guitar Tuition.

If you would like to find out more about lessons feel free to give me a call on 02897533026, or mail me by clicking on the letterbox