How to Play Classical Guitar
Are you trying to explore your talent in guitar playing? How about you learn how to play a classical guitar this year? Among the things that differentiate a classical guitar from the rest of them are the nylon strings, a wider body, and longer neck, a hole in the body known as a rosette and the resonant sound when played.
Other than that, it is also very easy to play and you can be sure to learn a few tricks of playing it within a month of practice. Music is said to make the world go round. You could make your world spin with your very own music from your classical guitar. Here’s a guide:
Buy a good classical guitar
For any kind of work to be done to perfection, it requires the right tools for the job. It isn’t any different with music. If you want to be a great classical guitarist you must get yourself a classical guitar first. What constitutes a good classical guitar?
First and foremost, a good guitar is that which feels right in your arms. It is always about your personal feelings when it’s in your arms. Other things that matter are such as the quality of the materials used to make it. Is the finishing smooth, does it have a strong body and neck?
When you’re a beginner, buying a very expensive guitar is also not necessary. You just need a simple guitar that is easy to use and to be honest it does not really matter how many dollars you spent on it. What matters is your willingness to learn.
Go shop for an averagely priced guitar with a good sound and comfortable to use. Do not be misguided into buying a good classical guitar that is not comfortable just because another person works great with it.
Learn the anatomy of your classical guitar
Why is this important? Studying your guitar and knowing every part by name and what is used for is very important. This will help you learn faster and you can even follow instructions on how to play and succeed without a teacher. You can also not work on something you do not know how it operates.
The topmost part of the guitar is called the head. It consists of tuning keys and the top of strings. Before you can actually play the guitar, you must tune it using the tuning keys for each string. There is the neck that has the fretboard with metal fret lines attached to it and fingerboards to guide you on the position of your fingers in relation to sound.
The body comes last which is what shapes the guitar. It holds the other end of the strings and in between, there is a sound hole that projects the sound when you play your guitar. The saddle and the bridge are part of the body and are the ones that hold the top of the strings.
Knowing all these parts will play a very big role in helping you learn how to play your classical guitar. With the guitar parts knowledge, learning how to play will be like a walk in the park.
How to Position Your Body
The first major step to learning how to play a classical guitar is knowing the right position for your body. The position you settle for should ensure your back is straight and comfortable to avoid too much fatigue every time you play.
A classical guitar is usually played while seated. Your legs should form an angle with your thigh that is as close to 90° as possible. This will help relieve the stress on your back making it easy and comfortable to play your guitar. You could put the legs together or shoulder width apart but the point is to make sure your back is not strained.
Your fretboard should be easy to access. Whichever hand you’re using to play, make sure that it reaches the guitar without having to bend or lower your shoulder. You could do this by putting one leg on a guitar stool or adding a guitar support on your leg.
The most favorable position for your body is a comfortable position. Strive to make that position as less strenuous as it can be and you won’t have a problem playing for hours in that same position.
Learn the basic chords and strumming
When playing a classical guitar, you’ll use nylon strings for G, B and E and a few soft steel ones for A, E and D. As you’re starting out, learn how to create the A chord and the E chord. For both, you’ll be using the first three fingers of your left hand.
The first finger is the index finger which uses the chords in the first fret and the fingers that follow use the rest in that order up-to-the fifth fret. In terms of the strings, the biggest one is number six while the smallest at the top is number one. This is an easier way of learning how to read music.
When creating the A chord, the thumb, on the other hand, is used to play the fifth string while with E chord it is used to play all the strings. You should pinch the strings using the thumb and other fingers together or strum without holding down any strings of open chords.
Bottom line is, the index finger is for G, the middle B, and the ring finger plays the last one. The thumb, on the other hand, plays A, E, and D.
Conclusion
You could know all these things but if you do not practice it will be a total waste of time. Do as much practice as you can and observe other people playing. It is also important to keep your fingernails short but a bit longer on the strumming hand.
With the information, we have given you and all your energy and passion; you should be able to learn as quickly as possible. Do not overwork yourself though. Make sure to take a break when you feel like you’re straining yourself. This will help you do a better job when you start another session. Also, use simple songs to learn. You can now start learning how to play your classical guitar.