The Absolute Best Classical Guitar Books For Beginners

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Whether you’re looking to learn classical guitar on your own or are looking for some teaching aids to supplement your guitar lessons with a teacher, finding a classical guitar method that works is easy! In this article, you’ll find excellent classical guitar books that are designed for those who are interested in getting started and can give you the foundation you need as a beginning classical guitarist.

what do the best classical guitar books have in common

Before I go into detail about the individual classical guitar beginner method books I can recommend, it’s important to have an idea of what to expect inside these types of books and what makes them very useful for new musicians.

You are reading: Classical guitar books for beginners

sight reading practice

Developing the ability to sight-read is essential for all classical guitarists. can you learn to play without sight reading skills? Of course, but you will be harming yourself and putting limitations on yourself. learning to sight read opens many doors and eventually you will be able to play any piece of music that comes your way.

Many guitarists of all ages and experience levels seem easily overwhelmed at the thought of learning to read music, but being a beginner is the best time to start because classical guitar method books, like the ones on are covered here, you usually start out very simply and learn multiple skills along the way.

Basically, everything you read in a classical guitar book will be a sight-reading exercise, and naturally you will improve over time and become a fluent sight-reader like all great classical guitarists.

technique development

One of the most critical aspects of being a successful guitar player is having solid technique. Beginner’s books should emphasize this, as learning poor techniques will hinder your progress and prevent you from improving, and this can be a problem if a person is completely self-taught and has no guidance at all.

In these books, you will learn about the different parts of the guitar, how to hold a guitar and maintain proper posture using a stool, and of course, proper fingering with both your plucking and fretting hands. .

There are different ways to practice technique, but most beginner books have short pieces of music, or studies, to help you focus on certain aspects, such as working on a certain position on the guitar, crossing strings, and playing chords. .

basics of music theory

Learning music theory for the first time can seem like a very intimidating task for beginners, but introductory books like these can make it easier by simply starting with the basics and building from there.

For example, a beginner classical guitar method will teach you a few notes, usually on some of the open strings, and show you how to read these notes on the staff. You will also learn about rhythmic notation and the value of each one so that you can start interpreting sheet music.

Classical guitar books will also teach you the scales and chords you need to know so you can have a basic understanding of musical harmony and combined with the above, you will have a solid understanding of the fundamentals.

music application

While practicing technique and learning musical concepts are very important for classical guitarists, it’s also essential to put them into practice by learning real music, and that’s what makes it fun!

From short etudes, duets (great if you have an instructor or friend to accompany you), and longer pieces that are appropriate for beginners, you’ll always have some music to which you can apply the skills you’re learning.

Learning music is also a skill in itself, and it will also teach you how to build a repertoire or collection of musical pieces that you have practiced and perhaps learned by heart.

historical background

Whether it’s about composers or the history of the guitar itself, I think it’s useful to know this kind of information.

Think of it this way, if you hear a song you really like on the radio, chances are you want to know who the artist is.

When you read these books, you’ll learn about different famous classical guitarists who provided the repertoire in them, and chances are good that you’ll find some of your favorites that you’ll want to learn more about later, especially as you continue on your classical guitar journey.

As you continue reading, you’ll learn about some great classical guitar books that are perfect for beginners, and hopefully find something that really catches your interest.

christopher parking’s guitar method vol. 1

This is easily one of the most popular classical guitar books for people just starting out. most guitar teachers will recommend it to their students because it’s extremely affordable and you’ll get more than your money’s worth.

mr. parking is a former student of the legendary andres segovia and this book was first published in 1972 and continues to be in print to this day, standing the test of time.

the first parking book covers all the important details that help provide the foundation for classical guitarists, starting with the parts of the guitar, how to hold it, finger technique and playing positions, all the way to the basic music theory. that he can use forever and, of course, many pieces of music along the way that he can practice that are relevant to what he is currently learning in the book.

He also gives great tips on how to practice that I still use to this day, like playing at a pace where I can focus on making few or no mistakes, then gradually increase it, and also learning to play at the right time. volume while you relax.

By the end of this book, you should have a decent understanding of sight-reading and performance techniques that you can use to move on to the next book, Christopher Parkening’s Guitar Method Vol. 2

however, this book is likely to be one you can keep forever in your collection, and you can always go back to reference things or brush up on specific areas of your playing.

lead guitar – frederick noad book 1

This classical guitar book is another one that I and many others highly recommend due to its in-depth nature.

this one covers a lot of the same things you see in christopher’s parking book, and is almost as old, but there is additional material you can find here that I find to be a bonus.

For example, I like that this book pays special attention to rhythmic studies, like more complex beats and subdivisions, so you can really hone your rhythm and counting skills.

I also like that noad gives notes and tips on how to play each piece of music featured and gives you some historical background on the composers of these fantastic pieces.

There’s also music for trios and quartets here in case you’re taking group lessons, and it’s also a reason this book is sometimes used in introductory guitar classes at colleges.

Overall, the teaching here is very clear and concise and has a lot to offer; it’s also a bigger book than the parking lot. Just like the parking method, there’s also a noad solo guitar performance book 2 if you like what you learned in the first one.

christopher berg’s classical guitar partner

if you’re looking for a book that’s extremely comprehensive and you’re almost certain to commit to classical guitar for the foreseeable future, berg’s classical guitar companion is an excellent choice.

In my opinion, one of the advantages of this book over the others is that everything is included in one place: there is no other volume that you have to buy, and the contents listed in the book are useful for beginners and experienced players. .

the parking and noad books are recommended for beginners who aren’t sure if they’ll be fully invested in learning classical guitar in the future, but they do their job of providing a solid foundation, so they’re great introductory methods and you you can choose to skip to later volumes.

This has all the information you need to get started, but also includes advanced concepts, particularly with studies of technique and harmony. Of course, you get numerous exercises and pieces of music to practice every step of the way, as this is the main goal of this book.

The Classical Guitar Companion is an incredible asset for those who are eager to learn as much as they can without buying another book for a while, but it’s best that you read this one without skipping anywhere, ideally with the guidance of a professor.

On the other hand, having a guitar teacher and going through any of these classical guitar methods is always a good idea just because there is a lot of information that you may have questions about along the way and they can give you direct feedback and correct things you could be doing it wrong or inefficiently.

conclusion

If you’ve been considering trying classical guitar, you can’t go wrong with any of these beginner books. They cover the features I discussed in this article and will give you the skills to become a great guitarist one day. once you’ve put these books down, hopefully, you’ll be inspired to keep playing and growing as a musician, especially with more instruction from a teacher, and maybe, one day, you’ll also have students you can recommend these books to. .

if you haven’t bought them yet, you should look for a footrest and other important classical guitar accessories as well. these will be important companions for you as you learn to play classical guitar using whatever method you choose!

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The Absolute Best Classical Guitar Books For Beginners – GuitarMeet