Learning a new piece can feel like a slog - it's like learning a whole new language!

Many guitarists wonder why we should learn things like harmony, form, keys, etc.

"What's wrong with just playing pieces?!"

The problem with this approach is that when you learn a new piece, it's like going back to square one. The whole laborious process begins again, taking weeks or months just to get your fingers around the notes and rhythms. The level you desire to play at just seems unreachable.

But if you invest your time into practicing and understanding the language of music, then you'll start to learn differently. You'll eventually be able to read and learn pieces way faster. You'll notice that:

• Most pieces are made of the same building blocks• Many individual notes combine into one chord

• Many pieces share similar or identical chord progressions

• Chord shapes played in high positions are often the same as those in 1st position

• Different chords and keys evoke different moods and feelings

• There's a lot more repetition in a piece than you thought

• Thinking about chords and harmony will lead you to creativity: composing and improvising

This is what guitarists from the 17th-18th centuries knew and it's something that's forgotten today.

Today, guitarists are very technically minded, with books like Pumping Nylon providing us with exercises that work our fingers.

But if you practice harmony, you can work your fingers and musical mind.

Guitarists are also usually learning pieces that are very difficult for their current level. There's nothing wrong with pushing yourself a bit from time to time, but if you're doing this constantly then you'll only end up frustrated and going in circles.

So what's the solution??

Use one of the classic method books

The classic method books contain the foundations of guitar playing and music.

That means whatever you play, it will always come back to the principles found in these method books. This is not the case when you learn exercises from Pumping Nylon.

So, whether you're playing a piece by Dowland, or Bach, or Brouwer, or Andrew York, the foundations of those pieces always come back to the classic method books. In fact, it's more difficult to understand modern pieces if you don't have a grasp of the classical traditions of harmony.

Plus, these methods are aimed at beginner/intermediate guitarists. They contain beautiful short pieces that you can learn fast, which teach you the principles of harmony and composition.

Most of us only have limited practice time, so we have to carefully select what we practice. This is another advantage of the method books - they give you a carefully balanced program, like a healthy diet. After covering a whole method book, you'll have mastered keys, fretboard positions, chord progressions, scales, ornaments, arpeggios and more.

It's possible to work really hard, practice for hours a day, but still make little progress. This is something I really don't want for you.

- I want to see you put in a little bit of work each day/week and get AMAZING results that people will instantly hear in your playing.

- I want to see you play pieces by memory, interpreting them with vivid emotion and learning them fast.

- I want to see you read and understand music like it's your native language.

Carcassi Method Book Walkthrough: Saturday's at 10am AEST - July to December 2022

Join me for the Carcassi Method Book Walkthrough, which breaks down the book into bite-sized pieces. You'll be given clear tasks and practice goals each week and after 6 months, you'll have been through the whole method. It's crucial to have a qualified and experienced instructor guide you through this, as there's a lot to break down under the surface. We'll have a 1 hour live workshop each week, which will also be recorded. You'll still be able to easily catch up if you join today (plus I always do some review at the start of each session)!

If you'd like to join, then please use the link below to register. It's $99 USD per month, which is only $25 per 1 hour session. Plus you get access to other live events, resources and more. You can cancel anytime.

$99 USD

per month

• $25 per session

• Access to live workshops

• Access to many resources: videos, scores, books and more

• Access to a wonderful and supportive community of guitarists