Classical Guitar Lessons

You will learn to play the beautiful traditional finger-picking styles of guitar. This includes the old Spanish Baroque style and the Classical-era Italian style. These styles created the foundation modern finger-style guitar music is based on.

You’ll learn to sit and hold the instrument in the correct position, and how to set the arms and hands in a comfortable position. Most importantly, you will learn the two fundamental picking strokes: Rest-strokes and Free-strokes. These take some time to master; to understand where and when to use them in a music context.

‘Flamenco guitar’ is an extension of the Spanish Baroque style. Some elements of it are absorbed into general classical guitar style but if you seek to specialise in it you need to seek out a Flamenco guitarist. ‘Acoustic guitar’ is a general descriptor that describes an instrument type. It is mostly used to refer to steel-string guitars. Nylon-string guitars are usually referred to as a ‘Classical guitar’.

A traditional nylon-string guitar in good condition, an electronic guitar tuner, a foot stool, a music stand. A metronome is needed eventually but not at beginner stage.

Reading music is a necessary skill for classical guitar but don’t worry if you are not yet able to. Learning to read is a natural part of learning to play and, thankfully isn’t  as difficult as you may at first fear it is.

Yes, definitely. In fact, that is the best time for you to commence lessons. Expect the progress to feel slow at first but, if you maintain regular practice you will learn and your skills will blossom.

Yes, they certainly can. We recommend they be at least 7 years of age, and have a child-size nylon-string guitar ; a ¾ size is the usual choice and lasts most kids until they are 11 - 12 years / Grade Six at school.

Yes, but you must approach it as if taking up a new instrument. There are some aspects of steel-string playing that overlap with nylon-string playing but Classical guitar is very much it’s own style and needs to be respected as such.

NO, definitely not! If you have two good hands, a suitable instrument and you are motivated by the beautiful sound of the classical guitar, then seek out a dedicated classical guitar teacher and start now!

It’s a loaded question but the general answer is, for teens and adults, confident intermediate ability can be achieved within 2 - 3 years. This means you are able to interpret and confidently play classical guitar pieces around the Grade 3 - 4 level, feeling confident of the skills you have learned, and are ready to progress towards advanced material.

Children’s progress is quite different; their expected rate of development is linked to age and physical size. It can be destructive trying to rush the music development of a young guitarist; keep a quiet eye on their practice commitment and be patient!

Practice time varies by the level being studied but, as a general rule students mid- teens and older need to be able to commit at least 40 minutes per day to become comfortably established. As a beginner you should be aiming to get an hour practice in on at least 2 days of the week with 40-45 minute sessions on the other days. Daily practice is best.

Children under about 14 need to be encouraged to make practicing a regular activity. An honest 15 minutes a day is a good starting point, then after a few months of that make it 20 minutes. At the start of the next semester, or the new school year, make it 25 minutes daily, etc. Allow young students time to get used to the idea of instrument practice being a necessary, but enjoyable daily activity.

Start with lessons at the beginning. There is much more nuance to classical guitar than at first meets the eye. For a music novice (complete beginner) attempting to self-teach online will prove to be difficult, slow and incomplete. Good lessons with an experienced teacher are a much better option. Attempts to self teach classical guitar invariably lead to poor results.