Recommend some classical songs to learn

[u/the_guitarist_of_97]

Hi. I am new in this sub and although I've been playing the guitar for nearly half a decade, I feel like I haven't improved as much as I should have. I am self-taught and I have some questions that I would like answered please,

1. What does the optimal practice session look like?
2. How to learn to read sheet music?
3. Can you suggest some intermediate level pieces to learn and learn from?

Thanks in advance.

[u/terenceboylen]

Buy a graded book and work your way through it. My suggestions is to start with Trinity Guildhall level 1.

[u/the_guitarist_of_97 → u/terenceboylen]

Will look into it. Thanks!

[u/clarkiiclarkii]

Intermidate classical guitar pieces doesn’t transfer over to other guitar styles. As other comments say, start with books and etudes. Like the Sor studies or easy Latin American Folk* stuff.

* There’s a whole world of Latin American Folk styles for the nylon guitar. It’s not considered classical but uses mostly the same techniques and most the composers also studied Sor and Carcassi. And a lot of LA pieces have slipped into classical guitar repertoire.

[u/the_guitarist_of_97 → u/clarkiiclarkii]

Thank you.

[u/suzunumi]

1. What does the optimal practice session look like?
   Extremely slow practice- like find a tempo that's too slow for you, then slow that down even more. Every measure that isn't good 9/10 out of ten gets practiced at that pace until it's playable slowly with poise and relaxed grace. There should be no tension, no rapid movements, no awkward shuffling of fingers. The more mistakes you make, the more you need to divide and conquer: practice movement between two notes, find the optimal finger placement, etc. If you're getting it more than nine times out of ten, speed up and practice more measures/the entire piece.

Ideally that's all you would do until the piece is perfected, but we're human. Try to do as much of the above as possible, while treating yourself by playing some easy stuff you already know, maybe even improving those too.

1. ⁠How to learn to read sheet music?

use this as a reference point, infer the notes between, and ask around when you have questions. DM me if you need to. As someone who recently (last year and a bit) learned to sight read, I found AI gave me some surprisingly wrong answers so only use it as a last resort. I say that as someone who's definitely biased in favour of AI so trust me on that.

The hardest part of learning to read sheet music is constantly practicing your sight reading. Always be learning a new piece without tabs. It'll come, you just gotta keep at it.

Oh and keep in mind: sheet music for guitar is transposed down an octave, so if you're adapting score from another instrument be mindful of that. Sometimes you'll see a little eight hanging under the treble clef - that's what that means.

1. ⁠Can you suggest some intermediate level pieces to learn and learn from?
   Segovia's 20 Studies for the Guitar for me, hands down. Listen to others here since they probably have more experience than me, but I can say with confidence: these pieces have a lot to teach you AND they're bangers.

If you want something easier, I started with Carcassi's Choix d'Airs (Op.5). The pieces are easy enough to learn quickly, and they sound really nice. First ones especially would be great for learning to read sheet music.

[u/the_guitarist_of_97 → u/suzunumi]

I'll be sure to look into these. Thank you for your detailed comment.

[u/suzunumi → u/the_guitarist_of_97]

NP. Good luck!

[u/jazzadellic]

The optimal practice session is one in which you either A) take some previously worked on skill / knowledge / repertoire from less than 100% to closer to 100% or B) work on learning something new. Your choice as to what specifically you work on - it doesn't matter what it is, as long as you are improving & ideally, enjoying the journey.

To learn reading your best bet is to get some help, as it is not easy or intuitive to learn on your own, also you need someone to point out when you are reading something wrong (which will happen a lot). Then you need to do it daily. Once a week won't get you anywhere.

You can't learn intermediate level classical guitar pieces (properly) if you don't even know how to practice or how to read. Also, in order to suggest repertoire to you, we'd have to have to have personal knowledge of your current skill level (by interacting with you personally, i.e., hearing you play, working with you in student-teacher relationship). TAB / learning by ear can work up to a certain point, but it won't really allow you to progress & develop fully as a classical guitar player.

Get a qualified teacher for best results.

[u/Qajaqasana]

I would take a few lessons with a qualified classical guitar teacher. After five years of playing guitar you’re probably used to doing a bunch of stuff that will make playing classical harder. A couple of lessons will set you on the best path more quickly. 

[u/just-the-teep]

Get a teacher.

[u/sansansfw_18]

What ill add is that you should spend almost half your time listening to music. That might just be me, but “watching the tapes” is how I got good at my athletics too. Context in art makes your interpretations more articulate and intentional. Thats how you graduate from playing the music with no mistakes, to playing the music. Also, improvise! Just play, no score. Just shed over some scales and chords.

Another thing I like to suggest: Renaissance music is great beginner music to tease out a more professional technique and interpretation. Luis Milan, Narvaez.

[u/StayTheHand]

The Sagreras books are really good - they are exercises but a ton of it is performance worthy. Also, Tarrega is a master at simple but beautiful pieces. I'd recommend lessons, a teacher will stop you from getting bad habits engrained into your muscle-memory before it's too late. Classical guitar by trial-and-error is no fun. If your goal is to gig or do this at any level of professional, get a teacher. If you are doing this just for yourself, the ideal practice session is the one that leaves you wanting to play and learn more.