Classical Guitar Technique: Produce Tones Like the Masters

By: Emre Sabuncuoglu
Word Count: 595

Guitarists, are you wondering how to make your instrument produce the kinds of tones that stir listeners' emotions? If so, you will want to take a look at the classical guitar technique that the world's best classical guitar players use to make their music thrill audiences.

A stellar operatic tenor makes his living by producing tones that send fans into shivers of ecstasy. If his voice were hoarse or scratchy, he would never inspire his listeners. Good tone production is what sets apart the average singer from the virtuoso. Similarly, a skilled musician playing the classical guitar works toward producing the best possible tone quality with his right hand. He attempts to refine his tone to the point where no coarseness or impurity remains. Thus, the player conceives of a beautiful tone in his own mind, then tries to duplicate the tone’s elusive quality on the classical guitar.

In playing the classical guitar, the musician uses his or her fingernails to produce the tone, since using the nails generates brilliance and a plethora of tone colors. The nail tone that the finest concert guitarists produce is clear, round, sweet, and ethereal in character. It has no harshness, scratchiness, thumps, or clicks. This tone can completely enthrall both player and listener. Each and every guitarist should aim for such a magnificent, flawless sound. Do not be content until the sounds that come from your guitar have that elusive quality that you hear from the best artists in the genre. Experiment with your tone until you obtain the sound that you so desire. Remember, even in the top dynamic range, the tone should still be sweet and airy.

To produce such a tone, first get a clear concept of an ideal tone in your mind. The best way to get this concept is to listen to one of the gorgeous tones produced by a virtuoso classical guitar player, either live, recorded, or in online classical guitar lessons. Listen again and again, each time trying to hear more of the tone’s subtle qualities. When you have a clear concept of the sound, try to produce the same quality on your own classical guitar. You will find it easier, because you will have already heard how the tone should sound, from one of the art’s masters. From a technical perspective, executing the right-hand strokes correctly will also boost the quality of your tone production. Use both methods to hone your skills in this most important dimension of classical guitar technique.

Since tone quality is so crucial to your development as a classical guitar artist, make this exercise just as important to your daily routine as practicing scales. You, too, can take your musicianship to the next level by careful attention to tone production. Online classical guitar lessons can help, too, as can taking lessons in a studio.

When choosing a studio or an online classical guitar lessons program, make sure that the instructors themselves produce tones that move their listeners’ hearts. Look at reviews from their concerts, and listen to their recorded works. In addition, they should have enough teaching experience to have a track record with respect to the quality of students they produce. Finally, be sure that the teachers have an engaging manner which enables them to explain the material to their students clearly, using the student’s own preferred learning style. Choose wisely, and you will be producing the kinds of tones that move your listeners’ hearts as well.
If you are looking for a studio to help you hone your classical guitar technique, or if you want to begin online classical guitar lessons, Los Angeles Guitar Academy would be a great place to start. With internationally-acclaimed performers on their faculty, LAGA specializes in the art of the classical guitar.
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