Archive for October, 2008
My arrangement of the Mario Brothers theme and Underwater Theme for classical guitar. If you like this, please check out my site at www.leetguitar.com and support me on myspace at www.myspace.com/alanlewis
Duration : 0:1:30
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Approaching Classical Guitars
By Dan Cross, About.com
I don’t know anything about classical guitars, or classical guitarists. I’m not afraid to admit it. I’ve owned a classical guitar for years, and play it every day, but playing “Sunshine of Your Love” on a classical guitar, I suspect, does not constitute being a classical guitarist. So, what better way, I figure, to learn about the artform, than to write a feature on it.
First things first – I’ve noticed that whenever I see classical guitarists play, they rest the guitar on their left leg, whereas most of us, when sitting, rest the guitar on our right. I’ve also noticed that classical guitarists use a strange sort of stool under their left foot when playing. And the angle of their guitar sort of points upwards. This is just about all I know about classical guitars technique; fortunately, Frank LaMonica knows more. His Total Classical Guitar Method web site explains the correct posture for the aspiring classical guitarist (there are some other great lessons on the site as well.)
Something else I’ve observed, when looking at classical guitars scores, is all of the funny little numbers and symbols around many of the notes. After a little digging, I found The Green Guitar Beginner’s Page, which explains in detail what these little symbols mean, as well as covering some more in depth topics.
Fingernails are impotant to classical guitarists. You can tell, just by listening to a classical guitarist play, that they use the nail, as well as the “meat” of the fingertip to pluck the strings of their guitar. This creates a wonderful depth to their tone; a soft warmth created by the fingertip, combined with the slightly more piercing sound created by the nail. If you want to convincingly play classical guitar music, you’ll have to grow your nails at least somewhat in your right hand. The Classical Guitars FAQ contains some informative details on fingernail grooming and care.
Now, on to the good stuff; the music. Fortunately for us, a lot of classical guitar music was written a long time ago, and has become “public domain”, which means it is not copyrighted. This, in turn, means that it can be published on the web, without danger of lawsuits. The Classical Guitar Music on the Web site has compiled a list of dozens of web resources for downloading classical guitar scores. Many of the sites allow you to hear the score via midi, as well as read and print the free sheet music.
Generally, in order to play a style of music well, one must learn the history of the music, and listen to the innovators of the genre. On the excellent Classical Guitars History web site is a well laid-out document on the guitar as it pertains to classical music. The site includes the important classical guitarists and composers of guitar music.
I feel I can safely say I know a bit more now about classical guitars than I did before I started writing this week’s feature, and I hope you all do too. Now, if I can only find a bit more time to practice it…
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Article Source http://guitar.about.com/od/classicalguitar/a/classic_guitar.htm
“Stairway to Heaven” is a song by the British rock group Led Zeppelin, composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant. I post this because many have asked me to do this. I normally don’t do requests! So please don’t ask again… LOL I had this old arrangement by Stan Ayeroff that I only used for students. I have changed some parts though… Love and peace! Per-Olov _________
LYRICS: There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed With a word she can get what she came for Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure And you know sometimes words have two meanings In a tree by the brook there’s a songbird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forest will echo with laughter And it makes me wonder If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow Don’t be alarmed now It’s just a spring clean for the May Queen Yes there are two paths you can go by but in the long run There’s still time to change the road you’re on Your head is humming and it won’t go in case you don’t know The piper’s calling you to join him Dear lady can’t you hear the wind blow and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed With a word she can get what she came for And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.
Duration : 0:5:8