Here is an explanation of what exercises are effective for sweep picking! Download the free PDF for you to practice at home.

Ritsuka plays "Il Bianco Fiore", by Cesare Negri (c.1535-c.1605), accompanied by her teacher Giovanni on the Renaissance lute. Great job,...

Happy Birthday to Adrian Smith who turns 64 today. Adrian is best known as being the lead guitarist for Iron Maiden. Here Giovanni plays...

The studies of the Italian guitarist Matteo Carcassi (1792 – 1853) are a stable of classical guitarists. Study Op. 60, No. 1 is an...

At The American Guitar Academy, we pride ourselves in being able to adapt to the needs and wishes of each student. We know that no two...

This study combines slurs (hammer-ons and pull-offs) with the challenge of keeping another left-hand finger in place. This makes is a...

Fusako plays an arrangement of the beautiful song "Hana" (flower) by the Okinawan singer Kina Shoukichi. This arrangement for solo guitar...

Dionisio Aguado (1784 – 1849) was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer. His Nuevo método para guitarra is a great source of...

Guitarists often use altered tunings in order to achieve different sounds and sonorities. Most tunings involve lowering the pitch of a...

John Dowland (1563 – 1626) was an English lutenist, composer and singer. His compositions were very popular in his lifetime and continue...

Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806 – 1856) was an Austro-Hungarian guitarist and composer from the city of Pressburg (now Bratislava). This short...

Here is another study by the French guitarist Napoléon Coste (1805 – 1883). It's an excellent introduction to playing in higher...

This short piece is by the Italian Baroque guitarist Carlo Calvi (c.1610-1670). It's a fun piece to play and provides a great opportunity...

Here is another simple but beautiful study by the Spanish guitarist and composer Francisco Tárrega (1852 – 1909). This study provides a...

The Spanish guitarist Francisco Tárrega (1852 – 1909) is often known as the father of the classical guitar. Most of his pieces are quite...

This study is in A minor but "modulates" (changes key) to A major in the middle section, giving it an uplifting, joyful feel. Notice...

In this study, try to hold the bass notes for the correct length. In the first section, this means holding the C (bars 4-5), and in other...

This elegant study includes arpeggios in which the thumb plays two strings consecutively. Fernando Sor's right hand technique was based...

This study is based on open strings and is a very good study for the right hand. Use the tip of the thumb to mute any unwanted ringing...

This beautiful little study is in the unusual (for guitar) key of C minor. However, it is not especially challenging to play. Aim to get...