Beginner here trying to learn Cavatina. I feel that it’s way over my head, but want to challenge myself by stepping into the “tour de force" territory. I am taking it very slow, bar by bar; however, I am hopelessly stuck at bar 5 and can’t make the spread. This is after trying for about 3 to 4 weeks off and on. Any suggestions? Is this too difficult for a beginner? Thanks for any comments.
I'm just practicing the intro so far. Getting used to learning from tabs, takes a bit longer that way so making sure I can remember it before moving on. Would be good to see you play if you've recorded it?
Bar 30 - too difficult maintaining high E with the accompaniment and placing the second finger on the third string. Have to release the high E to be able to do that.
Alex
Awesome - thanks for sharing your performance. You are much further along than I am and I'm sure it will sound even better as time passes. I wish I could nail the ending Barr chords as well as you.
Alex - been working on your suggestion, "instead of placing both 2nd and 3rd fingers at once, place the 3rd finger first to play the C#, and then the 2nd finger on the 3th string for the E.", and it is starting to work for me - many thanks! When I play the E on the 3rd string, my index finger no longer bars, so I play the remaining A, E, A without barring the E or A string - it's cheating and I hope hope I'm not off to starting another bad habit. But, I still can't maintain a bar at the 7th while playing that E on the 3rd. Similarly, On the first bar, I don't bar the E or A.
Tavi - I agree, but I'm going to use this as a "push" practice piece. I'm also thinking about going back to normal tension strings. Great tutorial - thanks!
Probably a good idea to build up to that piece. Cavatina is one of the most exhausting pieces to learn and requires a lot of effort to the bar chords. One student entitled it "Baratina"
Nathan - its bar 5. And, I agree with you. I am going to stick to beginner level pieces and make Cavatina a long term project. Thanks for your response.
Alex - great recommendations from you that I will try. You have described my problem perfectly and I really appreciate the level of detail you have provided - thanks!
Hey Kevin,
I have small sausage fingers and struggled with that bar too. For bar 5 there are two things that made it easier:
first was to fret each note only as it comes up - ie. instead of placing both 2nd and 3rd fingers at once, place the 3rd finger first to play the C#, and then the 2nd finger on the 3th string for the E. I find this helps a little because placing both fingers at once turns your hand too much and lifts the index finger from the barre.
Second is to use the motion of the 3rd and 2nd fingers coming down onto the string to increase your hand and arm weight on the chord so you can pull down into the chord more each time. i find if you start your index finger higher up the 7th fret and barring using the side of the finger, you can roll it onto the flat front of the finger as your 3rd and 2nd finger come down to help with that "pulling" sensation
Let me know if you have trouble visualizing this and i could try to post a video
Alex
I can't maintain the bar on the 7th while trying to hit the E on the G string. Nathan, wow! An hour and a half to learn Adelita, nice! I should try and go back to that. As usual, for me, I always get stuck with a part that just seems impossible and, perhaps wrongly, I move on to something else. So I what I have is a repertoire of fragments - incomplete pieces. I have made good progress on Lagrima, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desirings, and Romanza so that keeps me motivated. Nathan, I wish you much success with Tango en Skai. Thanks folks for your comments.
Which particular notes give you the most trouble?
I think having a ‘challenge’ piece is a great idea by the way. No piece is over your head if you take it slowly and stepwise