Mickeypood - as a beginner myself, I found that going through Tavi's Beginning level technique package, slowly, was the right choice for me. I had started off with a poor foundation and developed very bad habits which are now difficult for me to "un-learn". I am forcing myself to really pay attention to the tutorials on left and right hand technique as well as posture. I am also ditching the footstool for an ErgoPlay so I can practice without my back hurting. Hope this helps!

I also wanted to add that, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, was extremely difficult for me to learn in spite of the great tutorial from Tavi. Some of the stretches are impossible for me as well as the tempo. I went back to Lagrima because I could actually see myself making progress.

I've been playing guitar what seems like forever and still find classical to be quite difficult. I also find it to be one of the most enjoyable styles because of the depth of its beauty. Do you devote some of your practice time devoted solely to technique such as arpeggios and scales? I spend some time every practice session on technique development. The videos help a lot I picked up a pointer from Ines on tremolo yesterday that I feel is going to be a game changer for me to develop that technique.

Diana

Thanks for your input. I agree with your assessments on relative difficulty in this set. I thought parkingtoms pound is about right for beginner level and maybe sir etude 5 as beginner/intermediate. I cannot play it through more from the right hand arpagio emphasis. I am left handed and have some difficulty controlling my right hand. I also want to say that Ines Thomé was great in her instruction.

I am not a complete beginner. I used to play a little years ago but stopped due to work and travel. I never got to an intermediate level. I got discourage because I was always attempting to play pieces that were too difficult. I do not want this to happen again which is why I commented about the level of these beginner pieces on the elite guitarist site. So there is about 2 or three pieces I feel I should be learning at my level and it just does not seem to be enough instruction for a yearly membership. I hope there will be more content so so I can practice at the level I should.

I like the commentary on playing with tone and color but I cannot do this if I cannot get the technical part down smoothly and consistently.

Thanks for the feedback to my comment.

Also, Mickeypood, of the pieces in the beginning rep., I found Sor's Andante and Packington's Pound the 'easiest'(and in that order)....and they are included in Parkening's Vol 1. I found the large shifts in Lagrima challenging.....and just listening/watching De Visee's Prelude, I won't attempt it yet. And I found Sor's Estudio 5 easier than Jesu.....but that might just be a personal aptitude kind of thing....

I totally agree Diana! The beginning Parkening method Vol. 1 is a great resource. The instructors at EliteGuitarist have been thinking and planning the development of a full, comprehensive beginner level curriculum. We have been discussing and sharing ideas about the best ways to do this. Over the next few months we will share more details but this curriculum would be a guitar method in video format. From learning how to read music, to basic exercises and drills, to beginner-level repertoire. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

Hi Mickeypood,

I so sympathize!! I just 'finished' working on Jesu a few weeks ago, and was not very satisfied with my 'end' result! I will want to try it again in another 6 months! I have been playing for about 2 years, and I think these 'beginning' pieces are quite challenging. I tried Lagrima about 9 months ago, and am thinking I might like to try it again now.

Sometimes I think we just have to put some mileage in on this wonderful instrument, understanding that these early attempts are just that.....our early attempts. We are not creating a performance repertoire, rather we are just putting in the mileage, and gaining experience.

You might think about getting The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Vol 1, or Aaron Shearer Classical Guitar Technique method book. One of these in conjunction with Tavi's Beginning level technique package would be very helpful. I started with the books, without the tutorial technique videos.....it would have been so very helpful to have had the videos when I started.

Hi Mickeypood,

It's been challenging to come up with a general classification system for our tutorial videos. I suppose that we could assign a difficulty number on a scale of 1-10, although even that classification system is highly subjective from the very start. Some of our tutorials are easy enough to play for a student who has a few weeks of practice invested in that particular tutorial (Andante by Sor, for example). Others require a few months of guitar experience before being able to play them (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, for example). Some pieces are right on the verge of crossing into intermediate level repertoire but they do not come to the difficulty level of intermediate level repertoire.

Seeing that you have signed up for a membership package just about a week ago, I want to encourage you to be patient with yourself and give yourself the time and space to grow. None of these pieces will yield their goods within a short amout of time. Our brains process information over time and progress becomes obvious over longer periods of time. I would be happy to talk to you more and offer some practical tips; feel free to take me up on it and we could have a Skype conversation. I really want you to succeed and I think that part of that success is to be patient with yourself and adjust your goals to the more realistic way in which most classical guitarists grow in skill. If I just picked up the classical guitar a week ago, I woudn't be able to play much at all... YET but with some dilligence and good will I will be better in a few weeks! Be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey!

Any other students or teachers who can offer some insight, are invited to enter the conversation!