Session 13 is the first of our final three lessons from our Blitzing Your Fingerstyle guitar series. This session is all about mastering arpeggiating patterns. You can create fantastic rolling sequences that are full of beautiful harmony, lilting melodies captured within the chords themselves and emotion that feels almost film like. Whenever I am asked to write something that encapsulates these ideas, this is the technique I come to.
One of the most important techniques classical guitar can give you is the ability to really master a flowing arpeggiating picking hand. You can create fantastic rolling sequences that are full of beautiful harmony, lilting melodies captured within the chords themselves and emotion that feels almost film like. Whenever I am asked to write something that encapsulates emotion and can be used in a film or for a soaring classical vocalist, this is the technique I come to.
We will be focusing on one of the world’s most famous versions of AVE MARIA, the Charles Gounod and Johann Sebastian Bach composition. The chords move through a delightful sequence soaked in tension and resolve. The use of diatonic chords mixed with passing diminished chords and 7ths leads to something truly spectacular. It contains a few awkward chords that will require accurate fingering and technique. But once you get control of these areas you will have a piece worthy of a performance.
I’ve performed this version so many times across the past 3 decades and it always brings a quiet to the concert hall. If time allows we will also go through the lead vocal melody that I have arranged for lead guitar. Our version goes a bit further than the one shown in the video. This will allow you to record the arpeggio sequence and then try laying the melody over the top..
Here is a video of the AVE MARIA we will learn.
An example of the materials is available as a course overview attachment.
Session 13 – See above
Session 14 – will look at how to play a beautiful melody using fingerstyle technique. We will be learning the piece WAVE by Carlos Jobim.
Session 15 – will show you how to maximise drop D tuning, taking three well known songs as examples.
The level is ideal for players who want to:
As a guide you should be familiar with:
Things you won’t need to know (but you should definitely not ignore them):
By default, you’ll start every session with complete anonymity i.e. with your mic muted and your camera switched off. You have total control of these at your end.
You can ask questions at any time:
It’s all very friendly and there isn’t such a thing as a daft question – they usually lead to deep, interesting streams of very relevant stuff!
If you want to come along but can’t make the sessions just book in and you’ll receive the full materials and lesson video.
BUT this shouldn’t put you off booking in as you’ll receive the full materials including the video of the complete live session.
Start slowly – if you decide to book just one Level but then become interested in other Levels or even the Complete Series, just buy them on the website.