Carcassi Classical Guitar Method, New Revised Edition

by M. Carcassi

A new edition, Classical Guitar Method offers an elementary approach to playing the guitar. It provides a table of relative value of notes, definitions and explanations about the rudimentary elements of guitar playing such as scales and tempo. This is one of the most famous guitar method books for students and teachers!

Genres: Music

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1962

Reviews

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent method for learning how to play Classical Guitar. I've taught out of it for 30 years with excellent results. Lots of nice pieces arranged by keys, with a collection of additional material in the back of the book.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old method by one of the first generation of great classical guitar players and teachers to come out of Italy and Spain in the late 1700's and early 1800's. The text is kept to a minimum as Carcassi rightly focuses on providing exercises and pieces to build students' technique.
A unique characteristic of the book is Carcassi's introduction of scales. He explains that there are a grous of keys that work extremely well on the guitar, and he presents these first, moving around the circle of keys first for major keys and then minors. Each scale is given, followed by a cadence containing its principle chords, and then an exercise, a prelude, a waltz, and a piece. There are lots of marches, galops and rondos, as well as plenty simply labeled "Allegretto" or "Andantino."
Many methods would stop there, but Carcassi goes on to present all the remaining major and minor keys. During Carcassi's lifetime, these keys were almost never used for guitar compositions, but modern composers have made them more relevant as they explore the tonal colors and capabilities of the instrument.
Then there are sections on playing in higher positions; playing in thirds, sixths, octaves, and tenths; ornaments; and harmonics. The fifty exercises (often referred to as Op. 59, Part 3) are a treasure trove, and students will find that they are both pedagogically sound and wonderfully tuneful.
The book closes with longer solos, duets, and a few old chestnuts for singing with guitar accompaniment. It's unclear whether Carcassi included these in his original or if they were added by later editors or publishers.
Students working without a teacher are probably better with more current method books. But everyone can benefit from exploring Carcassi's music as it appears in this book. Some techniques, such as arpeggiating every chord, are no longer used. But this remains a well-regarded method book because of Carcassi's systemic approach and obvious skill at writing engaging pieces.

[Lucas Kendle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way to0 dated for today's beginning/intermediate player. I give it 3 stars because it was probably good for a certain time. There are a lot more explanatory modern classical guitar lesson books/videos out there.