Here’s a bit of ear-candy for you. it’s a very playable little arrangement of the famous William Tell Overture. [leadplayer_vid id=”5294A2BDBFE17″]
PDF Downloads: (right-click and “save as”–then download and print them out.)
William Tell Overture Solo (Intermediate Guitar) (No Fingering) A clean, one-page notation version with no fingering whatsoever–use this if you want to approach it fresh, and develop your ability to make fingering decisions. William Tell Overture Solo (Intermediate Classical Guitar) with suggested RH Fingering A one-page version with extensive suggested right hand and some left hand fingering. William Tell Overture Solo (Intermediate Classical Guitar) with Notation and Tab A two pager that has both musical notation and tablature. William Tell Overture Solo (Intermediate Classical Guitar) Tab Only A one page pdf with only tablature.
Instructionals
Video 1: Figuring Out Right Hand Fingering Figuring out what exactly to do with your right hand fingers can be frustrating and a bit irritating –“is it “i m i” or “m i m” ? Or maybe “p i p!” ? Does it even make a difference?” This piece is ideal for working on some of your Right Hand Fingering Issues. In a piece that needs to have some speed to it in order to really work, it’s a lot more important to get your mims and pips and imis clear and settled— a small change can make a big difference in both tempo and ease. It’s important to take some time to think about the fingering (see my pdf lesson about this here) (Tldr: using the musical phrases of the piece as decision points can be helpful as a memorable place to shift from m to i, or to repeat a finger) It’s also important to give your right hand fingerings some time to settle- as you work on the piece. Try out different things on different days–see what works and what doesn’t—for you–as it gets faster and faster. As I explain in this video, the ultimate decision comes down to one extremely simple factor: how does it feel? [leadplayer_vid id=”5294A3459CA64″]
Video 2: Dragging “m” and “i” in the Introduction
In this video I show you the free-stroke “dragging” technique I want you to use in the introduction to the piece: using your right hand fingers to play two strings at a time instead of one. [leadplayer_vid id=”5294A4135A4F4″]
Video 3: Places to use “p-i-p”
In this video I point out a few places where I find it useful to play “pip.” This can help your fingers to move to quickly between strings that are separated from each other without losing any speed. [leadplayer_vid id=”5294A46FB0A7E”]
Video 4: Fun and Adventures with Expressive Markings
Fermatas, Fortes, Pianissimos, Crescendos, and Rit – – – – ar – – – -da – – – n – – dos. What possibilities await you if you actually 1. Notice them 2. Try to follow them. [leadplayer_vid id=”5294A4BDA12D2″]
I really enjoy this! I have a question though. I have played guitar for maybe 15 years… Self taught, mostly by ear. I’ve tried to learn sight reading, but my sight itself isn’t that good. I have trouble focusing on the page and always lose my place. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Hi Shane—it would be hard for me to know exactly what’s going on for you without seeing it, but one thing that comes to mind is working at learning to trust your fingers to find the notes.
Most people lose their place on the page when they look at their hands.
But your hands can quite often find their own way given the chance, in fact when you’re sight reading, this is what you want to cultivate.
If they give you too much trouble, then you might have an inconsistent or unstable hand position, which you would want to work on too.
Hope that helps.