Lesson Materials

Below is a list of all of the required and recommended material and suggested equipment for my private studio guitar lessons!

• Required Textbook/Instructional Material

  REQUIRED MATERIAL:

  • Solo Guitar Playing, Book 1, Frederick M. Noad

  • Manuscript Staff Paper Notebook

  • Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Complete

  Suggested Material for Further Progression:

  • Technical Development

    • 120 Studies for Right Hand Development, Mauro Giuliani

    • Kitharologus, The Path to Virtuosity: A Technical Workout Manual for All Guitarists, Ricardo Iznaola

    • Pumping Nylon: The Classical Guitarist's Technique Handbook, Scott Tennant

    • Classic Guitar Technique: Supplement 1: Slur, Ornament, and Reach Development Exercises, Aaron Shearer

  • Studies:

    • 20 Studies for Guitar, Andres Segovia

  • How To Practice:

    • Ricardo Iznaola On Practicing: A Manual for Students of Guitar Performance, Ricardo Iznaola

• Required Accessories/Equipment

  Required Equipment:

  • Guitar Tuner: D'Addario Micro Headstock Tuner

  • Music Stand

  • Foot Stool

  • Guitar Cushion (OPTIONAL)

  Optional Accessories:

  • Cases/Gig Bags

    • Cahaya Gig Bag

    • 3/4 Size Cordoba Gig Bag

  • Nail Care:

    • Oasis Nail Shaper Pack

  • Guitar Strings:

    • Kyle is an Augustine Strings Ambassador and plays on Augustine Regal Blue Strings

• Guitar Recommendation

  Beginner (Children 5-10 years old)

  • Yamaha CGS102A 1/2 Size

  • Yamaha CGS103All 3/4 Size

  • Cordoba Cadete 3/4 Size

  Beginner (10+ years old)

  • Cordoba C1M Protégé

  • Yamaha C40II

  • Yamaha CG122MSH Solid Spruce

  • Cordoba C3M

  Intermediate

  • Cordoba C7 CD

  • Yamaha CG192C

  • Cordoba C9 CD/MH

How to Take Care of Your Instrument

• Daily

  Humidity

  • When not in use, rest humidifiers inside the soundhole between the strings and store in an enclosed case.

  • Ideal humidity levels for wood instruments are between 40% to 60% humidity

  • Oasis Humidifier

  Case

  • Protect your instrument from accidental damage by storing it in an enclosed case for transportation and everyday use.

• Weekly

  Changing Your Strings

  • With regular practice on your guitar, your strings should be replaced around every 2-4 weeks depending on the eventual wear of your strings

  Refill Humidier packs/tubes

  • Depending on your choice of humidification, you must refill your humidifier every few weeks with DISTILLED water.

• Yearly

  Cleaning your Fretboard

  • Wipe and remove dirt buildup on your fretboard by using Fingerboard Cleaner oil and scrub with a clean rag or cloth.

• NEVER

  • NEVER place heavy objects on the body or soundboard

  • NEVER hold the instrument from the body, also have one hand on the neck of the guitar

  • NEVER play your instrument without washing your hands first! Your strings and fretboard are highly susceptible to dirt buildup over time!

  • NEVER drop anything into the body of the guitar. It will get stuck and difficult to remove!

Playing Position

Hand Diagram

Right Hand

Playing Posture

• KEY POINTS: →

  • Back straight

  • Shoulders aligned

  • Left leg elevated

  • Elbow on top***

  • Both your head and headstock should align

Note Production

The CAGED System

C Pattern

C Pattern

A Pattern

A Pattern

G Pattern

E Pattern (a.k.a. F Pattern)

E Pattern

D Pattern

D Pattern