Methodology and Technique
By Naftali Lahav

This page presents material for study and improvement of playing.
The material was written for students who have studied at the Guitar Studio, and it deals with initial stages of teaching, using two methods.
In addition this page offers material dealing with musical expression, especially 7 etudes, which are actually seven pieces that can be played in a concert.
Finally, I will present four obligatory exercises used to increase playing speed. Each exercise has a different focus: passages, tremolos, arpeggios and legato.

 
A complete program for beginners designed to be studied through the Internet or by download the Play Guitar program straight into your Hard Disk as a setup installation file.

One sentence description of each chapters:
Prefatory chapter: "How to" -   How to hold the guitar, position the hands and pluck the strings.
Chapter I: Privatization - Elaborating the basic elements: plucking with the thumb, fingers, and using the left hand.
  Chapter II: Combining the basic elements using the sign script: thumb and fingers plucking the strings together and combining both hands.
Chapter III: Playing short pieces using the numeric system (TAB): Malaguena, Waltz, Blues and more.
Chapter IV: Learning the notes of the first position.
Chapter V: Studying pieces for your first performance (for family and friends). 
For more information about the method, enter to our concept page in the Play Guitar method.

MY FAVORITE GUITAR PIECES. Easy Arrangements for: Fur Elise by Beethoven, Spanish Romance, Minuet and Bourree by Bach, Sailing, Imagine, Old Mcdonald's Farm, Albeniz - Asturias...

MY FAVORITE GUITAR PIECES Vol. II.  Easy Arrangements ready for guitar students:  Greensleeves, Malaguena, Minutet by Krieger, Etude by Tarrega, Ode To Joy by Beethoven, A piece by N. Paganini and Wilensky

MY FAVORITE GUITAR PIECES Vol. III:  Easy Arrangements ready for guitar students: 
Help by the Beatles, Habanera, Musette by Bach, Mazurka, Memories From Brazil, The Hope, Spanish Waltz...  

Seven Etudes -A guide for the young guitar artist:
These are seven short etudes, each of a different nature. These etudes provide important material for learning to prepare a musical piece. They also make it possible to study musical elements. After learning the notes we can deal with understanding the nature of the piece, the sounds, the colors, the dynamics and other issues which the professional performer must deal with. The etudes are recommended as material for exams and concerts.
Here are two of them for examples:  Etude no. 1  Etude no. 6 

4 obligatory exercises for advanced students:
These exercises provide intensive practice of several advanced techniques. Each exercise is based on a relatively catchy theme, in order to enable the student to focus his efforts on developing technique and speed. After studying the exercises, there are some suggestions for variation in the right hand fingers in order to make the best of this exercise.

Each Obligatory exercise deals with a different technical aspects [Out of stock]
Exercise no. 1: Arpeggio -  a familiar Blues melody.
Exercise no. 2: Tremolo -  a melody played on the second string. 
Exercise no. 3: Legato - a sort of dialogue between the bass and soprano strings.
Exercise no. 4: Arpeggio - running broken chords along the soprano strings. This together with a single string scales practicing (major, natural minor) are making a great solo playing preparation for jazz, popular music, solo within a song or any improvisation style.

Etude for i-m-a [Advanced]
Two parts Etude, written in: A-B-A. Based on chromatic-passages and a tremolo.
An important technical piece for guitar teachers and advanced student, as we are having here a new concept for training the right hand fingering: The i-m-a fingers will plucked in cycles according to stabled patterns; and not according to the strings' heights order! [A must piece for every guitarist!]

Progressive exercises for your right hand
Fast and short, yet very effective right hand method.
The exercises are progressive from the very easy level up to where you can play tremolo.
The exercises are written in Tabs as basic patterns, so that you'll be able to develop your playing by adding bass's movements directions.
Recommended as a daily practicing for every guitar student and teacher. [Read more...]

Lahav's Guitar Scales
I. Pre-exercises for scales along a single string
II. Scales along a single string
III. Cross-vertical scales
IV. Scales from the basses 
V. Exceptions
VI. Harmonic & Melodic Minor
VII. Modes [Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian]
VIII. Pentatonic Scales
IX. Maqamat [Hijaz & Nakriz]        [Read more...]

Chords Arpeggios
One of the best ways to obtain advanced technique, master the guitar neck, and play guitar compositions at a higher level of ability and quality, is by practicing Chord Arpeggios. Just like scales and etudes, they should be practiced on a regular basis. Here is a new approach and concept recommended for advanced guitar students as well as guitar teachers! [Read more...]

  P-TUDE 
P-TUDE is an Etude written for your right hand thumb = p. That's where the name P-Tude - came from. 
Perpetuum mobile piece that will boost your p as it jumping in and between treble strings to bases.
Playing this piece daily, starting from very slowly then gradually increase your speed; will improve your technique dramatically!
Make sure your thumb = p  is flying while your right hand is free and lose and with no effort, yet make sure that your thumb is hitting the strings precisely. 

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