Classical Guitars a dying trend???

jon_baptist_89

Seems so to me.
I bet i'm the only one here that plays the classical guitar.
Somebody please prove me wrong.
Don't wanna be alone...

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

I started out on clasical guitar and moved on to electric. Now I am looking around for a good clasical guitar for on stage. Godin is a good bet I guess.

As for the style of playing, I love it, but have no time to practice clasical guitar as all of the other things consume my time. I have several cd's with clasical guitar music and love to listen!

markm2553 · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:55 am Post subject:

I think the "gut string" guitar is making a come back, I see several in country music now, when they do an "unplugged" kind of thing.

As for clasical style, it will always be around, I have never had a lot of interest, but it's my own lack of knowledge. And I don't know anyone that plays that style, so I have personal influence, if that makes since?
But it is wonderful sounding music.

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

Jon-i still play some classical. In high school i fell in love with a Steve Howe piece called "Mood for a Day" from the Yes album Fragile. I learned it and some simple Bach minuets. I enjoy playing songs where i work out the melody while making the chord changes...anything from Beatles songs to old show tunes.

PunkStar · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:25 pm Post subject:

Tommy Emmanuel still draws quite a crowd when he plays, and that is the style he focuses on these days. Well, technically it's modern fingerpicking, but some of it still have that classical feel. And I still listen occasionally to Sapphire (the Australian Classical Guitar Quartet). Slava Gregorian specifically in that band has received significant notice from the mainstream here for his classical works. I think there is also a big festival here on fingerpicking and classical playing as well. I also noticed that one of the big guitar stores in my city is keeping a few more higher-end classical guitars for people that want a classical that is better than the standard beginner.

Classical doesn't seem to be dying here in Australia. It just might not be as popular as other styles though. I think it's mostly the kids that want to start playing electrics from what they see in video clips. But then their guitar teachers expand their minds to some other styles and players and interest grows from the narrow rock only perspective often shown in media today. I think classical is something that takes some exposure from others, but once people see it's value and skill, they realize it's a good style too.

As for the old nylon string. I guess most of us still use them as the stepping stone for new players to test determination and build strength for the less comfortable steel strings. But I like the sound of steel for what I play. It just comes down to what works for you I guess.

jon_baptist_89 · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:22 am Post subject:

Thank God!
Well, in Malaysia, people give you that blank stare when the conversation goes like:

Jon: So i play the guitar.

Somebody: Cool! So you play rock, jazz, etc.?

Jon: Just classical pieces.

Somebody: (blank look) ok... right...

(conversation changes direction, although blank stares continues)

kinda frustrating when you see other guys becoming more popular just because the songs they play are more recognized and common than pieces by Bach, Dowland, or Carcassi.

i mean, ok, songs sound good, but audience just can't seem to appreciate the music. All except the audience of one.

KY Ratshooter · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 7:03 am Post subject:

Looking down the location list is a real blast! Indianna, Texas, Australia, Maylasia! Wow!

Now Kentucky (people looking across the river from Ohio call it the promised land)

Classical guitar and an audience of 1.

That happens to me a lot. I play a lot of diferent styles but I find that when I want to pray intently I do it best with a guitar in my hands and almost invariably I find myself on autopilot, slowly fingerpicking chord progressions in minor keys. For this reason I keep a classical guitar on hand.

The mellow tones and relaxing pace are a boon to my prayer life. I find that many other players do the same thing, praying while playing. Some have never learned any classical forms and have never played a nylon or gut strung instrument.

Classical guitar has not died, it just has not been discovered by many people that will someday enjoy it.