Classical Guitar Lessons and Instruction
Comprehensive Guide to Classical Guitar Technique
Douglas Niedt's (pronounced "neet") mission is to make you a better classical guitarist.
Online classical guitar instruction and lessons on the Internet since 2002.
New!
Play It Like a Pro: SOUNDS OF THE BELLS (Sons de Carrilhões)
By João Pernambuco
This is the ultimate tutorial on how to play this beloved piece.
Includes:
Four Books of Instruction (253 pages) covering fingering, technique, groove, interpretation, form & analysis, and how to "trick out" your interpretation to give your performance a "vibe" of spontaneity and improvisatory flair.
92 Videos containing 6 hours of measure-by-measure detailed instruction.
Seven Scores (PDFs) in standard notation, standard notation plus TAB, and TAB only.
Girl from Ipanema—António Carlos Jobim Arranged by Douglas Niedt
The famous song is a bossa nova classic—a gentle fusion of cool jazz and Brazilian samba. It is one of the sexiest songs ever written, a masterclass in consensual seduction.
Standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. $10.00
Advanced arrangement as played by Christopher Parkening, arranged by Rick Foster and revised by Douglas Niedt.
Includes standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. $6.00
Blackbird—The Paul McCartney (Beatles) classic Arranged by Douglas Niedt
Most arrangements of "Blackbird" only include the guitar accompaniment without the melody. Others make a lame attempt to combine the two. This arrangement is unique. It preserves most of the notes and right-hand technique that Paul McCartney used for his iconic guitar accompaniment, it contains the complete melody as an independent part on top of the guitar accompaniment part, the original harmony is not changed, and the phrasing of the melody, as sung by McCartney, is retained. Standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. $10.00
The sheet music package includes TWO beautiful arrangements of the Beatles classic. The ADVANCED version retains McCartney's bass lines, harmonies, and the guitar parts. The INTERMEDIATE version simplifies the bass line and is more fingerstyle-friendly throughout. Both versions are in standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. $10.00
Doug has TWO amazing arrangements of "Amazing Grace." The Gospel-Blues Version has adventurous harmonies and is for intermediate and advanced players. The Easier Traditional Version is meditative and gentle but powerful. Standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. Standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. $10.00
The "Theme from Peter Gunn" was cool before cool was invented.
The song is over sixty years old, and it still completely rocks. Standard notation, standard notation + tab, and tab only. $10.00
Largo (Antonio Vivaldi) arranged for Solo Guitar by Douglas Niedt
In this standalone arrangement for solo guitar, Doug added bass notes from Vivaldi's bass part plus filled in the harmony from the continuo accompaniment and violin parts. It is beautiful on its own without any accompaniment. However, should you need orchestral accompaniment, Doug provides 10 REAL orchestra tracks at different tempos. And IT'S ALL FREE!
Canarios, by Gaspar Sanz, has always been a favorite piece of mine. I made a fantastic Canarios webpage for you. It has four super arrangements of the song (Williams, Parkening, Bream, and Bonell), videos, a 28-minute video tutorial on adding rasgueados to the piece, the original manuscripts, and lots of fascinating information. And IT'S ALL FREE!
La Paloma—by Sebastián Yradier as played by Pepe Romero
"La Paloma" (The Dove) is the most recorded Spanish song in history. This delightful arrangement by Pepe Romero is based upon that by Francisco Tárrega. The free 55-page PDF includes the Romero arrangement, Tárrega's arrangement, Tárrega's handwritten manuscript, versions in the key of A major, and much more. IT'S ALL FREE!
Learn to play pieces on a professional level with the PLAY IT LIKE A PRO™ series. The tutorial packages will show you exactly what to do to play each piece with pro-level execution.
This is detailed and comprehensive classical guitar instruction you won't find anywhere else.
New!
Play It Like a Pro: SOUNDS OF THE BELLS (Sons de Carrilhões)
By João Pernambuco
This is the ultimate tutorial on how to play this beloved piece.
Includes:
Four Books of Instruction (253 pages) covering fingering, technique, groove, interpretation, form & analysis, and how to "trick out" your interpretation to give your performance a "vibe" of spontaneity and improvisatory flair.
92 Videos containing 6 hours of measure-by-measure detailed instruction.
Seven Scores (PDFs) in standard notation, standard notation plus TAB, and TAB only.
PURCHASE AN ALL-ACCESS PASS
TO THE VAULT OF CLASSICAL GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIPS
"Hello Mr Niedt, My name's Gretchen, and I'm so happy I purchased an All-Access Pass to the Vault. I love your awesome technique tips. I'm amazed how much I have improved my playing. Thank you!"
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR PROVEN STRATEGIES
THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER GUITARIST?
Check out the game-changing tips in my Vault of Technique Tips—I promise they will kick your playing up to the next level.
Purchase an All-Access Pass to the Vault.
It's a one-time purchase of only $36!
You receive full access to:
Over 180 technique tips in The Vault.
Special arrangements of Christmas music
Arrangement of the beautiful Celtic song, Skellig
Comprehensive guide, How to Master the Classical Guitar Tremolo
The Best Classical Guitar Instruction
and Classical Guitar Lessons on the Internet
Have you been playing the classical guitar but not making the progress you desire?
Want to accomplish a lot more during the time you have to practice?
Are the pieces you are playing just not getting any better?
Do you need solid guidance to kick your playing up to a higher level?
I CAN HELP!
My PLAY IT LIKE A PRO™ is a series of classical guitar lessons that will teach you to play pieces at a professional level.
My Classical Guitar Technique Tips are of a level and quality you won't find anywhere else. Read and follow them and you will become a much better classical guitarist.
Online Live Video Lessons. These classical guitar lessons are for everyone, from the weekend hacker to the advanced player. Learn from a master teacher with over 50 years of teaching experience.
The Ultimate Note Recognition Trainer and Introduction to Music Notation. The most in-depth Note Recognition Course on the planet. And it's FREE! Begin your journey on the road to Guitar Fretboard Literacy. Learn to recognize the notes on the musical staff and the basics of music notation.
The Ultimate Fretboard Trainer. The most in-depth Fretboard Training Course on the planet. And it's FREE! It is time to learn your fretboard once and for all. The Ultimate Fretboard Trainer teaches you the notes' locations on the fretboard AND what they look like on the musical staff. Begin your journey on the road to Guitar Fretboard Literacy now.
Sit In With The Rhythm Section. Free specialized rhythm training for the classical guitarist. Deeply internalize a sense of steady time so you can "Hold a Tempo" and "Play In The Pocket". Over 100 free video exercises.
I give you my No-Risk, Nothing-to-Lose, Money-Back Guarantee on anything you purchase on my website. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, I will refund your money. Just tell me why you didn't like it so I can make it better for others."
Douglas Niedt is a successful concert and recording artist and highly respected master classical guitar teacher with 50 years of teaching experience. He is Associate Professor of Music (retired), at the Conservatory of Music and Dance, University of Missouri-Kansas City and retired Fellow of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management—Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Doug studied with such diverse masters as Andrés Segovia, Pepe Romero, Christopher Parkening, Narciso Yepes, Oscar Ghiglia, and Jorge Morel. Therefore, Doug provides solutions for you from a variety of perspectives and schools of thought.
He gives accurate, reliable advice that has been tested in performance on the concert stage that will work for you at home.
Douglas Niedt's GUITAR FRETBOARD LITERACY PROJECT
Yes, you can learn to play the guitar by only reading tablature or playing by ear. But when you confidently know the notes on your fretboard and know what they look like on the musical staff, your musical life will be more fulfilling, and you will be more confident in yourself and your musical abilities. Doug offers two FREE courses to start you on your journey to fretboard literacy.
and Introduction to Music Notation. The most in-depth Note Recognition Course on the planet. And it's FREE! Learn to recognize the notes on the musical staff and the basics of music notation.
The most in-depth Fretboard Training Course on the planet. And it's FREE! It is time to learn your fretboard once and for all. The Ultimate Fretboard Trainer teaches you the notes' locations on the fretboard AND what they look like on the musical staff. This is not a game. It focuses on education and deep learning.
This is the new "lite" version of my deep-learning Ultimate Fretboard Trainer course. Like the comprehensive course, the "lite" version teaches you to connect the names of the notes on the fretboard to what each note looks like on the musical staff. FREE!
Doug's Arrangements and Sheet Music
In Heavenly Peace, beautiful arrangements from Doug's wonderful Christmas CD
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