When I first got involved with the guitar I was only 7 years old. At that time "playing" and the guitar were very much the same thing.

It was the Sixties, though and you just could not escape Segovia's gigantic figure and all that it stood for in terms of the way you "were supposed" to hold the guitar, the way you "were supposed" to pluck the strings, the way you "were supposed" to file your nails, the way you "were supposed" to play a musical phrase... Having been a Segovia student myself, the whole process of finding my own way in the guitar world was rendered  even more difficult.

We all need models when we are giving our first steps in any walk of life. Having a guitar teacher must be a priority .... having a good guitar teacher must be a top priority. 

It has taken me  years to realize that the best teachers are those who guide us through our own natural, personal and unique way of playing. 

We must understand that when we try to copy a "guitarist" model, all that we can dream of, is to be able to play as well or nearly as well as the model. I've never met any guitarist perfect enough who would say "The guitar must be played the way I play it".

So, why do we keep imitating? The reason, once again, is that we have not had the good fortune of running across the sought after good teacher.

Look at these 3  right hands, and right-hand positions  by 3 uniquely famous guitarists....

A. Segovia

C. Parkening

F. Tárrega

It doesn't take more than a quick look to see that there is very little in common among them... still, their playing is simply beautiful. At the same time, we all have our musical taste and preferences... I may love Segovia's playing but ... yes,... but still I wish he didn't make so much noise with his left hand....or Parkening's but I wish he ......or you name it. 

I often think that the secret to all of these masters' playing is: do not take the guitar so "seriously"...yet, be a professional in your way of doing it. After all, it is not the Holy Bible we are dealing with. These masters' voice is not the voice of God but their own. This is the greatest teaching: To find our own voice with the help of a teacher.

I lived for over 2 decades in a country -Paraguay-  where 90 per cent of the guitar players are self taught folk players. I am constantly amazed at seeing how these players find their way around the most bizarre musical phrases. I sometimes think that they represent -without wanting to- a part of ourselves that has been partially lost or neglected.

This is a web site for all you guitar players and guitar lovers. I will keep the pages updated and always under construction. 

Real Audio is the streaming audio plug-in I've implemented since it has become so powerful and reliable.

I kindly ask you to please leave your impressions in the form of e-mails or by signing the guest book. It is the best way to leave a trace of your kind visit to these pages and it sure makes me very happy.

Continues here....