Carcassi Arpeggio Studies
 Hi, GMC! Some of you requested me for right hand lessons, so I picked up the famous Carcassi arpeggio studies.
Matteo Carcassi was 19th century guitarist from Italy, and he enjoyed international success in France and Germany. His classical guitar method became so popular, and it’s still in use.
When I started the classical guitar, I used to practice these everyday. Original studies include 22 arpeggio patterns. I have chosen 12 among them.
In the following lessons, I am showing 2 patterns each at a half tempo. Study them until you memorize. The left hand is simple C and G7 chord. If you get tired of it, you can change them to whatever chord you like. I often do my arpeggio exercises with open strings. It doesn’t sound pleasant, but I can focus on the right hand without tiring my left hand.
In each arpeggio pattern, I am showing "PLANTING" pattern.
Planting is an essential technique for secure and smooth right hand movement.
At first, those planting patterns may drive you crazy, but once you master them, you will be amazed how much you can control your finger and move them fast!
In general, your right hand must be steady, and only your thumb and fingers should be moving from the knuckle joints.
Work hard!
|
Arpeggio #1 & #2
E||--------0--------0--------0--------0--|--------1--------1--------1--------1----||
B||-----1--------1--------1--------1-----|-----0--------0--------0--------0-------||
G||-----------0-----------------0--------|-----------0-----------------0--------*-||
D||--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------*-||
A||--3-----------------3-----------------|----------------------------------------||
E||--------------------------------------|--3-----------------3-------------------||
------0--------0--------0--------0-----|-----1--------1--------1--------1-------||
---------1--------1--------1--------1--|--------0--------0--------0--------0----||
*-----------0-----------------0--------|-----------0-----------------0--------*-||
*--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------*-||
---3-----------------3-----------------|----------------------------------------||
---------------------------------------|--3-----------------3-------------------|| |
#1: p-i-m
As you play "p", prepare (or plant) "i" and "m" on 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "m" on 1st string.
Play "m" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
#2: p-m-i
As you play "p", plant "i" and "m" on 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "m", leaving "i" on 2nd string.
Play "i" and plant "p" for the next cycle
m = middle finger
i = index finger
p = thumb
|
Arpeggio #3 & #4
-------0-------0-------0-------0---|------1-------1-------1-------1-----||
-----1---1---1---1---1---1---1---1-|----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---||
*----------0---------------0-------|----------0---------------0-------*-||
*----------------------------------|----------------------------------*-||
---3---------------3---------------|------------------------------------||
-----------------------------------|--3---------------3-----------------||
-----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-|----1---1---1---1---1---1---1---1---||
-------1-------1-------1-------1---|------0-------0-------0-------0-----||
*----------0---------------0-------|----------0---------------0-------*-||
*----------------------------------|----------------------------------*-||
---3---------------3---------------|------------------------------------||
-----------------------------------|--3---------------3-----------------|| |
#3: p-i-m-i
As you play "p", plant "i" and "m" on 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "m" on 1st string.
Play "m" and plant "i" on 2nd string.
Play "i" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
#4: p-m-i-m
As you play "p", plant "i" and "m" on 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "m", leaving "i" on 2nd string.
Play "i" and plant "m" on 1st string.
Play "m" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
m = middle finger
i = index finger
p = thumb |
Arpeggio #5 & #6
---------0-----------------0-----------|--------1-----------------1-------------||
------------------1-----------------1--|-----------------0-----------------0----||
*-----0--------0--------0--------0-----|-----0--------0--------0--------0-----*-||
*-----------2-----------------2--------|-----------0-----------------0--------*-||
---3-----------------3-----------------|----------------------------------------||
---------------------------------------|--3-----------------3-------------------||
------0-----------------0--------------|-----1-----------------1----------------||
---------------1-----------------1-----|--------------0-----------------0-------||
*--------0--------0--------0--------0--|--------0--------0--------0--------0--*-||
*-----------2-----------------2--------|-----------0-----------------0--------*-||
---3-----------------3-----------------|----------------------------------------||
---------------------------------------|--3-----------------3-------------------|| |
#5: p-i-a-p-i-m
As you play "p", plant "i" and "a" on 3rd and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a" and plant "p".
As you play "p", plant "i" and "m" on 3rd and 2nd sting.
Then play "i", leaving "m" on 2nd string.
Play "m" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
#6: p-a-i-p-m-i
As you play "p", plant "i" and "a" on 3rd and 1st sting.
Then play "a", leaving "i" on 3rd string.
Play "i" and plant "p".
As you play "p", plant "i" and "m" on 3rd and 2nd sting.
Then play "m", leaving "i" on 3rd string.
Play "i" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
a = ring finger
m = middle finger
i = index finger
p = thumb |
Arpeggio #7 & #8
------------0-----------------0--------|-----------1-----------------1----------||
---------1-----1-----------1-----1-----|--------0-----0-----------0-----0-------||
*-----0-----------0-----0-----------0--|-----0-----------0-----0-----------0--*-||
*--------------------2-----------------|--------------------0-----------------*-||
---3-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------||
---------------------------------------|--3-------------------------------------||
------------0-----------------0--------|-----------1-----------------1----------||
------1-----------1-----1-----------1--|-----0-----------0-----0-----------0----||
*--------0-----0-----------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----------0-----0-----*-||
*--------------------2-----------------|--------------------0-----------------*-||
---3-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------||
---------------------------------------|--3-------------------------------------|| |
#7: p-i-m-a-m-i
As you play "p", plant "i", "m" and "a" on 3rd,, 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "m" and "a" on 2nd and 1st string.
Play "m", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a", plant "m" on 2nd sting.
Play "m", plant "i" on 3rd sting.
Play "i" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
#8: p-m-i-a-i-m
As you play "p", plant "i", "m" and "a" on 3rd,, 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "m", leaving "i" and "a" on 3rd and 1st string.
Play "i", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a", plant "i" on 3rd sting.
Play "i", plant "m" on 2nd sting.
Play "m" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
a = ring finger
m = middle finger
i = index finger
p = thumb |
Arpeggio #9 & #10
---------0-------0-------0-------0-|--------1-------1-------1-------1---||
-------1-------1-------1-------1---|------0-------0-------0-------0-----||
*----0-------0-------0-------0-----|----0-------0-------0-------0-----*-||
*----------2---------------2-------|----------0---------------0-------*-||
---3---------------3---------------|------------------------------------||
-----------------------------------|--3---------------3-----------------||
-------0-------0-------0-------0---|------1-------1-------1-------1-----||
---------1-------1-------1-------1-|--------0-------0-------0-------0---||
*----0-------0-------0-------0-----|----0-------0-------0-------0-----*-||
*----------2---------------2-------|----------0---------------0-------*-||
---3---------------3---------------|------------------------------------||
-----------------------------------|--3---------------3-----------------|| |
#9: p-i-m-a
As you play "p", plant "i", "m" and "a" on 3rd,, 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "m" and "a" on 2nd and 1st string.
Play "m", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
#10: p-i-a-m
As you play "p", plant "i" and "a" on 3rd, and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a", plant "m" on 2nd sting.
Play "m" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
a = ring finger
m = middle finger
i = index finger
p = thumb |
Arpeggio #11 & #12
-----------0---------------0-------|----------1---------------1---------||
-------1-------1-------1-------1---|------0-------0-------0-------0-----||
*----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-|----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-*-||
*----------------------------------|----------------------------------*-||
---3---------------3---------------|------------------------------------||
-----------------------------------|--3---------------3-----------------||
---------0---------------0---------|--------1---------------1-----------||
-----1-----1---------1-----1-------|----0-----0---------0-----0---------||
*------0-----0---0-----0-----0---0-|------0-----0---0-----0-----0---0-*-||
*--------------2---------------2---|--------------0---------------0---*-||
---3---------------3---------------|------------------------------------||
-----------------------------------|--3---------------3-----------------||
--0----------------||
--1----------------||
--0----------------||
-------------------||
--3----------------||
-------------------|| |
#11: p-i-m-i-a-i-m-i
As you play "p", plant "i", "m" and "a" on 3rd,, 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "i", leaving "m" and "a" on 2nd and 1st string.
Play "m" and plant "i" on 3rd string, leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "i", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a", plant "i" on 3rd sting.
Play "i", plant "m" on 2nd sting.
Play "m", plant "i" on 3rd sting.
Play "i" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
#12: p-m-i-a-m-i-p-i
As you play "p", plant "i", "m" and "a" on 3rd,, 2nd and 1st sting.
Then play "m", leaving "i" and "a" on 3rd and 1st string.
Play "i", leaving "a" on 1st string.
Play "a", plant "m" on 2nd sting.
Play "m", plant "i" on 3rd sting.
Play "i", plant "p" on 4th sting.
Play "p", plant "i" on 3rd sting.
Play "i" and plant "p" for the next cycle.
a = ring finger
m = middle finger
i = index finger
p = thumb
|
Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments |
|
Kristofer Dahl |
16th October 2007 |
GMC Founder & Rocker
|
If acoustic gmcers only got to one single right hand lesson, it should be this one!  Also - thanks for the cool close-ups Kosei! |
|
|
|
Muris Varajic |
16th October 2007 |
Instructor
|
Great lesson and close look Kosei,thanks!  |
|
|
|
PlayAllDay |
16th October 2007 |
Member
|
Very good lesson Kosei and some lovely playing - excellent |
|
|
|
krudtaa |
16th October 2007 |
Member
|
great righthand lesson. thanks
|
|
|
|
Vinod Saranga |
16th October 2007 |
Acoustic Instructor
|
Great Kosei, It will be very helpful to those who are intersted in fingerpicking and those who wish to aquire a good classical guitar right hand technique. |
|
|
|
Understudy |
17th October 2007 |
Member
|
Great stuff, I love it. Now all I need is for the wife to buy me a classical guitar. I'll have to continue using the acoustic for now. Kosei more lessons like this please !!!
|
|
|
|
Kosei Kubota |
17th October 2007 |
Classical Instructor
|
Thank you, all.
I hesitated to post this lesson because some may think it is boring, but I am glad many of you like it.
My philosophy is that any exercises or studies could be fun when they deliver result.
KK
|
|
|
|
Ben N |
20th October 2007 |
Instructor
|
nice i like it and good video angles |
|
|
|
Ben N |
20th October 2007 |
Instructor
|
nice i like it and good video angles |
|
|
|
Kosei Kubota |
22nd October 2007 |
Classical Instructor
|
nice i like it and good video angles Thanks. I've been trying different angles for my left hand and right hand. I found it beneficial for my own practicing, too. KK
|
|
|
|
Guernseyman |
7th December 2007 |
Member
|
Hi Kosei, I need to practice these. Please can explain a little more about the technique of planting.
Jason
|
|
|
|
Kosei Kubota |
14th December 2007 |
Classical Instructor
|
Hi Kosei, I need to practice these. Please can explain a little more about the technique of planting.
Jason Hi, Jason. Sorry for the late reply. Planting is preparing the finger tips on the strings in advance. Let's say you are playing p-i-m-a arpeggio on D, G, B, E strings. As you play p on D string, plant i on G string, m on B string, a on E string at the same time. When you play i on G string next, make sure to leave m and a on each string (do not lift up). Then, play m on B string, but leave a on E string. At last, play a on E string and as you do it, plant p on D string. In this way, your finger (or thumb) is always touching the string, and it gives you the maximum stability and power. It is difficult to tell it in words, but you can see me on the 5th clip of this lesson. Good luck! Kosei
|
|
|
|
Plaidman |
22nd December 2007 |
Member
|
Kosei,
Your playing and your lessons are absolutely fantastic. Thank you very much for sharing your skills here.
I've always been daunted by classical music because of how intricate and difficult it is to play. Your lessons are very encouraging and have inspired me to give it a try.
Thanks,
Joel
|
|
|
|
Kosei Kubota |
22nd December 2007 |
Classical Instructor
|
Kosei,
Your playing and your lessons are absolutely fantastic. Thank you very much for sharing your skills here.
I've always been daunted by classical music because of how intricate and difficult it is to play. Your lessons are very encouraging and have inspired me to give it a try.
Thanks,
Joel Hi, Joel! Thank you for your comments. It is most rewarding for me to know someone is picking up a classical guitar watching my lessons! Keep in touch! KK
|
|
|
|
shellshock1911 |
2nd January 2008 |
Member
|
Been looking for a straightforward right-hand lesson, now I found it, love it.
|
|
|
|
Kosei Kubota |
3rd January 2008 |
Classical Instructor
|
Been looking for a straightforward right-hand lesson, now I found it, love it. Hi, Shellshock! It's simple, yet effective. Hope you get the most out of it!! KK
|
|
|
|
shellshock1911 |
4th January 2008 |
Member
|
What is the best way to practice this with a metronome? Triplets? Eight-Notes? Sixteenths?
|
|
|
|
Kosei Kubota |
5th January 2008 |
Classical Instructor
|
What is the best way to practice this with a metronome? Triplets? Eight-Notes? Sixteenths? Yes, I always use a metronome with this kind of practice. Please refer to each video for metronome count (Triplets, 1/8 notes, etc..) A tip to know is that a metronome is very helpful to keep you at a slow tempo. Slow practice is important for technique, but people tend to play at a "comfortable" tempo. Slow practice should be slower than your comfortable tempo, and that's when a metronome become useful.
|
|
|
|
Carlos Carrillo |
4th May 2008 |
Instructor
|
hey Kosei!!!
nice lesson!!!
|
|
|
Login to the forum to write a comment.
| |
|
|
|
You must log in to access your bookmarks!
|
|
Guitar pro tab (?) 
Members practicing this lesson: 
