Spanish Guitar

The following screenshots are taken from Marco Cirillo's recent video titled Simple Spanish Guitar Stuff That Makes You Sound Cool!

CHORDS

Firstly the chord progression is I ➞ VII ➞ VI ➞ V and the key of Am is illustrated in Figure 1.

SIMPLE FINGER PICKING

Next a simple thumb ➞ index finger ➞ middle finger ➞ ring finger picking pattern in illustrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3. Note the changes in the chord shapes between Figure 1 and Figure 2 (the second follows on from the first).

Figure 2

Figure 3

ADVANCED FINGER PICKING

Figures 4 and 5 show a more advanced finger picking style and makes more use of the thumb and only one finger.

Figure 4

Figure 5

SCALES

Figures 7 and 8 shows how to play the Am scale from the root note of each chord, five notes are played for each chord. Remember the Am scale goes A, B, C, D, E, F, G with no flats or sharps. However, the G as explained earlier has been changed to a G# and so we have what is called the harmonic minor scale. See Figure 6.

Figure  6

Figure 7

Figure 8

There is always room for embellishment and Figures 9 and 10 show examples of this, the first without bass notes and the second with them.

Figure 9

Figure 10

USING ADVANCED CHORDS

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the use of advanced chords to add more colour to the sound.

Figure 11

Figure 12

I've already been practising and making steady progress.