How young were you when you started playing...

[cool9]

And how long did it take you to become fairly proficient at the guitar?

I started electric at 13, classical at 17 and progressed at an average pace I suppose.

I wonder how fast someone can progress from a beginner to extremely advanced? Someone like Parkening (who was recording at 15 or 16, I believe) or Li Jie.

At what age did Segovia and Sor start playing?

*A thread should be started categorizing compositions from intermediate to advanced. I'd like to see what people pick. For example I'd like to see which Barrios pieces are the easiest to play and vice versa (although only a few that I know of are intermediate like maybe La Catedral.)

[sanderdude]

At 19 I ran away to Spain to learn flamenco from the gypsys. It was about 5 years before myself and others thought I was fairly proficient and 7 years before I began to play for a living :)

[Richard]

At 19 I ran away to Spain to learn flamenco from the gypsys.
There are some really cool people on this forum, and you are certainly one of them!

[kys]

Well, I am not sure that I agree with your classification scheme. I have seen young individuals play Lagrima with great skill and musicality, and another play something much more difficult (ie difficult Barrios pieces) in a much less adept fashion. Although astounded at the ability of the youngster playing technically difficult pieces quite poorely (even being able to finger them is incredible for them), at what point is the line drawn? You draw attention to incredible exceptions that are definitely not common. In a way, I don't subscribe to the idea that songs can be classified as intermediate/advanced. To me, some technically difficult pieces are easier to do justice then some other pieces of music that are easier, yet require more musicality and emotion/require better musical interpretation.

I, for example, did conservatory tests yearly on guitar when I was young. For example when I was 13, I received first class honours with distinction playing (ugh, seems so long ago) Julia Florida, Allemande/Courante from 1006, Villa Lobos Etudes, and some other intermediate song for a grade 8 exam. Looking back now, did I do these pieces justice? No. The level at which one expects to play music evolves as they mature both technically and intellectually as a musician in my opinion. Thus, perhaps a song that I thought was quite advanced when starting to learn it at 15 (Asturias), is easy now relative to something that is technically less challenging, but perhaps even harder to pull off well (i dunno, something like Cavetina mb).

Side note... perhaps La Cathedral would be in the advanced category versus something like Julia Florida (although one might make the arguement that these 2 songs could be used as a comparison to substantiate my point above).

[Faya]

At 19 I ran away to Spain to learn flamenco from the gypsys. It was about 5 years before myself and others thought I was fairly proficient and 7 years before I began to play for a living :)

i bet you stumbled across some of my Ma's family.

[Travis_Warner]

I was 20 when i started playing, now i'm 23....i need to go practice now... :lol:

[rdubb]

In a way, I don't subscribe to the idea that songs can be classified as intermediate/advanced. To me, some technically difficult pieces are easier to do justice then some other pieces of music that are easier, yet require more musicality and emotion/require better musical interpretation.

I, for example, did conservatory tests yearly on guitar when I was young. For example when I was 13, I received first class honours with distinction playing (ugh, seems so long ago) Julia Florida, Allemande/Courante from 1006, Villa Lobos Etudes, and some other intermediate song for a grade 8 exam. Looking back now, did I do these pieces justice? No. The level at which one expects to play music evolves as they mature both technically and intellectually as a musician in my opinion.

Great points there. Personally, I see no problem with letting pre-teens and teens play challenging rep, as long as they have the technique to handle it and it won't cause them physical harm or to develop bad habits. Of course they're probably not going to be able to do the music justice, but if they, in the words of Barrueco "only play GOOD music" (masterpieces like Bach, Albeniz, etc.) then they can return to them at a later age and stage of development and seriously deepen their sound and musicality.

There's a kid (now young adult) I know from the bay area who is a very accomplished player - he won the Portland Guitar Competition at age 16. Okay I'll give it away - Max Zuckerman. I saw him at that age, and his playing was astounding already. Did he do the pieces justice musically? In my opinion, not really. He's 21 now, and has two years under his belt with Manuel. He is reaching a real musical depth now, and forming his own unique interpretations. What I love now is that he doesnt sound like Platino, or Vidovic, or any of the other proteges......

[Techmanac]

i started when i was 7 years old in 1976 didnt take but i learned how to read, then i picked it back up again in july of 1980 10years old, turning 11, didnt last the summer but i thought i was EVH. 10/05/1983 my birthday and i got a bass at 14 years old. that lasted till 4/1984 then I got my 1st real good guitar (still have it) anyway all my friends were playing so i learned really fast in 1987 i went to berklee boston - school was not my speed so i got a teacher and still play guitar and i am not married but i love my guitar, and boy to i love my guitar like you wouldn't believe.

Now i'm 37 and when people ask me how long i have been playing guitar i tell them 23+years, then they ask how long before i got good, i tell them right-away. I was born with a gift and then they laugh. But i fell like i was born with a gift

[Mister Lovaguitara]

Many people are born with gifts... I've been playing 3 years only, but I've been taken under the roof of the professor of guitar and composition that teaches here in the biggest academy in this country. I can't afford to attend so he touches me privately at his house. I don't understand why people feel ashamed or as if it's not ok to give one self a compliment, if it's true than why not? believe in yourself - I believe is one of the most important aspects to success, and for a happy life in general. and yes I am only 20 years old.. don't think it matters, though I will for sure learn more and gain experience as I grow.

[justinG]

lovaguitara, I hope that you meant that he "teaches" you privately at his house? :oops:

[kys]

but I've been taken under the roof of the professor of guitar and composition that teaches here in the biggest academy in this country. I can't afford to attend so he touches me privately at his house. I don't understand why people feel ashamed or as if it's not ok to give one self a compliment, if it's true than why not?

That statement is pretty funny (assuming that its a typo. hahaha

[Steve Lin]

I started with Chinese pop when I was 14. Then after a year I started classical. And downhill from there!

[NLong]

I started playing electric about 14 years ago when I was 12. I got my first classical about 2 years ago now. I bet I was better when I was 12. I used to spend days at a time in my room learning metallica solos. :lol: :lol:

[cool9]

La Catedral was the only Barrios I learned. The fingerings aren't as twisted and as horrible like I can imagine some of the other Barrios to be. And the right hand has few stumbling points (althought the 3rd movement has a couple fast arpeggios which bind p-i-m-a up at times). And the tempo is straight-forward for each movement.

I compare that to something like Prelude BWV998 which has a difficult left-hand fingering. Finger transitions have to be made very fast. You hear some guys play it at the speed of light like Fisk and others who play it like a Lute piece like Sollscher. Both are interesting and sound musical.

Something which looks real difficult is Tarrega's "Una sobre de Giga de Bach" after watching Li Jie play it. I read through it and the fingering is really difficult. She breezes right through it.

I think all of the Villa-Lobos Etudes are very advanced technical pieces.

I'm working on Sor study No. 12 in A (Segovia edition; not sure what Opus). It's a diad study and I've always found it difficult but it's a really clever piece.

I struggle with everything I play meaning I always get string noise or nail noise or don't hit notes correctly at some point in a composition. I don't take lessons now. I just picked the guitar up a few months ago after having played on and off for the last 30 years. I'm just learning more about how important left-hand pressure is with full/half bar chords to get to the next note faster. And having a real good guitar helps with that (just got a Kenny Hill which requires less pressure in the first few positions which is real nice).

[racer_x]

Was given my first guitar by my sister on my 14th B-day. It was a strat copy with action so high you could only play it like a dobro. The piece of wood sat there for atleast 2 years before a friend of the family lowered the action and put on new strings. He also gave me a few lessons to get me started. I then played that guitar all the time, learning old Scorps and Deep Purple songs. I picked up my first Fender strat in 1985. Played in several rock/metal bands all through high school. Most difficult piece learned at the time on electric was "Sails of Charon" by the Scorpions. I don't even think I could pull it off now. Started studying classical for a short period in college, but did not take it as serious as I should have. I was using Azspiazu sp? and Sor studies. I found it as boring as can be. Went back to playing in a band and dropped CG for a while. I then picked up a CG a couple of years ago and have been teaching myself little pieces here and there. I will be getting with a decent instructor when I get some of my student loans down.
My favorite CG composers are Barrios, Giuliani, and Villa Lobos. I am still learning about different players all the time. I am enjoying alot of the S. American composers as well.