古典結他入門簡介
甚麼是古典結他?
有人說他彈奏古典吉他，廣義上可以指他在彈奏尼龍弦(Nylon String)的吉他，但彈奏的音樂不限於古典音樂。
狹義上，他確實在演奏西方傳統藝術音樂而且使用尼龍弦的古典吉他演奏。
古典結他的歷史
古典結他約有四個世紀的演變歷史。不同時期有著不同外型、結構、不同調音、不同弦線數目。經過不少偉大的演奏家，編曲家及作曲家的付出，古典結他得以延續。
現時常見的都是現代古典結他，演變自多種外型，當然亦有人以過往的形狀去製作結他。
現代古典結他的外形受一些早期樂器影響如：文藝復興結他，比維拉琴(Vihuela) 及巴洛克結他。
巴洛克結他
Guitar這詞源於15世紀西班牙南部。當時的吉他非常小，只有這4條弦，有點像現今的Ukulele。
從那時開始，吉他一直不斷地發展和演變。從文藝復興吉他逐漸發展成為了巴洛克吉他，直到18世紀末，在意大利終於出現了6根弦的吉他。
在今天這種6弦吉他被稱為古典吉他，它剛好出現在西方音樂史中的古典時期，這種吉他逐漸發展成我們今天所熟識的古典吉他。
和一般吉他的差別
古典吉他與廣為人知的民謠吉他或電吉他，有什麼樣的差異呢?
一般而言，古典吉他有著較小的桶身的。有別於使用鋼弦的民謠吉他與電吉他，古典吉他使用尼龍弦。雖然鋼弦的聲音比尼龍弦清脆，但尼龍弦能夠做出音色變化，更適合於著重音色與聲部處理的古典音樂。
古典結他演奏
古典吉他多數不使用PICK，而是使用手指以及經過修剪的指甲 。
從技術層面來看，古典吉他和指彈吉他是一樣的，只不過古典吉他使用的是尼龍弦。
古典吉他和指彈吉他的不同點主要在於演奏的音樂風格不同。一些現代的古典吉他作品中用到指彈吉他的技巧，如點弦，演奏中調弦和打板等。
演奏姿勢
古典結他一般用坐式持琴法，是保持最舒適的演奏姿勢。演奏者坐著椅子，左腳向前略微伸出，放擱腳凳上，左右兩腿稍微分開，右腿稍往回收，結他的凹陷處橫放在左大腿部。琴要靠近身前，表面板只要稍微向上傾斜。上身略向前傾，左肩稍向左邊傾斜。原則上，結他頭部的高度，應在演奏着肩膀與脖頸之間。
手指
在古典結他演奏中，右手的拇指，食指，中指，無名指及尾指分別被稱為p，i，m，a及ch。
而左手食指，中指，無名指及尾指分別被稱為1，2，3及4。
左手
左手彈奏的手型以按弦方便省力為原則。按弦的各指儘量和琴衍平行，手掌要彎成弧狀，按弦時要用指尖，以垂直的姿勢按在指板上。按弦的位置應緊靠琴衍上方，也就是橫格旁。
右手和右臂
右臂肘部應靠在結他下腹部最凸出處。右手的撥弦一般在音孔以下1/3處，這時的音色軟硬適中，最溫和動聽，也可以在其他位置撥弦並得不同的音色，一般愈接近琴橋音色會愈雄亮。
右手的彈撥方法主要有兩種，分別是鈎指彈法（Free-stroke/Tirando）、靠弦奏法（Rest-stroke/Apoyando）。
彈古典吉他的理由/好處
- 尼龍弦較少疼痛
一個初學者常見的問題是彈完鋼弦吉他或電吉他後，手指會疼痛（主要是初學者或沒有老繭的演奏者）。鋼弦的張力可能是尼龍弦的兩倍，這意味著您必須用力按壓琴弦，但尼龍弦有較低張力，因此您不必用大力亦不必擔心指尖疼痛。
- 它有助於協調
演奏時，古典吉他手不只提升音樂素養，還能提高協調能力，讓他們成為出色的多任務處理者，他們需要同時專注於多頂事情例如：
- 和弦形狀
- 音色的控制
- 閱讀樂譜
- 聆聽聲音
- 確保拍子準確
- 提升技術的機會
學習彈奏古典吉他最好的事情之一是它有助於逐漸提高你的演奏水平，這樣你最終可以發展出完美的技術。 以最好的和最高的水平彈奏古典吉他意味著不停地練習你的技術，這最終使學習和成長的過程變得更加有趣。
以下一段影片介紹古典吉他其中最著名的8首曲目
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Introduction to Classical Guitar
What is a classical guitar?
If someone say that he is playing classical guitar. In a broad sense, it can mean that he is playing a nylon string guitar, but the music he plays is not limited to classical music.
In a narrow sense, he is indeed playing traditional Western art music and using nylon strings classical guitar.
The history of classical guitar
Classical guitars have a history of about four centuries. Different periods have different appearances, structures, different tunings, and different numbers of strings. After the efforts of many great performers, arrangers and composers, the classical guitar continued.
Nowadays, the most common ones are modern classical guitars, which have evolved from a variety of appearances. Of course, some people make guitars in past shapes.
The appearance of modern classical guitars was influenced by some early instruments such as Renaissance guitars, Vihuela and Baroque guitars.
Baroque guitar
The word “guitar” originated in southern Spain in the 15th century. The guitar at that time was very small, with only these 4 strings, a bit like Ukulele today.
Since then, the guitar has continued to develop and evolve. From the Renaissance guitar to the Baroque guitar, it was not until the end of the 18th century that a six-string guitar finally appeared in Italy.
Today this kind of 6-string guitar is called classical guitar, it just appeared in the classical period in the history of western music, this kind of guitar gradually developed into the classical guitar we are familiar with today.
Differences from general guitars
What is the difference between a classical guitar and the well-known acoustic guitar or electric guitar?
Generally speaking, classical guitars have smaller body. Unlike acoustic and electric guitars that use steel strings, classical guitars use nylon strings. Although the sound of steel strings is crisper than nylon strings, nylon strings can make timbre changes and are more suitable for classical music that emphasizes timbre and part processing.
Classical guitar Practical Performance
Most classical guitars do not use PICK, but instead use fingers and manicured nails.
From a technical point of view, the classical guitar and the fingerstyle guitar are the same, except that the classical guitar uses nylon strings.
The difference between classical guitar and fingerstyle guitar is mainly in the style of music played. Fingerstyle guitar techniques are used in some modern classical guitar works, such as tapping the strings, tuning while playing, and hitting the board.
Playing posture
Classical guitars generally use the sitting style to perform, which is to maintain the most comfortable playing posture. The player sits on a chair with his left foot slightly extended forward, placed on the footstool, left and right legs are slightly separated, and the right leg is retracted slightly, and the recess of the guitar is placed horizontally on the left thigh. The piano should be close in front of you, and the surface board should only be slightly tilted upwards. Lean your upper body slightly forward, with your left shoulder tilted slightly to the left. In principle, the height of the guitar's head should be between the shoulder and the neck of the player.
finger
In classical guitar performance, the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and tail finger of the right hand are called p, i, m, a and ch respectively.
The left index finger, middle finger, ring finger and tail finger are called 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
Left hand
The hand type of the left hand is based on the principle that it is convenient to press the strings and save effort. The fingers of the string should be parallel to the fret as much as possible, and the palm of the hand should be bent into an arc. When pressing the string, press the fingertips in a vertical position on the fingerboard. The position of pressing the strings should be close to the top of the fret, that is, beside the horizontal grid.
Right hand and right arm
The elbow of the right arm should rest on the most protruding part of the lower abdomen of the guitar. The right-hand plucked string is generally 1/3 below the sound hole. At this time, the sound is moderately soft and hard, and the most pleasant to hear. You can also pluck the strings at other positions and get different timbres. Generally, the closer the bridge is, the more magnificent the sound will be.
There are two main types of right-hand plucking methods, namely, Free-stroke/Tirando and Rest-stroke/Apoyando.
Reasons/Benefits of Playing Classical Guitar
1. Nylon strings are less painful
A common problem for beginners is that after playing a steel-string guitar or electric guitar, the fingers will ache. The tension of a steel string may be twice that of a nylon string, which means that you have to press the string harder, but the nylon string has a lower tension, so you don't have to use force or worry about fingertip pain.
2. It helps to coordinate
When playing, classical guitarists not only improve their musical literacy, but also improve their coordination skills, making them excellent multitaskers. They need to focus on multiple things at the same time, such as:
- Chord shape
- Tone control
- Read the sheet music
- Listen to the sound
- Make sure the tempo is accurate
3. Opportunities to improve in technique
One of the best things about learning to play classical guitar is that it helps to gradually improve your playing level so that you can eventually develop the perfect technique. Playing classical guitar at the best and highest level means constantly practicing your technique, which ultimately makes the process of learning and growing more interesting.
The following video introduces the 8 most famous pieces of classical guitar
