Julio S. Sagreras Guitar Lessons: Books 1-3 (English and Spanish Edition) Spiral-bound – December 1, 1996

Product received earlier than promised and in excellent condition, definitely would use again if needed. Love it!”

These studies were composed by Julio Sagreras, a noted Argentine guitarist. They are a classic and one of the most frequently used books in classical guitar technique. There is also an advanced book 4-6. My instructor had me get this after about a year and a half of study to improve technique and also to practice sight reading. Each piece presents a particular technical challenge and there are notes to guide the student about the tricks and trouble spots you will run into. For example, I pulled out Lesson #49, a simple melody with a repeating top note that is accented using the "A" (ring) finger in the right hand. I have trouble making this finger sound like the others and creating a good tone. It tends to get shrill. This exercise immediately had me focus on creating a good tone while allowing me to incorporate dynamics into the piece because it's reasonably melodic.Many of the studies are decent on their own as performance pieces, such as 75 in A minor, 79 in E major, 82 in E minor, 84 in E minor, and 85 in C major in Book 1.The text is in English and Spanish with French and German translation in the back.You can find these in PDF format all over the internet, but the spiral bound book is worth the trouble. It compiles the studies and stays put on the music stand. I have not had good luck with playing from electronic screens and printouts, they aren't bad if you put them into page protectors but it's just more convenient to use a spiral bound book.

You will practice these lessons over and over again, not because it is your homework, but because the compositions are so lovely to listen to

I have finally made it to the third set of lessons in this book. It has taken me over a year and I am not 100% proficient at a lot of lessons in the 2nd lesson book. I can not even estimate the number of hours I have spent in front of this one book. I can not wait to finish the 3rd set of lessons but that will be next year some time if I stay diligent.I was a very amateur guitar player when starting this book. So it may not be the same for everyone. But each lesson progressively increases skill in different areas. My goal would be to site read and play music automatically when I finish with this book.There are a few users of this book publishing their playing of these lessons on You Tube which helped me immensely on the first lesson book. I also have seen quite a few posting from the second lesson book. Not so many from the third lesson book so I guess I will be on my own there. Maybe if I get good enough I will begin posting the third lesson book myself.I was a bit discouraged to hear there is a lesson 4-6 in another book. If I make it through lesson 3 by this time next year I would consider that a huge accomplishment. It is averaging about a page a week for me. I am not sure I would even want to tackle anything furhter but we will see how I feel this time next year about it.

I have all the major classical instruction books. This is my favorite. It's not as slow as the others.Be prepared to work on some of the peices for weeks before moving on to the next!

This is the best book for the beginning classical or Spanish guitarist. Very thorough and develops each skill carefully and in proper sequence. Every exercise is worth repeating until you master it. You will become a well rounded player if you do. But it is not a “shortcut” kind of book, rather one to be studied carefully. Not a Batman comic book, but War and Peace.

Doesn't matter if you are focusing on Spanish guitar, acoustic, or electric this book will provide the lessons to help you learn proper fingering technique, open notes, chords, and arpeggios all while learning how to read sheet music and translate it on the fly to guitar fingers (or TAB as some prefer). The lessons and instruction are easy to follow, build on each other naturally, and are presented in small nibbles. Yes, the reference is ~98 years old, but it's the best organized book of its kind. I only wish the 2nd volume was available in sing binding like this edition, as it makes it so easy to lay flat on the desk or music stand while I'm practicing.

The book is amazing musically. But the font is so tiny I rewrote the beginning for my son. The font is too small, and the margins are too blank. The paper itself is fine quality.I highly recommend, for adults (not for age 12 and under unless you can read music fluently).