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Learn Prelude 1 by Villa-Lobos

  • Arpeggio (RH Mechanism)
  • Integrated Musicianship
  • Legato Phrasing (Cantabile Line)

This post deals with how to learn the awesome classical guitar piece: Prelude 1 by Villa-Lobos. It has a series of videos that will walk you through how to practice and effectively perform this piece. Giving fingering tips, any hacks, and many more insights into learning this piece. Along with a study guide, see below.

Get Villa-Lobos Prelude 1 Study Guide

Grab your copy of the in depth study guide that goes along with these video lessons. Fully tabbed out, so there is no guess work to where your fingers need to go, along with all the left hand hacks and guides you need to perform this piece confidently. (Click below for your copy.)

Prelude 1 (Villa-Lobos) Study Guide

Learn Prelude 1 by Villa-Lobos

This series of guitar lessons below will help you learn, and play, the beautiful prelude 1 by Villa-Lobos. With its cello melody opening and second section arpeggios in the warm key of E major. This is a perennial favorite for all classical guitarists, and (dare I say it) a rite of passage. Lets dive into this piece a little deeper below.

Learning the Cello Melody

Learn Villa-Lobos Prelude 1 first Section

Above is the first video in the series on prelude 1, and it deals with that awesome cello melody opening. The main tip here is to make sure that the voices are balanced, so melody volume is up, bass is dialed in the middle, and the accompaniment is low – just bubbling along in the background. There are a couple of LH hacks here to keeping the tone even, along with RH fingering suggestions.

Prelude 1 Completing Cello Melody

Above is the video that deals with completing the cello melody, and the first section. It dives into the wonderful devices Villo-Lobos uses to push the music forward, such as the diminished chords, whole tone fragments and of course his use of the 4th string to invoke a cello.

classical guitar lesson villa-lobos prelude 1 chords

Prelude 1 E Major Section

The above video will walk you through the send section of this awesome Prelude. It steps through all the left hand options available, as well as some suggestions on making it a little more musical.

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