Villa-Lobos Etude 11 Micro Study 1 – 8ve Arpeggio
Villa-Lobos Etude 11 Micro Study 1 is a guitar lesson designed to help with playing the 8ve arpeggios, in this case for Etude 11 by Villa-Lobos. These extra lessons are all part of the #villalobos12in12 challenge.
Villa-Lobos Etude 11 Arpeggios
This is a short micro study which will help get closer to all those arpeggios with octaves in etude 11. It is a very small focused lesson which utilize the main idea behind the arpeggio, and it will improve your overall RH mechanism.
Notes:
RH Control & Stamina
This exercise for etude 11 works the RH sextuplet arpeggio technique. It uses a static chord, in a lower position, so that the focus is the RH. The RH thumb is required to select strings, and make them prominent, from the overall texture. Make sure that your there is even tone across the strings, one string is not louder or more prominent than another, especially the open E string, no. 1.
The micro study begins simply with 1 bass string and then adds in the other 2. Each one of those bars can be isolated for extra practice.
KEY Strategy
Sequential Planting
The RH needs to be stable in this section, this is achieved with sequential planting. Make sure each RH finger is touching the correct string micro seconds before it plays it.
Other Info
Note: The tone needs to even, so make sure that the open strings do not pop out of the texture. And in fact this should sound like tremolo, so keep the tone on the nylon strings even, and the volume low. The main melodic idea here is the bass line.
Secret
Use the wrist
The RH wrist will need to adjust to: first play through 3 bass strings as well as sextuplet arpeggios; and secondly to highlight certain bass strings, namely string 4, the D. This is achieved with the wrist angle, focusing the energy and how you complete the thumb stroke. Do not play mindlessly here.
And Remember: use the planting fingers for stability.
Want More?
Check Out Approaching Villa-Lobos Etude No. 1
Approaching Etude No. 1 Villa-Lobos
Classical Guitar Magazine Article
This is a link to an article I wrote for CG mag which covers the sextuplet RH pattern from another guitar master: Mauro Guiliani and hos epic Op. 48 No. 5. There is a set of micro studies and video, along with a free download of the piece. It will help with getting Etude no. 11 by Villa-Lobos up and running.
Method: Guiliani‘s Right Hand; an Exercise in Speed and Dexterity
#villalobos12in12! what is that?
I bet, like me, you want to play all 12 of Villa-Lobos’ awesome studies? Find it a little tough to get some of them started, or even finished? Want some help? #villalobos12in12 is a community led challenge that aspires to inspire and help get these fantastic pieces up and running. And it all starts here at CGRocks.
Check out this more detailed post below.
#villalobos12in12 Challenge
If you want to a free copy of etude no. 1 study guide join the CGRocks community below.
