Product Details

• Actors: Frederic Hand
• Directors: Happy Traum
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Homespun Tapes
• DVD Release Date: March 5, 2004
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001WANWM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,486 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The beauty and romance of the classical guitar is brought home in this fascinating lesson by one of the world’s top players. Frederic Hand applies the essential techniques that he demonstrated on his first Homespun video to gorgeous music that will be accessible to all guitarists...with practice.

The seven works taught on this video are among the best-known student pieces, and will be within the reach of most guitarists who are familiar with the fingerboard and basic classical technique. "Easy is a relative term," Fred says. "Playing the classical guitar with beauty and command is a life-long process."

Fred takes each piece apart, pointing out the possible trouble spots and sharing important tips on technique and interpretation. He demonstrates ornamentation, slurs, rhythmic and melodic subtleties, timbral shadings, the importance of correct plucking strokes and other invaluable pointers.

You’ll start by learning three lute pieces from the Italian Renaissance, each with a different tempo and feeling: the lyrically romantic Vaghe Belleze, the spritely dance Bianco Fiore and the more stately and dynamic Danza. Johann Sebastian Bach’s famous Sarabande is an intriguingly lovely baroque piece, and Fernando Sor’s Study in B Minor is an excellent exercise for your right hand. The sublime Adelita by Francisco Tarrega, with its romantic rubato style and lush harmonies, gives players the opportunity to utilize expressive techniques such as portamento and vibrato, and to become familiar with the guitar’s upper register.

Finally, you’ll learn Fred Hand’s distinguished arrangement of the traditional Shaker hymn Simple Gifts. This homage to Aaron Copeland starts with the basic tune in C, but quickly moves into D, taking on a richly contemporary feeling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helping Hand, November 23, 2004

By 

Rod Saunders (Tulsa, Ok) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DVD-Classical Guitar -Seven Easy Pieces (DVD)

This is an excellent presentation of the seven pieces. I especially enjoyed learning Tarrega's "Adelita" and Bach's "Sarabande". Hand offers some views on interpretation and ornamentation as well, such as his discussion on the traditional baroque approach to Bach vs. his more romantic approach for the guitar. I would recommend buying his other DVD first, "Classical Guitar: Technique & Musicianship" in order to lay some groundwork for these pieces as they are not for the novice. Hand is one of the best classical guitarists in the world, and is gifted as an instructor as well which isn't always the case with great musicians. Between these two videos and the accompanying sheet music any intermediate level (which includes the ability to read music) fingerstyle guitarist should be able to become proficient in beginning to intermediate level classical guitar repertoire. Highly recommended.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Guitar lesson, September 4, 2011

By 

Bruce ODowd "BOD" (Brunswick, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DVD-Classical Guitar -Seven Easy Pieces (DVD)

Very good lesson, although a bit difficult for me at the present time. A goal to accomplish...
I intend to get a good handle on this style of playing guitar.