Thumb

BASIC METHOD – THUMB

On this page you can find links to some of the music in the thumb book, with an accompanying score. To purchase this book please visit our online store.

When downloading the recordings, we recommend that you right click the link and choose ‘save target as’ in order to download the entire file before listening. We have chosen to use *.wav files in order to preserve the original sound of the guitar as far as possible. Due to the size of these files, the download may take some time, depending on the speed of your internet connection.

Pieces marked (*) indicate a split track recording with the student part panned to the right and the teacher’s part panned to the left. Using the balance control on your media player pan to the right to hear just the student’s part. To play along with the teacher’s part, pan to the left.

Purpose of the Downloads

The downloads, consisting of scores and recordings, are intended to provide a standard of comparison to enable the thinking individual to answer questions such as the following:

“How do I know if I have practiced enough?”

“My present assignment is so boring! When can I play more interesting music?”

OR

“When my teacher asks me to repeat an assignment, I panic. I think maybe I’m not progressing fast enough. Am I correct or not?”

“How much of my practice should be devoted to accurate, steady playing, how much to expression?

“As a guitarist with more than ten years of study, I have gone through several methods and learned standard repertoire. Yet, I cannot play even a single piece straight through with confidence. What is wrong with me?”

“I was inspired to take up guitar by the recordings of Segovia. If I practice really hard, how long will it take for me to play like him?”

OR

“I have been playing for six months, why don’t I sound like Segovia?”

Page No.	Title	Download	Download
7	Thumb stroke	Recording	Score
8	The second string	Recording	Score
8	Spot has an itch	Recording*	Score
15	‘Tock’ Staccato notes	Recording	Score
16	Study for ‘Ta’ Legato Notes	Recording	Score
16	Exercise 5 – ‘Tock’ and ‘Ta’	Recording	Score
17	Tock and Ta Tune	Recording*	Score
25	Hover position for A-finger	Recording	Score
25	Exercise 7	Recording*	Score
27	Steps and leaps – exercise 9	Recording	Score
28	Study for ringing leaps	Recording	Score
28	Winner take all	Recording*	Score
30	3/4 Time Signature	Recording	Score
31	Sweeping Clean	Recording	Score
33	Surprise accents	Recording	Score
40	Thumb plays lower five strings	Recording	Score
42	Donkey Dance	Recording	Score
46	Short Phrase ended staccato	Recording	Score
47	Let’s practice – study 1	Recording	Score
47	Let’s practice – study 3	Recording	Score
55	Dynamics	Recording	Score
56	Study for f-mf-p	Recording	Score
65	Crescendo – Diminuendo	Recording	Score
65	Exercise 28	Recording  (Note: Exercise has 5 parts, which begin at the following timings: Part A: 00.00 Part B: 00.04 Part C: 00.07 Part D: 00.14 Part E: 00.21	Score
68	Exercise 30	Recording  (Note: Exercise has 4 parts, which begin at the following timings: Part A: 00.00 Part B: 00.07 Part C: 00.14 Part D: 00.29	Score
68	Syncopation	Recording  (Note: Exercise has been recorded twice, as follows: Both parts: 00.00 Bass part only: 00.11	Score
69	Syncopations – Alllegro	Recording	Score
71	Study for forte and piano	Recording	Score
73	Exercise 32	Recording  (Note: Exercise has 2 parts, which begin at the following timings: Part A: 00.00 Part B: 00.09	Score
73	Study	Recording	Score
76	Waltz	Recording	Score
77	Study with pianissimo	Recording	Score
78	The Drunken Sailor	Recording	Score
81	Willows	Recording	Score
82	Study (Con Moto)	Recording	Score
85	Down in the Valley (Theme and Variation)	Recording	Score
87	Silent Night	Recording	Score

 

 

 

 

Continue to Basic Rest stroke