Classical Guitar Lessons with Jason Vieaux: Segovia Scales

This is a lesson on the Segovia Scales. It is a book of scales written by Segovia that shows how Segovia practiced his scales. Andres Segovia was a Spanish classical guitarist. He was very well known for his controversial style of playing and a dogmatic style of teaching. Today, his legacy lives on in a museum in Linares, Spain, and through thousands of guitarists playing his scales.

There is no one set way to practice scales, although there are many books and methods. The Segovia Scales are just one of those ways. The Segovia Scales focus on shifting on the left hand, which becomes important in intermediate level and advanced level playing.

Jason Vieaux covers a variety of other topics in classical guitar in his collection of many pre-recorded lesson videos on ArtistWorks Classical Guitar School. He also assists his students through a video exchange, giving each student a personalized feedback on their performance.

[robs]

I remember my classical guitar teacher making me start every lesson with Segovia's diatonic major and minor scales, first using i and m, then m and a (sometimes i and a) alternating in ascending and descending, and switching between tirando and apoyando. I HATED practicing scales, but it was always a necessary evil. And at that time (23 years ago) I didn't realize the importance of him making me do this.

I still use use these scales and some of Mauro Giuliani 120 studies for Right Hand Development to warm up before practicing/playing.

[eddieregan]

I got to take a Master Class with Jason around 9 years ago when I was in college at Southern Oregon U.  He is an outstanding performer and teacher!  After one lesson with him I saw my approach to the guitar and my playing improve significantly.

[TimBeattie]

Royal Conservatory of Music's guitar technique book - compiled by my instructor at the conservatory, Robert Hamilton, and Dr. Jeffrey McFadden (University of Toronto). This book contains various levels (all aligned with the levelled examination system here in Canada) of diatonic, chromatic, and tremolando scales, scales in 3rds and 6ths, and arpeggio patterns (mostly selections from Giuliani's 120 arpeggios).
This book is entitled "Bridges - A comprehensive guitar series: Guitar Technique".

[willvernon]

In the past few years, I wanted to better understand the fretboard. So, I came up with my own scale exercises. Today, I learn about the Segovia Scales... and they are the exact same scales I came up with. Haha, kinda comforting to know I'm on the right path.

[otaviotuf]

Very simple and fantastic lesson. Thanks, Jason and ArtistWorks.

[MichaelCarMusic]

William Kanengiser's Effortless Guitar also has some great stuff on this as well as Pumping Nylon.  Something that's helped my shifting tremendously also is playing scales all on one string, diatonic and chromatic(eg. G major just on the G string up to A 14th fret and back down to open string and chromatically up to the 16th fret).  

[gsgleason]

He said rest stoke and played free strokes!

[lopezd-rdwm]

Best lesson on this topic. Keep up the good work!

[yaakovhassoun]

I like shifting, I usually practice in position scales, and even when shifting I try to keep track of what in position scale I'm shifting but I also practice shifting scales. I think I can play smoother because of it. Especially where some books like ted greene suggests rolling a finger between one string to the next, I will look for alternatives by shifting to create smoother lines.

[edwardverdugo]

Mr vieaux

Hello my name is Edward,
I live in Los Angeles
GREAT PLAYER!!!
IN 1986 I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF meeting Andres Segovia thru
My friend Chris parkenning
It was somthing, I never thought in my life, that I would meet Segovia.
And I just want to say, if Segovia. Was alive I would definitely tell him
About you that's for sure.
Take care and God Bless
Ed
Los angeles

[ildolciaio]

In modern classical guitar the shift occours on the second string on the way up and on the third on the way down, but the Segovia scale is a good exercise for practicing.

[havardrivansson]

Segovia to a prominent teacher, " I wrote my scales out when I was 15 years-old and I've never changed a fingering since." To which the teacher responded, "Yes, Maestro, they definitely seem like the work of a 15 year-old."

[jmardinly]

C major is a 3 octave scale on the many new guitars that have a 20th fret.

[LFUFMNX]

Omg, that banner ad running at the bottom is so annoying. It covers his right hand plucking the strings.

[darren]

If I choose a plan for your classical guitar tutoring, will I learn the Segovia scales, step by step. That's basically what I am most interested in. I can already play the guitar at an upper beginner level, but would love to become versatile at Segovia scales

[JoelSalazarM]

Are you letting some strings ring through on purpose? 

[Sidora]

whats the canadian scale book you mentioned at 0:39?

[HaykAmirbekyanTKD]

hi Jason could you please provide a link to the royal college guitar scales book?

[oecologica]

What a wonderful guitar, and how small is its body!  Is it a 3/4 scale guitar?

[pariscoroneos]

What kind of guitar is that its awesome