Thursday, March 19, 2026
ClassicalGuitar

Slow Practice for Classical Guitar: The Fastest Route to Good Playing


https://ClassicalGuitarShed.com/slow-practice-classical-guitar/ Practicing slowly can be tricky. It cancels out our muscle memory and forces us to remember the music from some other place in our minds. It gives us time to focus on smoothly connecting notes, and on playing the details of our music beautifully and intentionally.

Read the whole article and get all sorts of free classical guitar practice tools: https://www.ClassicalGuitarShed.com/slow-practice-classical-guitar/

Classical Guitar Shed is an exploration of music, skill, and daily endeavor on the classical guitar. Find articles, courses, tutorials and more at https://www.ClassicalGuitarShed.com.

If you are learning classical guitar, or would like to learn classical guitar, CGS is a great place to discover resources to help you on the journey. Whether you’re just beginning guitar, or have been playing for decades but want to rise to new levels in your playing, you’ll find highly detailed tutorials and lessons.

At the root of beautiful playing is a solid technique (aka “the way your hands move”). You can find step-by-step methods, presented in very fine detail, showing exactly how to get great sound, and how to move your fingers. So as you progress, you can continue to improve. Bad technique puts a limit on your playing (speed, tone quality, control). Good technique gets stronger and more efficient with every practice. It forms the bedrock foundation for a lifetime of beautiful music. You’ll find loads of technique suggestions and tutorials at Classical Guitar Shed. And if you’re serious about learning great skills, you can join The Woodshed, and get arguably the finest classical guitar education online, with personal support and hundreds of practice-along videos. Read more on The Woodshed here: https://www.classicalguitarshed.com/learn-classical-guitar/

You’ll find some of the deepest-diving explorations of classical guitar and Spanish guitar pieces anywhere online, with step-by-step instructions on how to play guitar beautifully so that the music sings and connects with listeners (any yourself) on an emotional level. Music is not entirely subjective. Some ways of doing things are more effective than others. If you learn these basic “rules”, you’ll automatically play with more grace, beauty, and feeling.

At CGS, you’ll also discover archives of comprehensive articles about many of the issues, details, habits, and best practices surrounding playing guitar. You’ll find tips and tricks on how to be more effective at practicing. You’ll find articles on subjects as varied as getting great classical guitar tone, how to avoid pain and injury playing guitar, and the differences between practice and exercise. If you ever need a break from your practice and want to enrich your understanding of all that is classical guitar, browsing the Classical Guitar Shed archives are great place to explore.

If you would like to hear me (Allen Mathews) playing, visit my other youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/allenmathews/

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Originally posted by UCctL_oFrn2ycthAYCOvw4QQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZTKRxtMwyU

34 thoughts on “Slow Practice for Classical Guitar: The Fastest Route to Good Playing

  • I practice slow but sometimes it is sooo frustrating. At first it feels I am under control of everything but as I practice the piece more times, I find my mind starts to wonder off the sheet notes, and stupid mistakes begin to creep in. And, the more I practice the piece the more these stupid mistakes take over.

    Sometimes I stop and focus on the measures giving me the trouble, However, when I practice these measures by theselves, I find I have no trouble. It’s mostly trying to play the whole piece slowly without making a mistake.

    Do you have any advice on this? Does this go away with time as the mind is trained to keep focus? Or is it a matter of moving to something else and coming back to the piece at a later time or another day?

    Reply
  • I really like the term that you use: "duct tape" because that's me. After watching this video I have slowed down to a crawl when I practice now and it's much more enjoyable. I appreciate your videos not only because you teach me how to play but how to deal with the psychological warfare that goes on in my head when I'm playing!

    Reply
  • thats a big problem of mine, probably a beginner thing, my problem is its a natural progression to play faster once we memorise and learn the pc better, then comes the mistakes.

    Reply
  • "speed is an illusion of a perfection"

    what the fuck, what a word….
    you can literaly make a power metal lyric from what he said

    Reply
  • Great video. I took lessons a long! time ago and I always practiced a piece tapping out at a breakneck pace. This lesson just makes so much sense. THANK YOU! And a safe and peaceful Christmas/ Hannukh to all.

    Reply
  • Great stuff Allen. My membership with the Classical Guitar Shed means that I am in a safe pair of hands.

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  • Thank you.I have admittedly been doing it incorrectly all my life.Will give this a shot and also start at the end of my next piece and go backwards.Also,love that Spruce top Ramirez 1a you're holding.What year?

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  • but i dont have the time to practice slow… does this technique work if we record while practicing at regular tempo and then play it back slow?

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  • This is extraordinarily good advice. Too few instructors teach this. Thank you. Well done.

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  • I've seen a few of your videos since starting Classical Guitar and I must say this one has to be one of the most important to grasp. Thanks Allen.

    Reply
  • I read the article on your website about slow practice. It's quite good! My question about this topic is: After you can play a piece
    smoothly at a slow speed; when is the right time to increase the speed of the piece to its full tempo?

    Reply
  • Have to say Thank you. I am feeling guilty otherwise for learning so much and giving nothing back. Thank you. I will check out your website.

    Reply

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