Let's begin by tuning up to standard E A D G B E tuning.

Tune Up to Standard Tuning
Intro

In part one of this lesson, we began our investigation into elementary classical guitar exercises for contemporary fingerpickers by focusing on arpeggio patterns. Now it’s time for some picking patterns with scales woven into them and two studies that are actually small compositions.

Matteo Carcassi’s method is a well-known tool for beginning classical guitarists. There are several editions of the method from different publishers. My favorites are The Carcassi Method (Fischer) and The Complete Carcassi Method (Mel Bay). In the following examples, you’ll find some exercises combining a C-major scale with steadily repeated notes in another register. Example 1 places the scale in the bass region against a G on the first string. Carcassi’s method suggests plucking all of the notes in the upper register with your middle finger.

Example 2 moves the scale to the top strings, places the repeated G on the third string, and introduces an alternating bass line.