1. Bass Notes
Hold down the bass notes to let the bass notes ring.
2. Tempo
Go slow and steady at first. Use the metronome on the webpage at a slow setting first then speed it up as you get more comfortable.
3. Fingerings
Be aware of all right and left hand fingerings. Take your time and make sure these are correct as it will make the piece smoother.
Rubric for Testing
A = Changes are smooth
All Notes are clear and correct (Maybe a small buzz)
Correct right and left hand fingering (Right hand arpeggio played properly as indicated in the music)
Excellent right hand technique (Hand position, arm position as indicated in the book)
B = Changes are a bit slow and sloppy (A small delay or break between chords and in transitions)
A couple of wrong notes (1 – 2)
Some mistakes in fingerings (Sometimes not holding the Left hand fingers down for the bar creating a choppy sound, the arpeggio in the right hand is not smooth)
Bit sloppy right hand technique (resting a finger on guitar)
C+ = Changes are slow (time between the chords)
Some wrong notes (3-5)
Mistakes in fingerings (Not using the proper fingerings with the left hand),(not using correct arpeggio in right hand).
Sloppy right hand technique (resting hand or fingers on the guitar)
C = Very sloppy and slow changes (Time between the chords, very slow and broken up)
Many wrong notes (5 – 10)
Many mistakes with fingerings (Using a wide variety of right hand fingers to play the piece.)(poor technique for example: Using 1 finger in the left hand to play the piece)
Very sloppy right hand technique (resting hand and fingers on the guitar) (not alternating right hand fingers)
C- = Very slow and broken up changes (Piece rhythm very uneven)
Wrong notes everywhere (10 + student does not know piece)
Mistakes everywhere with left hand fingerings
Extremely sloppy right hand technique (resting hand and fingers on the guitar)
Sound needs improvement
D = Song hardly recognizable