OS,

I owe you an apology. I went too far in my rage against you when I made fun of your singing.

My dad (who passed away about a year and a half ago) was very much into singing and playing bluegrass music as I think you are also. He enjoyed what he was doing, and it would have taken a real @$$ H*** to insult him concerning what he enjoyed doing so much.

I myself play classical Spanish style guitar. My playing is not that bad the way I see it, but compared to the greats in the same field, I stink. And I would also be truly wounded if one of the greats spoke to me the same way as I spoke to you regarding your singing.

So, I'm sorry. You don't have to respond to this post, but I needed to post it.

Jerry, you comment about Latin guitar interested me, because that is on of my favorite genres. Do you play a classical/Spanish guitar or flamenco guitar, or standard steel-string? I have never really applied myself to learning this music, because for one thing, I can't tolerate the 2 inch neck of a classical guitar. Also, I use a pick with heavy emphasis on cross-picking instead of fingerstyle which would limit me quite a bit in this genre. Tell me what you are doing with it.

I have a classical guitar but alas, I have never really mastered it. It is one of my long-term goals, to do so, though. For the moment, I need to content myself with playing the classical organ, I guess. (You there - stop snickering. Yes. You. It's so unfortunate that the proper name for the King of Instruments has become a common euphemism, for well, something else)...

Scott,

>>>Do you play a classical/Spanish guitar or flamenco guitar, or standard steel-string?<<<

I play classical/Spanish guitar music, but not flamenco. You need to have stronger fingernails than I have in order to play the flamenco stuff. The flamenco stuff has a lot more hard strumming in it than the style I play. To give you an example of what I play, I've included a link to a tune played by Segovia that I just got done learning. I play it pretty much the same way as he does. There are other versions of the same tune played by others which will stray from Segovia's version, but I liked the way he played it more so than the others. They all use the same sheet music, but the expression varies between them.

I use nylon guitar strings and not steel strings. My guitar was made in Spain and can be used for either classical/Spanish guitar or flamenco guitar style music.

>>>I can't tolerate the 2 inch neck of a classical guitar.<<<

Yeah, the 2 inch neck takes some getting use to if you're use to the standard steel string acoustical neck. They make classical guitars with smaller necks, but they don't have the same full sound as the 2 inch neck ones.

>>>I use a pick with heavy emphasis on cross-picking instead of fingerstyle which would limit me quite a bit in this genre.<<<

The style of music I play requires finger-picking, and there's really no way around it if someone wants to learn it.

Here's the tune I just learned.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfM2Jal_BPs

Steve, just follow Stan's simple instructions below, and after 10000 hours, you won't be able to see your fingers move.

Jerry, I have been wanting a classical guitar bad, and I want that quintessential Spanish sound. This probably means cedar instead of spruce for the top. I've heard the Ramirez 1a is the "the" guitar for this south-of-the-border sound, but they sell for $9000 USD new and 4000 used which is too much for a guitar that you don't even know if you will consistently get along with. I've heard incredibly good reviews about the much cheaper Loriente Clarita in cedar which they say is woody, warm, and very Spanish sounding.

Scott,

I've heard very good reviews about the Loriente Clarita also, but I've never played one.

The guitar I have was made in Spain, but it's not really that great of an instrument. If I was single, I would buy a quality instrument. My wife would not like it though if I spent the money to get a quality instrument because she says she has "seen me go through so many periods where I don't even play the guitar much." She's right about that too. Sometimes I go years without playing.

I hope you find the guitar with the Spanish sound you're looking for.

Well Jerry, we all appreciate a good instrument, but as you know, much of the sound is in the fingers and in the soul. A good player can make a bad instrument sound ok, and a bad player can make a wonderful instrument sound like crap. So keep on finger picking and save your money.

Jerry, that sounds good and would take a lot of finesse to play. My hat is off to anyone who can master this style.

You say nylon strings, but aren’t the bass strings usually steel?

Good luck, Stephen. Just follow Scott’s simple instructions, and after about 1,000 hours of practice we won’t even be able to see those fingers move!

Stan,

>>>You say nylon strings, but aren’t the bass strings usually steel?<<<

I don't use any steel strings on my guitar. Steels strings will rip your fingernails up. My bass strings are nylon and they have a very soft type of gold plating on them. They are not at all like the gold plated steel strings that you might have seen or used.

Thank you, Jerry. I don't have much time right now but I would love to hear some of your music.