Even short notes surround a longer melody. Learn to bring it out without hardening the accompaniment. The second section moves into higher positions. The app uses 60 as a practice tempo; the engraving says Allegretto.
Skills to prepare
- Balance between voices
- Sustained bass notes
- Even arpeggios
- Small barres
- Position shifts
Before learning the piece
- App checkpoint: bring out the two melody notes in bar 1 above the others, five times in a row. Practise this skill.
- App checkpoint: play two even notes per click for 20 seconds without rushing string changes. Practise this skill.
- App checkpoint: sound the required strings of a small barre at 2, then at 4, three times each. Practise this skill.
These checkpoints belong to our learning path. They do not set a deadline for your progress.
Tablature and fingerings
The six lines represent the strings, with high E at the top. Numbers show frets; 0 means an open string. The letters p, i, m and a indicate right-hand fingers.
Read the complete static tab · Download the alphaTex file
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Your phrase-by-phrase plan
Work on a short passage. Aim for five clean attempts in a row, then connect two phrases. Bar numbers follow our transcription, including a separately numbered pickup where applicable.
Phrase 1 · bars 1–2
Play the melody alone, then hum it. Add the softer short notes. Hold the bass from bar 1 into bar 2 without plucking it again.
Phrase 2 · bars 3–4
In bar 3, take advantage of the open first string. In bar 4, return to the shape from bar 1. Prepare the changes without squeezing harder.
Phrase 3 · bars 5–6
In bar 5, prepare fret 3 on string 3. In bar 6, it returns to fret 4. Keep the melody clear through this change.
Phrase 4 · bars 7–8
In bar 7, the first three notes use open strings. The last treble note moves to fret 1. In bar 8, keep the small barre at 2 relaxed.
Phrase 5 · bars 9–10
Return to the opening bass and shape in bar 9. In bar 10, the melody rises to fret 2 on string 1. Keep the short notes even.
Phrase 6 · bars 11–12
In bar 11, leave open string 1 free to ring. In bar 12, prepare frets 3, 4 and 5 on strings 2, 3 and 4.
Phrase 7 · bars 13–14
In bar 13, the last beat's bass arrives at fret 2 on string 4. In bar 14, return to the opening pattern without speeding up.
Phrase 8 · bars 15–16
In bar 15, let fret 2 on string 2 sing. In bar 16, finish on the bass at fret 2 on string 5 and give the melody space.
Phrase 9 · bars 17–18
The repeat starts at bar 17. Play these two bars' melody alone, then add the short notes. Keep two short notes per click.
Phrase 10 · bars 19–20
In bar 19, return to the opening shape. In bar 20, listen to string 3 changing from fret 4 to fret 3.
Phrase 11 · bars 21–22
In bar 21, the melody rises to fret 2 on string 1. In bar 22, let the open first string ring while the inner notes change.
Phrase 12 · bars 23–24
In bar 23, return to the opening pattern. In bar 24, fret 2 on string 2 is played again before its written duration ends: release the first sustained note as the new attack begins.
Phrase 13 · bars 25–26
In bar 25, prepare the bass at fret 3 on string 5 and the melody at fret 4 on string 2. In bar 26, return to open strings. Keep the same pace.
Phrase 14 · bars 27–28
In bar 27, keep open string 3 discreet. In bar 28, the bass starts on open string 4, then rises to fret 4.
Phrase 15 · bars 29–30
In bar 29, keep the melody at fret 1 on string 2 above the short notes. In bar 30, play the three melody notes first: fret 3 on string 1, open string 1, then fret 1 on string 2.
Phrase 16 · bars 31–32
In bar 31, prepare fret 1 on strings 6 and 3. In bar 32, move to the small barre at 2. Check each required string separately.
Phrase 17 · bars 33–34
In bar 33, return to the bass at fret 2 on string 5. In bar 34, let the melody rise without making the inner notes louder.
Phrase 18 · bars 35–36
In bar 35, take advantage of the open first string. In bar 36, return to the opening shape with the same tone.
Phrase 19 · bars 37–38
Compare string 3: fret 3 in bar 37, fret 4 in bar 38. Prepare that change alone, then add the bass and melody.
Phrase 20 · bars 39–40
In bar 39, keep the open strings clear before the treble note at fret 1. In bar 40, the last beat has a bass note: keep it steady.
Phrase 21 · bars 41–42
In bar 41, prepare the short movement from 2 to 3 on string 1. In bar 42, move up to the barre at 4. Listen separately to the melody and the notes at fret 6 on string 2.
Phrase 22 · bars 43–44
In bar 43, prepare the bass at fret 9 on string 5 with the notes around 6–7. In bar 44, return to the bass at fret 5 on string 4. Open strings ease the shift.
Phrase 23 · bars 45–46
In bar 45, hold the bass at fret 2 on string 4 under the melody. In bar 46, prepare the bass at fret 4 and the melody at fret 2 on string 1.
Phrase 24 · bars 47–48
In bar 47, keep the first melody note tied: do not pluck it again on the last beat. In bar 48, let the chord ring, then observe the rest. Return to bar 17 once.
Watch and listen
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Performance · Classical Guitar Corner
Listen to the whole study. Find the long melody notes above the short notes. Instrumental performance.
English commentary. Link and metadata checked for our selection.
Sources and transcription choices
- Sor — 24 Exercises Op. 35, book II, Simrock 2770; Boije 482, No.22 on PDF page 10
- Classical Guitar Corner — isolating, playing and humming this study's melody
- Classical Guitar Corner — Study No.22, performance and resources
The notes follow the credited sources. Fingerings, phrase divisions and practice tempos are editorial learning choices. How our transcriptions work.