Review: Antonio Picado Model 53 Over the years, Antonio Picado guitars have gained a faithful following of customers who swear by their instruments for their tonal excellence and high quality. In this review we take a look at one of the most affordable guitars Antonio Picado have to offer; the Model 53. Nestled in the shadow of the Serra de Queralt in the Spanish Pyrenees, Antonio Picado’s workshop is not a large facility that churns out hundreds of guitars a day. In fact, if it were not for the tiny plaque above the door, you’d walk right past it. In contrast to larger powerhouse workshops ..read more

Pre-Order to save 10% plus receive FREE gifts worth over £40! As the exclusive dealer for Antonio Picado, you won’t be able to find these guitars anywhere else in the UK. We have limited stock of each model so if you’ve been eyeing up one of these superb guitars, here is your chance to finally get your hands on one. We only order ONE of each model, so it pays to be quick when it comes to these guitars. Pre-Order Offer Simply purchase your guitar from us online and apply the code below on the basket page to receive this offer. Pre-order now and you’ll receive:  10% off ANY Anton ..read more

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here is a little gift from me. Enjoy getting your fingers around this little arrangement, it’s a cracker! Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer https://www.classicalguitaracademy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rudolph-Audio.wav Full Version Melody Only The post Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (PDF) appeared first on Classical Guitar Academy ..read more

Classical Guitar Action Explained There’s no denying that changing the action on your classical guitar can have a profound effect on its playability. But did you know that changing the action to be higher or lower can also have a significant impact on the dynamic capability and tone of your guitar? In this post we will define what the guitar action is, explore it’s effect on your guitar, discuss the pros/cons of a higher or lower action and teach you how to measure and adjust your own classical guitar action if required. Understanding what the action is on your guitar can be useful in furthe ..read more

Antonio Picado Guitars Now Available at CGA We’re absolutely delighted to reintroduce Antonio Picado guitars back to the UK. We have a small range of Picado guitars available in our shop, and will be adding more lines in the future. Quite simply, we love these guitars! They’re immaculately finished, which is indicative of the great care and attention these guitars experience during the building process. The general character of all Antonio Picado guitars is one that is both bold and clear. A huge, full bass voice is complemented by a singing, bell like treble voice. One of the most impressiv ..read more

When Not to Use a Metronome A metronome is an essential piece of practice equipment. You should definitely own one and use it often. However there are also times when you should turn the metronome off and practice without it. But when is the right time to practice with a metronome, and when should you practice without one? It can be a hard one to get right if you’re relatively new to the guitar, or still trying to figure out the most effective practice routine. Hopefully this short post will give you a few ideas about when it’s ok to practice without a metronome ticking away. Join Our Ma ..read more

Mike’s Story There is nothing more thrilling than seeing your pupils grow into accomplished, confident musicians. It gives me the greatest pleasure to share an incredible success story that showcases the transformation that occurs when dedication meets proper guidance. Meet Mike, one of our pupils, whose musical prowess has soared to new heights since taking guitar lessons with Classical Guitar Academy. The first few months Mike joined Classical Guitar Academy in November 2020, seeking to improve his guitar skills and pass his graded exams. Mike travels a lot for work, and I believe he w ..read more

Maintaining your classical guitar is crucial to ensure its longevity, playability and tone. By following a regular maintenance routine, you can keep your instrument in pristine condition for years to come. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps of how to properly maintain your guitar, covering everything from cleaning to checking the guitar’s setup and putting measures in place to avoid damage. Wipe Down Surfaces Start your maintenance routine by wiping the surfaces of your classical guitar clean using a good quality dry microfibre cloth. This helps remove dust, finge ..read more

I’ve been playing guitar since 1996 and I’ve been teaching people to play the guitar since 2005. In that time, I’ve encountered a lot of different approaches to practice both in my own playing and in the playing of my students. Needless to say, I’ve encountered a lot of common practice mistakes over the years – I’ve made a lot of them myself! I’ve also learned from these mistakes, and it’s the lessons I’ve learned from my experience that I’d like to share today. Avoid the following common practice mistakes to supercharge your practice efficiency. Most Common Practice Mistakes To Avoid Here ..read more

Should you Force your Child to Practice? A hot topic and one that is sure to throw up a lot of different responses. Should you force your child to practice? If so, how much encouragement should you give them to practice? Where is the line for pushing your child to practice? How much is too much? Let’s look at the scenario. Little Timmy wants to play guitar. He’s seen ‘Coco’ or ‘School or Rock’, or maybe he’s seen his best friend Jimmy playing the guitar and it looks like a lot of fun. As a loving, caring parent, you’ve gone out and purchased little Timmy his first guitar. You might have even ..read more