DIATONIC MAJOR AND MINOR SCALES by ANDRES SEGOVIADIATONIC MAJOR and MINOR SCALES By ANDRES SEGOVIA PREFACE The thoughtful musician who reviews the history of the guitar from its earliest begin- ‘ings cannot but be surprised at the lack of 2 practical system of studies and exercises coordinated in such a way as co permit che faithful student to progress continuously from the first easy lessons to real mastery of the instrument. For this lack we could blame three great men who have revealed to us the true spirit of the guitar - Sor, Aguado, and Tarrega. But they have an’ excellent excuse for their neglect: they devoted their time religiously Co the task of provide ing the guitar with the only really valuable repertoire which it can claim. This is es- Pecially true of Sor and Tarrega. Aguado did continuously interest himself in the prob- Jems of teaching, and with worthy results. Indeed, his didactic works are superior to hhis scant output as a composer. Although his "School of the Guitar” is a disorganized compilation of studies without progressive logic, ic is useful for the student who is al- ready far advnced and who does not require elementary lessons, The beginner who tries to learn from Aguado's book will find him- self floundering helplessly. The beautiful, useless lessons which comprise one part of the method please his ear without limbering his fingers, and the others will be far beyond his capabilities. OF the three men mentioned above, Tar- rega did so much to make the guitar the sensitive instrument that it is today. The pthers have left us a few pages synthesizing his rich talent and the wisdom drawn from his experience. In such a book he might have counseled us with the same good sense and the same helpfulness that characterized his teachings during his lifetime. The ex- Press statement of “his intent as a teacher, uunalterably preserved, would have tend. ered a fruitful service co the guitar in the future in our own time by excommunicating all the false followers who misguidedly teach the guitar in his name. Since there is as yet no definitely establish- ed architecture of the study of our beloved frument, we believe it is our duty to try fo fill this lack. Apparently no one hae cared to leave the trace of his first efforts on the guitar, perhaps fearful of imparting to the Pupil the mystery of his own ap. Prenticeship. We, on the contraty, are only too happy to set down such a record, em bodying examples of our own conquest of the problems we faced, in order to help the student develop to the uemost his artistic Possibilities, a The student who wishes to acquite a firm technique on the guitar should not neglect the patient study of scales. If he practices them tw. itions, gradually increase the strength of the fin, ‘0 hours a day, he will correct faulty hand pos- gers, and prepare the joints for later speed Studies, Thanks to the independence and elasticity which the fingers develop through the study of scales, the student will soon acquire a quality which is very difficule to gain later: physical beauty of sound. “1 say physical, because sonority and its infinite shadings ate not the result of stubborn will power but spring’ from the innate excellence of the spirit, In order to derive the greatest possible benefit from the following exercises, play them slow- ly and vigorously at first, more lightly and rapidly later. In one hour of scales may be con: densed many hours of arduous exercises which are enables one to solve a greater number of technical ANDRES SEGOVIA of any other exercise, frequently futile. The practice of scales problems in a shorter time than the scudyDIATONIC MAJOR AND MINOR SCALES m= mile in (Revised fattion) a = 3rd of ring finger By ANDRES SEGOVIA Practice each scale apoyando seven times a5 indicared below. ‘ 41 242 2 a1 22a a4 ~ et GUITAR 4 t + tate ete Fe 2a Pit test Fe ay Efeaiar, , ott. foie erg @) a) s) —_7 3 zg ttre15 sie qa te =: ~~ iis ates a5 ‘ 4 ae) (5) © 6 ‘ te ages OS wi © ee @rss ge 5 aes cS = ®—16-) 325 { oe @t OS 6) a4 va4sis papell! E = T= = 3a )— (9 t [yjte =f@ept2r2y 4314 getty SS —_1a— moe tasegg @° Fs, 2 aul Ai2 1 siiisaistetiene 621. S33 ay ft oe Ts) t Scales-7a pe ae SIT Tte + The Te = ag Tre = [f[tre ~ vers i Eee 333 e ye SS 4 zg2 eabaa, . ; ppt a ——+ + @—enih 4 Ss aE “ o—__% a «eo (5) Scales-7124 a*etiterads?:s 1 Bias —) TO gy 1 a 4 , 41 34 peaetens 233 essen nitlitee: wo (3) Sa ot 1 24 fr |a3 ats 4 8h 12 + fo + =! = a 31 (5) —J < = @—— 3) — 42 She ebay? 1a 2 43 feeeees — =e +f 7 t a ja s eS Ss Seales-7 w@—o)— — »——2 4g) 2 1 4 pipe siale flere s 5 22 S14 = of: Ng) 4) J (5) “4 9 am Seales-T