Welcome, Advanced Guitarist!

Hi, I’m Allen Mathews

Hello Advanced Guitarist,

Thanks so much for visiting my website. Most of the lessons are aimed at players at the beginning-to-intermediate level, and may therefore be review for you.

However, I may be able to offer you a different perspective on some topics you are already fluent in. I studied with a concert pianist for nine years, focusing on phrasing and practice strategy. Many of the ideas stem from the Matthay school of piano playing.

Phrasing And Interpretation

Here are a few articles on specific phrasing devices I’ve come to use and love. More here.

Practice Methods

You are likely an expert in the practice department. Still, here are some short pieces that may be novel or worth revisiting.

Teaching Ideas

If you’re an advanced player, you may also teach. If so, perhaps the ideas below will come in handy.

Other destinations you may enjoy:

The Free Sheet Music Library – over 1300 pieces of music to download and play. Most have both notation and TABs.
Visit the full Site Index – Hundreds of lessons, categorized for easy browsing.
DIYJointPainRelief.com – My go-to for anything pain-related. The techniques work better than anything else I’ve found. Life-changing.

Thanks again for your interest. If you’re looking for something specific, please feel free to reach out and ask.

All the best,

Allen Mathews

Hi, I’m Allen Mathews.

I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Despite a lot of practice and schooling, I still couldn’t get my music to flow well. I struggled with excess tension. My music sounded forced. And my hands and body were often sore. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two other stellar teachers – one focused on the technical movements, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Now I help guitarists find more comfort and flow in their music, so they play more beautifully.
Click here for a sample formula.

I just started level 1C...I was able to look at a Carulli piece, albeit a simple one, and understand it. And that understanding allowed me to play it much more easily on the first run through, and I expect it will allow me to make it fully musical at tempo quite soon. That's a huge personal victory for me. Until very recently my mindset was: "Notes on a page. Jimi didn't need them and I don't either." But I ain't Jimi, and now I want those notes on a page.

My work in CGS, even at these early levels, got me to that personal breakthrough. And that's given me more confidence that continued work will get me to greater places in due time. So to answer your question: yes, I absolutely feel like I'm making headway and moving forward in my playing. Thank you for that.

~ Matthew Ecker

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Those videos on practicing the piece were just awesome, Allen! I've always thought that learning songs might be something completely different than practicing exercises, but the way you teach it makes it much easier than I thought. I'm positive that joining the Woodshed has been the best investment I've ever done for learning the classical guitar. Thank you so much for these lessons.

~ Ulysses Alexandre Alves

-Ulysses Alexandre Alves

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