About this work
Sixteenth notes move between the strings above a regular bass: Carcassi’s Study op. 60 no. 8 in E major brings arpeggios to the foreground. The melody lies within the arpeggios rather than forming a separate line. Bringing out a few notes gives the phrase direction without hardening every attack.A steady bass beneath the arpeggiosPractise the bass notes alone first, counting the two beats in each bar. Add the faster notes with a lighter sound. The left hand needs to prepare each chord while holding the bass for its written duration; shifting too soon cuts off the harmony supporting the melody.Both sections have repeats. In the second, accidentals change the points of support, so read the chords again before increasing the speed. The written rests at phrase endings allow a short breath; they should not interrupt the pulse.
Score and listeningThe PDF contains the complete piece for solo guitar on 1 page. The MIDI plays each section once; follow the PDF’s repeat signs when playing the complete study.This engraving by Jeff Covey, distributed by the Mutopia Project, has been placed in the public domain by its author. It was typeset with LilyPond. See the Mutopia entry for credits and find more scores at LesPartitions.info.