Baroque Period Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (05:56) Introduction to Baroque Lesson Objectives

-Learn how to play J.S. Bach's famous minuet in G.
-Learn key historical and stylistic elements of the Baroque period.
-Learn key compositional elements of the minuet form.

Note: Stylistic information pertaining to each of the five periods of Western art music (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern) will soon be posted in the Articles section of JamPlay. This section can be accessed through the left-hand side of the homepage. Learning this information will help you interpret written scores in a stylistically appropriate manner. Without knowing the background information and the approach that went into composing a piece of music, you will not be able to play it as it was meant to be performed.

Process of Learning a New Piece of Music

Always follow the steps listed below when learning any new piece of music.

1. Listen to Several Recordings of the Piece

This is one of the most frequently recorded pieces from the Baroque period. Bach's classic Minuet in G has been recorded by keyboardists, string players, and by countless other instrumentalists. Listen to a variety of different recordings to explore all possible interpretations of the piece.

2. Note the Title and Composer

A. Minuet

The minuet is an elegant dance movement played in triple meter. Remember that a triple meter is one in which each measure can be subdivided into three sections. Common examples of triple meter are 3/4, 3/8, and 9/8. 6/8 and 12/8 are NOT examples of triple meter. Rather, they are examples of "compound duple" meters.

From a melodic standpoint, the minuet features regular, balanced phrases. Due to the straightforward nature of the melody, most minuets are quite simple in terms of the supporting harmony.

Hit the library to learn some more information about this important musical form! Do not get your musical information from Wikipedia!!! This background information is essential to performing the piece in the appropriate style.

B. Composer - J.S. Bach

Bach is arguably the most important composer of all time! Consequently, you should learn as much as you can about his life and work. Check out the following links for more information:

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

3. Note the Tempo and Style

In the case of this piece, no tempo or style is listed. Listening to recordings and studying the background information pertaining to the "minuet" should give you a clear idea of the appropriate tempo and style.

4. Note the Key Signature - G Major

5. Note the Time Signature - 3/4

6. Scan for Other Important Characteristics

Make a note of important features such as form, phrase structure, accidentals, key changes, time signature changes, etc.

Performance Example

Watch and listen several times as Danny performs the first section of the minuet (mm. 1-16) at 00:50 before you begin to practice this excerpt.

Right Hand Fingering

Alternate the I and M fingers when playing groups of eighth notes.

Left Hand Fingering
Pay careful attention to the left hand fingering that Danny demonstrates. You will need to use this fingering to accommodate the bass line of the piece. Economy of movement is key!

Rhythm

The rhythm of this melody is incredibly basic. Write in the appropriate counting syllables below the staff to ensure that you are interpreting the rhythm correctly. All of the rhythms are either quarter notes or eighth notes.

Notice how the rhythm of the first two phrases is identical. This is a key feature of the piece. Noticing features such as this really comes in handy when it comes to memorizing a piece.

Bass Rhythm

Count 1+2+3+ for bars of 3/4 that contain eighth notes. This enables you to divide each beat into its two even halves.

Dotted Notes

The bass line features dotted half notes. A half note by itself receives two beats. A dot adds half of the written value of the note. So, half of two beats is one beat. Thus, a dotted half note receives 2+1 beats, or a total of 3 beats.

Practice Tips

-Learn the melody one phrase at a time.

-Do not include the bass line yet regardless of how good you think you are!

-Really listen to the melody as you play it! Danny demonstrates the first phrase at 02:00. Emulate his example with your own playing. Chapter 2: (06:57) Bars 5-8 of Minuet in G A Few Notes on the Score

Danny only teaches the first half of Bach's "Minuet" in this lesson. A copy of the full score is provided in the "Supplemental Content" in case you wish to learn the piece in its entirety.

Instrumentation

This piece was originally written for the lute. Countless pieces written for lute during the Renaissance and Baroque periods have since been arranged for the modern day classical guitar. Bach's lute works are a prime example. His lute works have become a very important part of classical guitar literature from the Baroque period.

It should be noted that an early version of the guitar known as the "Baroque guitar" was in existence at this time. However, Bach never composed any music for it. This is most likely due to the fact that the Baroque guitar was not nearly as popular as instruments like the lute and the harpsichord. The famous Minuet in G was written as a beginner harpsichord study in G major.

Performance Example

Danny demonstrates measures 5-8 at 01:30 in the lesson video. Keep in mind that he is playing these measures slightly slower than the ideal goal performance tempo. He does this to help you follow along with what he is playing. Watch and listen to this example several times before you practice these measures.

Adding Slurs

Notice how Danny adds in some hammer-ons and pull-offs as he plays the melody. Keep in mind that this piece was not originally written for the guitar. These slurs were added into the score by the guitarist who arranged the piece. Hammer-ons and pull-offs can be added into an interpretation of a Bach piece if the performer feels that it aids in the performance of the melody or accompaniment part. Base your decision of whether to slur or not on how the melody sounds. This is slightly more important than what is comfortable for the hands.

Make sure that your slurs are played evenly. Set the metronome so that it clicks on every eighth note. The first note in the slur must receive the exact same value as the second. Many beginner and intermediate guitarists have the tendency to cut the first note short.

Practice Tips

Remember to practice the melody and accompaniment separately before combining them together! Chapter 3: (03:40) Bars 9-12 of Minuet in G Phrase Structure

Phrase 1: mm. 1-4 (phrase a)
Phrase 2: mm. 5-8 (phrase b)
Phrase 3: mm. 9-12 (phrase a)
Phrase 4: mm. 13-16 (phrase b' - pronounced "b prime")

Notice how the melody of measures 1-6 is the same as 9-14 of the melody. However, the bass line differs in these measures. A simplistic, catchy theme is repeated over a slightly different bass line to add some subtle variety to the piece. Chapter 4: (05:42) Bars 13-16 of Minuet in G To Slur or not to Slur

Notice that pull-offs are not written in the score in measures 13 and 14. The melody is identical to measures 5 and 6, which both contain slurs. Since the bass line is different in measures 13 and 14, the slurs are not quite as practical in these measures.

B Section of the Piece

Using the skills that Danny has taught you, tackle the second half of this minuet on your own. Notation and tablature to the full piece are provided under the "Supplemental Content" tab.

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