Classic Guitar Technique, Volume 2: Guitar Book

Shearer's Volume 2 respects where students actually are after Volume 1, building complexity through carefully sequenced studies rather than jumping ahead. The text acknowledges that every student brings different technical challenges and learning styles, placing responsibility on the teacher and player to evaluate progress honestly and adjust accordingly. This maturity in pedagogical thinking, combined with Shearer's reputation for producing serious classical guitarists, makes it an essential choice for instructors committed to systematic development.

Working through these pages feels like being invited into a master class where discipline and musicality are inseparable. The studies are direct and purposeful, neither padded with filler nor overwhelmingly dense, creating a sense of clear progress as technical control expands to match musical ambition.

This book serves intermediate classical guitarists who have completed Volume 1 and are ready for deeper technical study across a broader range of musical styles and hand positions. Teachers seeking a comprehensive, philosophically coherent method that demands genuine student engagement will find Shearer's approach invaluable.

• Work through the studies in order rather than skipping ahead. Each one prepares the hand and ear for what follows, and gaps in foundational technique will compound as difficulty increases.
• Return frequently to earlier studies from Volume 1 when you encounter new technical demands. Shearer's design assumes you'll reference both books throughout your practice.
• Record yourself regularly to hear whether your musical intention matches your execution. The text assumes you're evaluating your own 'personal problems,' which is impossible without listening critically.
• Study the pieces as music first, technique second. Shearer expects you to understand the harmonic structure and phrasing before optimizing finger position.

Use Volume 2 as the core text for intermediate classical guitar students, pairing studies with the Federation Festivals repertoire selections to build both technique and concert-ready material simultaneously. This book works best with students who practice consistently and benefit from direct, structured guidance rather than exploratory or eclectic approaches.

• Extended right-hand techniques across varied string patterns
• Left-hand positioning and reach in higher positions on the fretboard
• Sight-reading at increased tempo and complexity
• Dynamic control and tonal variation through deliberate practice
• Harmonic understanding applied to classical and traditional forms
• Self-evaluation and technical problem-solving