Pumping Nylon: In TAB: Guitar Book

Tennant's dual presentation in standard notation and TAB removes a common barrier for guitarists transitioning into classical technique without sacrificing rigor. The blend of foundational exercises, historical studies from Giuliani and Tarrega, and contemporary compositions gives students context for why these techniques matter musically. His clear voice and accessible humor make a comprehensive technical handbook feel less like a workout and more like working alongside an experienced mentor.

Structured and thorough without feeling mechanical. The variety of musical sources gives the book momentum; you move from focused technical drills into pieces that demonstrate how those skills create beauty and expressiveness. Tennant's tone throughout is encouraging rather than prescriptive, inviting you to think about technique as a means to musical communication rather than an end in itself.

Classical guitarists ranging from intermediate players solidifying their right-hand foundation through advanced students refining nuanced technique and building a comprehensive technical vocabulary. Teachers seeking a unified resource that combines methodical skill building with musical substance will find this indispensable for studio instruction and ensemble coaching.

• Practice the right-hand studies in isolation before combining them with left-hand material; mastery of finger independence requires dedicated focus on one hand at a time.
• Use the TAB alongside standard notation to build fluency reading both formats; this dual literacy serves you across classical and contemporary guitar repertoire.
• Work through the musical examples from Bach, Turina, and Rodrigo as your technique improves, using them to hear how the technical principles sound in genuine musical contexts.
• Approach the original compositions as compositional models; observe how York and Head apply the techniques you've studied to create coherent musical ideas.

This works best as the backbone of a classical guitar curriculum, either for private lessons or ensemble preparation. For guitarists entering a classical ensemble or preparing for competitive performance, assign sections sequentially while using the musical examples as supplementary repertoire that reinforces the week's technical focus.

• Right-hand finger independence and controlled string articulation
• Arpeggio patterns and variation techniques from Tarrega's tradition
• Reading standard notation and TAB in tandem
• Left-hand positioning and chord voicing efficiency
• Musical phrasing in studies by classical masters (Giuliani, Bach, Turina, Rodrigo)
• Application of technique to contemporary classical guitar idiom