Pumping Nylon (Second Edition): The Classical Guitarist's Technique Handbook
The Classical Guitarist's Technique Handbook
By Scott Tennant
Item: 00-PB-0002507
$21.99
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Description
Second Edition Includes:
* All of the original content
* Three new performance pieces
* Giuliani's Left-Hand Etudes, Op. 1
* New lessons and exercises
* Improved music engravings
Upon its first publication in 1995, Pumping Nylon became an instant classic and must-have technique handbook for all classical guitarists, and many players of other styles as well. Scott Tennant's encouraging style, sense of humor, and unique approach to technical training have garnered Pumping Nylon devotees throughout the world. At the heart of it all is the famous "Daily Warm-Up Routine," which includes 11 clever, helpful exercises to get both hands in shape and ready to play while improving your technical skills. The invaluable lessons in technique are supplemented by Giuliani's 120 Right-Hand Studies, Tarrega arpeggio studies, and examples from music by Bach, Turina, and Rodrigo. In addition, original compositions by guitar luminaries Brian Head and Andrew York reinforce the material while also providing concert-worthy repertoire. This new, improved second edition of Pumping Nylon incorporates even more great material with new pieces by Evan Hirschelman, Guiliani's Left Hand Etudes, Op. 1, and new technical exercises in tremolo and balancing chord voicings. The music engravings have been improved for easier reading, and all of the media is available online! If Pumping Nylon is already part of your library, it's time for an upgrade!
Pumping Nylon (Second Edition) is even better than the original. If you're just now finding Scott Tennant's masterpiece, this is a great opportunity to jump on board and start enjoying this classic book. Your practice routine and technical prowess will improve, and you'll have fun as you learn.
* All of the original content
* Three new performance pieces
* Giuliani's Left-Hand Etudes, Op. 1
* New lessons and exercises
* Improved music engravings
Upon its first publication in 1995, Pumping Nylon became an instant classic and must-have technique handbook for all classical guitarists, and many players of other styles as well. Scott Tennant's encouraging style, sense of humor, and unique approach to technical training have garnered Pumping Nylon devotees throughout the world. At the heart of it all is the famous "Daily Warm-Up Routine," which includes 11 clever, helpful exercises to get both hands in shape and ready to play while improving your technical skills. The invaluable lessons in technique are supplemented by Giuliani's 120 Right-Hand Studies, Tarrega arpeggio studies, and examples from music by Bach, Turina, and Rodrigo. In addition, original compositions by guitar luminaries Brian Head and Andrew York reinforce the material while also providing concert-worthy repertoire. This new, improved second edition of Pumping Nylon incorporates even more great material with new pieces by Evan Hirschelman, Guiliani's Left Hand Etudes, Op. 1, and new technical exercises in tremolo and balancing chord voicings. The music engravings have been improved for easier reading, and all of the media is available online! If Pumping Nylon is already part of your library, it's time for an upgrade!
Pumping Nylon (Second Edition) is even better than the original. If you're just now finding Scott Tennant's masterpiece, this is a great opportunity to jump on board and start enjoying this classic book. Your practice routine and technical prowess will improve, and you'll have fun as you learn.
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Additional Details
Series:
Pumping Nylon Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
144
SKU:
00-PB-0002507
More about this title
About the Composer: Scott Tennant
Scott Tennant has shaped how classical guitarists approach technique for nearly three decades. As a virtuoso performer, recording artist, and pedagogue, he understood that traditional method books often missed what players actually needed: a system that was simultaneously rigorous and humane, challenging without being discouraging.
Tennant's work at the University of Southern California and his prolific output as both composer and arranger have made him one of the most influential voices in contemporary classical guitar education. His ability to distill complex technical concepts into practical, achievable exercises has earned him a devoted following among professionals and students alike.
Why we love this
Most technique handbooks feel like they were written by engineers rather than musicians. Tennant writes like someone who has actually felt the frustration of a stubborn tremolo technique or uneven right-hand balance, then sat down to solve it with warmth and humor. The Daily Warm-Up Routine alone makes this essential, and the second edition's expanded content (Giuliani's Left-Hand Etudes, new pieces, reinforced tremolo work) keeps it relevant whether you're teaching a student in their first year or preparing an advanced player for competition.
What to expect
Opening Pumping Nylon feels like having a patient, knowledgeable coach in your practice room. The writing is encouraging without being patronizing, the exercises build logically from one to the next, and you always understand why you are doing something, not just what to do. By the time you complete the Daily Warm-Up Routine, both hands feel awake and capable.
Who it's for
Every classical guitarist benefits from this handbook, whether they are working through their first year of technique or maintaining a professional practice routine. Teachers can assign specific exercises and etudes to address individual technical gaps, while serious students will return to Pumping Nylon repeatedly as their playing develops.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the Daily Warm-Up Routine as sacred, not optional. Consistency with these 11 exercises reshapes hand coordination faster than random practice, and students notice results within days.
- Layer the Giuliani and Tarrega studies into repertoire work rather than isolating them. When a student is learning a Bach prelude, run the relevant Giuliani study first to unlock the same technical demand.
- Schedule the original compositions (Head, York, Hirschelman) as performance pieces, not exercises. They reinforce technical points while sounding genuinely musical on a recital.
How to use it
This handbook works best as a semester-long or year-long reference for private lesson students and in group guitar classes. Assign specific sections to align with the repertoire students are learning; for instance, use the tremolo exercises when a student takes on Tarrega or Turina works. The performance pieces integrate seamlessly into recital programming or student concert rotations.
Skills your students will build
- Right-hand independence and tremolo technique
- Left-hand strength, finger independence, and intonation accuracy
- Arpeggio patterns and voicing balance
- Rest strokes and free strokes with consistent tone
- Sight-reading through 120 Giuliani studies and supplemental Bach transcriptions
- Phrasing and interpretation using composed pieces by Head, York, and Hirschelman