The Shearer Method, Book 3: Learning the Fingerboard: Guitar Book & Online Video/Audio/Software

Shearer's method respects the intelligence of intermediate students while building genuine fingerboard fluency. The combination of original duet compositions, carefully curated repertoire from the Baroque masters, and embedded video instruction creates a complete learning environment that bridges technical exercises and real musical expression.

Moving through this book feels less like climbing a mountain and more like gradually familiarizing yourself with a new city. Each key and position becomes genuinely accessible, then habitual. The Baroque repertoire gives your practice sessions the texture of real music-making rather than exercises, and the duets create moments of genuine collaboration.

Intermediate guitarists ready to move beyond open positions and develop real comfort playing anywhere on the neck. This method serves students who respond well to structured, thoughtful progression and teachers who want a comprehensive curriculum that doesn't compromise musicality for technical drill.

• Work through the scale forms systematically before jumping to the musical applications. Shearer's progression is intentional; skipping steps undermines the foundation.
• Use the high-definition videos to verify your hand position and neck angle. Watching Thomas Kikta's approach side-by-side with your own playing catches habits you'll miss in a mirror alone.
• Engage the duet material with another student or teacher whenever possible. These compositions are designed to make ensemble playing natural, not incidental.
• Reference the recorded tracks as a listening guide before attempting unfamiliar repertoire. Hearing the Telemann or Bach pieces first shapes your musical understanding of the written notes.

Book 3 fits naturally into a student's second or third year of classical guitar study, typically following private lesson work on foundational technique. Its layered approach supports either self-directed study with teacher guidance or serves as the backbone of a structured classical guitar curriculum in ensemble or class settings.

• Fingerboard navigation across all positions and registers
• Reading and playing in multiple keys and positions simultaneously
• Interval recognition by sight on the fretboard
• Scale forms and harmonic understanding across the neck
• Ensemble playing through duet composition
• Stylistic awareness through Baroque and classical repertoire
• Left-hand independence and efficiency in position changes