How to Learn Portuguese Guitar Music

Traditional Portuguese guitar music is known as fado, and is marked by its nostalgic qualities, called saudade. Saudade reflects a longing for a homeland, faded aspirations and melancholy. According to World Music Central, fado is performed by women or men and accompanied by two guitars, one a pear-shaped Coimbra guitar, the other a classical guitar. World Music Central describes a classic fado performance by a female singer (a fadista): "Dressed in black with a shawl draped over her shoulders, a fadista stands in front of the musicians and communicates through gesture and facial expressions. The hands move, the body is stationary. When it's done correctly, it's a solemn and majestic performance." If you already know the basics of the guitar, you can learn the fado repertoire and style.

Listen to lots of fado. Internalizing the aesthetic of the music is the first step to playing it. Listen to recordings of classic fado performers, such as Jose Afonso, Edmundo Bettencourt, Luis Gois, Alfredo Marceneiro, Maria Teresa de Noronha, Artur Paredes, Carlos Paredes, Antonio Portugal, Amalia Rodrigues, and Armandinho and Jaime Santos. Newer performers include Cristina Branco, Mariza and Misia.

Work through a fado method book. There are several method books for learning Fado available that introduce players to the harmonic and melodic structures of the music as well as some basic repertoire. Ron Fernández of Fernandez Music recommends two books: Donald Cohen's book Fado Portugues, which is readily available; and Paolo Soares's Método de Guitarra Portuguesa: Bases para a Guitarra de Coimbra (Portuguese Guitar Method: basic techniques for the Coimbra Guitar), which is out of print but still available through Fernandez and used book sellers.

Take lessons from an experienced fado player. When you have some repertoire, arrange for a few lessons from someone familiar with the style and its conventions. Ask your local music schools for the names of guitarists or singers who play or sing fado.

Play with others. One you have some basics mastered, playing with other people will help you improve your fado playing. Look for a singer interested in singing fado with you, and seek out other fans of Portuguese music in your community for informal playing and dancing sessions.

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