Guitar: fingerstyle workshop
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 16 Sep 2025End Date: 25 Nov 2025Tue (Evening): 18:00 - 19:30OnlineFull fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Extend your knowledge and practical understanding of technical guitar matters and musical styles. Improve your playing technique so you may deliver a polished performance. You will gain confidence in fingerpicking in different styles.
What will we cover?
-Rhythmic accuracy
-Use alternative tunings eg open G, drop D
-The option to perform solos in the class
-Analysis of our pieces
-Various picking patterns
-The playing styles of fingerstyle guitarists.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
-Improve left and right hand technique sufficiently to be able to focus on musicality
-Understand what it takes to prepare a piece to performance standard
-Play solo pieces with more confidence
-Play different styles of music.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Suitable for players with upwards of 2 years experience, able to read notation or tab. You are able to play melody and chords on the guitar.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor demonstrations, and we will practice and play together with opportunity for you to play solo. You will be expected to practise the pieces between our weekly sessions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
An acoustic guitar - nylon or steel string. Extensive course materials and resources are supplied by the tutor in the google classroom.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Continue this study by joining ME133B and C.
Tony Rowden studied with the eminent Spanish guitarist Carlos Bonell initially at City Lit and then at The London College of Music. He has also attended classes given by Gary Ryan and John Mills. He has performed with Carlos Bonell and Clive Carroll as well as flautists, recorder players, Renaissance singers and a guitar trio. He has recently played in Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding, Lope de Vega's Peribanez and a musical version of George Orwell's Animal Farm. Tony premiered Memórias, the published works of Silvestre Fonseca's Fado arrangements, and had a piece, Serenata, written for him by Silvestre Fonseca. He has several arrangements published: Ennio Morricone's Once Upon A Time In The West and The Master and Margerita and the book Easy Ensembles. His playing is featured in the film Silent Shakespeare, with pieces composed by Laura Rossi (London to Brighton, Song for Marion), and an animated film with music composed by Miguel Mera. Tony has been teaching at City Lit for the past twenty years
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
