Playing the Lisbon Portuguese Guitarra by
Ronald Louis Fernandez (continued)
The version of this piece in João Victória's Metódo de Guitarra appears as "Fado em Si bemol" (Fado in Bb). That piece was originally written in B Flat with an old fado tuning (FCDGCD--6th to 1st course), I have transposed it to the modern Lisboa fado tuning (DABEAB). While I have transposed it down a minor 3rd (three half steps) I have maintained the original left hand fingering. See below for commentary and transcription.
Melodically and harmonically this is a simple
piece. In between the 8-note fado arpeggio patterns there are
short scale passages. The harmony alternates between tonic and
dominant chords (G and D7). In the original sheet music there
are diagrams of the fingering for these 2 chords. The "1a
Posição" (G major which is Sol) diagram shows using the 2nd
finger on the 6th string for the G note. Many modern players
would use the left hand thumb.
G
major
D Major7
Through most of the piece it is possible to use
either the 2nd finger (the middle finger) or the thumb on the
6th string 5th fret and to use the 1st finger on 3rd string 3rd
fret and to use the 3rd finger on the 2nd string 5th fret (just
like the diagram shows). However, in the 3rd variation
(measure 25) it is difficult to use that fingering.
My solution is to use the 4th finger on the 2nd
string 5th fret, 3rd finger on the 3rd string 3rd fret and the
thumb on the 6th string 5th fret and again for the 4th fret
note, then I use the 1st finger for the 2nd fret.
Generally I do not like to explain left hand
fingerings in words but I thought my fingering would be lost in
the sheet music notation which would be frustrating for the
player. The reader can see the fingering João Victória suggested
by looking under the music staff. There he uses a system of
abbreviations for left hand fingering. The letter "C" is used
for corda (meaning strings), "P" means ponto (meaning frets) and
"D" means dedo (meaning left hand fingers).
To continue Portuguese Guitarra Lesson, press here