Kitharalogous

An Examination of The Path to Virtuosity

Ricardo Iznaola
-Ryan Roubison-
 Ricardo Iznaola
“Nature, in order to be commanded, must be obeyed.” –Francis Bacon
-Quote featured on the inside cover of Kitharalogous.
 Overview
• Kitharalogous is more of a technical workout manual for guitarist, rather than a
book of etudes.
• 101 total exercises, organized into nine levels of difficulty with a six day
routine. Each daily routine is subdivided into three subgroups of exercises
that must be mastered at the listed tempo before progressing to the next
level.
• Not unlike an intense workout plan used to maintain physical fitness.
• “Nature, in order to be commanded, must be obeyed.” –Francis Bacon
 Workout Routines
• The six days are divided into two groups. Group A: Mon, Wed, Fri.
Group B: Tues, Thurs, Sat.
• The actual routines are based on two ideas; cyclical repetition and alternating
procedures.
• Ie; Double notes and slurring exercises (group A) vs muscle
extension/contractions and shifting exercises (group B.)
• General right hand exercises and scales are utilized every day in both
subgroups.
 Level I
#1-20.
• Consists of 20 exercises, mostly aimed at RH and LH
positioning/articulation, scales, arpeggios, barring and slurs.
• Treated as a preparatory group of workout routines, used to prepare the
player for the rest of the book. The basic concepts covered here are built
upon throughout the rest of the book.
 Level II-III
#21-37
• Focuses on RH extensions and contractions via arpeggio patterns, string
skipping with adjacent fingers, and mixing rest stroke/free stroke.
• LH strength building: slur combinations, large shifts, stretching across 5 frets.
 Level IV-V
#38-58
• Introduction of diad (double note) exercises ie; chromatic 5ths and minor
3rds.
• Introduction to tremolo technique.
 Level VI-VII
#59-81
• Expansion on diad excercises: chromatic minor and major 6ths, 7ths and
9ths.
• Natural and artificial harmonics (diatonic and chromatic)
• Trills with bass line (legato)
 Level VIII-IX
#82-101
• Repeated chords with various rhythms
• Double slurs
• Arpeggios with artificial harmonics
• Artificial harmonics with slurs
 Special Effects
• Includes exercises focused on less common techniques.
• Pizzicato/muting. Utilizes scalar excercises and double notes with RH
combinations
• Percussive effects: Tambora, rasgueado combinations, tabalet (snare drum)
and multiphonics (Villa Lobos Etude 2)
• The use of the E finger of the right hand “menique.”
 Achieving Virtuosic Speed
• Uses chromatic scale passages in first positions.
• Speed bursts of 16th notes with quarter notes.
• Uses all combinations of right hand fingerings and duple/triple meters.
 On Practicing
• A separate pedagogical work by Iznaola, less concerned with specific practice
routines.
• More of a philosophical approach to experiences we share as musicians.
• What is practicing? Why do we practice?
 My Experience with Kitharalogous
• To effectively use Kitharalogous, you have to be dedicated.
• You must let go of the tendency to only use the technical workouts that are
applicable to your current repertoire.
• The simplest exercise routines (level I-III) have more value than one would
think.