Exploring Campanella Fingering
Campanella is an Italian word for “little bell.” On guitar campanella fingering is the idea of playing a passage that could be played with multiple notes on a string across several strings. Check out this scale run for instance:
Instead of playing the scale with three notes on the second string, what if we played it like this:
The advantage of going across the strings like this is that the sound is very open, almost harpsichord like–It’s often a lot more legato than playing a straight scale. Neither of the styles of fingering a piece is better than another. How a piece is played is a very individual thing. I like Campanella fingerings, so I try to use them a lot. When you first approach a new piece, it’s your job to try out several different fingering possibilities and settle on one that achieves your desired effect with the least amount of effort.
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About the Author
Christopher Davis founded The Classical Guitar Blog in 2008. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in guitar performance. In addition to his studies, Chris is an active teacher and performer based in Middle Tennessee. Connect with Chris on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and the Classical Guitar Network.
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