First Steps with "Malagueña" (Spanish Classical Guitar)

Lesson #503 • Jul 22, 2023

In this week’s lesson I’ll teach how to get started with Malagueña, the traditional Spanish classical guitar tune. Even if you don’t know this song by name, I would bet you find it recognizable when listening — as it just oozes with Spanish flamenco vibes.

In my video lesson I’ll show you two ways to play the main melody. First, I’ll teach it using strings 2-4, which uses notes you’re already used to fretting while playing the familiar E major and A minor chords. Then, I’ll show you the same melody played an octave lower — which gives a deep & rich bass sound.

Finally, I’ll demonstrate how you can adding the droning high E-string (played after each melody note). While this a bit difficult to learn at first, it’s worth practicing — as it evokes those Spanish guitar flavors and sounds great. Let’s get to it!

0:00 Lesson Summary
1:45 Melody on thinner strings
4:17 Melody on thicker strings
7:30 With droning E-string (thinner)
11:36 With droning E-string (thicker)

Instructional PDF 1 page

Lesson Discussion

Extended Video Lessons

The following videos are available to members of Song Notes Premium. If you’re not a member, learn more about the many perks of Premium membership here on my Song Notes website. To those of you who are members — thanks for your support! It makes these lessons possible.

Melody Notes on Strings 2-3-4

I recommend starting with this, since it requires the least movement (and stretching) from your fretting hand. It’s also much more approachable when adding the droning high E string, in my opinion.

Melody Notes on Strings 5-6

This one is a bit trickier to learn, since you need to extend your fretting-hand fingers to the 4th fret. But it’s worth trying, as the bass sound it produces is quite deep and rich — especially when you end with the open 6th string (E). Note, adding the droning high E string can be tough! Make sure you keep your fretting hand arched, so it doesn’t accidentally mute the thinnest string.

Also Recommended

What Makes Malagueña Sound Spanish?

Here’s a great article on Malagueña’s history, with a helpful dive into the music theory (scales, modes, etc). This also includes several famous recordings of Malagueña from different artists. Recommend for sure!

Keith Richards on Learning the Malagueña

Lick N’ Riff Teaches Malagueña

This is the best lesson on this song I’ve found! Very good overview, starting simple and diving deep.

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Recently Added

Featured Courses

Strumming & Rhythm

While your left hand is busy learning chords, your right hand has its own job: creating a sense of rhythm with strumming! This can be tricky at first, but there's so much fun-to-be-had once you get over the hump. Here's a guide to get you started.

17 lessons

View

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Dive into the basics of fingerstyle guitar, with plenty of examples of riffs, exercises, and songs that put this technique to use. This includes a healthy serving of Travis Picking lessons, which feature an alternating bass note played with your right thumb.

31 lessons

View

Blues Starter Kit

A guide to must-know elements of beginner blues guitar! I'll walk you through the essential topics, showing you fun things to play along the way.

18 lessons

View

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learn to read tabs, chord charts, fretboard diagrams, strumming patterns, and more! This course explains how to understand all of these must-know notation styles.

6 lessons

View

Learning Lead Guitar

A collection of videos teaching you licks, riffs, solos, and other lead guitar techniques! Includes info on scales, CAGED shapes, and other helpful lead guitar concepts.

24 lessons

View

Beginner Chord Guide

A guide to the must-know chords you'll need when getting started with guitar! The quickest way to learn major chords, minor chords, the chords in each key, and more.

22 lessons

View

Practical Music Theory

A general overview of must-know theory concepts. The goal here is practical, easy-to-understand explanations — all of which provide clarity to your everyday guitar playing.

12 lessons

View

Using a Capo

Capos are incredibly helpful if you want to play along with your favorite artist, change a song's key, adjust things to your vocal range, and so on. In this series of videos I explain all this & more!

8 lessons

View

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!

Recent Lessons

November 15, 2024

"Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead

Let's dive into the 1974 classic from the Dead, with an acoustic-friendly arrangement using Key of G chords! I also show how you can include the catchy riffs wherever they occur, which is great way to channel the full spirit of this song.
November 12, 2024

Does CAGED Help When Learning Songs?

A quick audience Q&A video, where I talk about how CAGED helps (or does not help) when learning songs. Featuring the main riff from Scarlet Begonias by the Grateful Dead, which I'll be teaching soon!
November 8, 2024

Rhythm Deep Dive: "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle

Watch the process of me transcribing the rhtyhm of an incredibly tricky song! All shown in real time, in writing. Featuring "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle.
Nov 1, 2024

Website Tour – November 2024

A look at the state of the Song Notes website, as of November 2024. I've been working on more than just new lessons... check out the latest updates here!
Oct 24, 2024

"Fast Car" - Strumming & Rhythm Guide!

I've gotten a ton of emails asking how to strum Fast Car — here's a lesson showing 3 possible approaches! You can strum the whole song using what I teach, or combine this with the fingerstyle riff from lesson #494.
October 18, 2024

CAGED - It's More Than Just Chords!

Learn how each CAGED shape contains not only a chord, but also an arpeggio, pentatonic, and full diatonic scale! This is a must-know realization that'll level up any practice you do with these shapes.
October 3, 2024

Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee"

In honor of Kris Kristofferson's passing, here's a brand new play-along cover of his 1971 classic Me and Bobby McGee – with some updated strumming tips included.
September 27, 2024

Paul Simon Fingerstyle with "59th Street Bridge Song"

Let's dive into Simon & Garfunkfel's 1966 hit, where I'll walk you through several ways to tackle Paul Simon's Travis-style fingerpicking.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage

First Steps with "Malagueña" (Spanish Classical Guitar)

Instructional PDF 1 page

Lesson Discussion

Extended Video Lessons

Melody Notes on Strings 2-3-4

Melody Notes on Strings 5-6

Also Recommended

What Makes Malagueña Sound Spanish?

Keith Richards on Learning the Malagueña

Lick N’ Riff Teaches Malagueña

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Strumming & Rhythm

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Blues Starter Kit

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learning Lead Guitar

Beginner Chord Guide

Practical Music Theory

Using a Capo

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Capo Captain

Key Master

Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons