Playing Classical Guitar Without Nails: A Brief History

A brief history of the nails/no-nails debate on the classical guitar, from the Restoration Court to the present day.

Introduction 0:00
The guitar's place in musical history 1:29
Why did 20th century guitarists use nails? 2:29
The Baroque guitar and Francesco Corbetta 5:26
The 19th century guitar and Fernando Sor 7:27
Francisco Tarrega 10:46
Andres Segovia 13:45
The Tarrega School and Emilio Pujol 15:16
Concluding thoughts 19:08

(The piece at the end is Tarrega's Prelude in D Major, performed by me.)

Rob MacKillop's excellent website dedicated to no-nail playing and its history: https://rmclassicalguitar.com/

Some historic recordings:

Manual Cubedo plays two works by his teacher Emilio Pujol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMJQ-Ynju0Q&t
Manual Cubedo plays the Tedesco concerto:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsULWj5_w7o
Juan Mercadal plays Malats and Torroba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgOEA3uyZSs
Emilio Pujol and Matilde Cuervas play Falla's La Vida Breve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H85HopkoAPM
Emilio Pujol and Matilde Cuervas play Falla's The Miller Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lLfrhwPd-k
Josefina Robledo plays Capricho Arabe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZAuj8HdE0c
Miguel Angel Martinez plays Gran Jota (excerpt, 1929): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP2Q6sOLzl0

Some contemporary no-nail players:

Brandon Acker on playing without nails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNFvtRU4Jc&t
Virginia Luque plays Morel's Danza Brasilera: https://youtu.be/YNsRIGneJNA
Enrica Savigni Plays Sor's Le Calme on a 19th century guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THrUiPUP-iw
Daniele Sardone plays Tarrago Preludes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKm4i1RVATk
Rob MacKillop plays Emilio Pujol's Endecha a la amada ausente: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvFANJ1ETeA

Видео Playing Classical Guitar Without Nails: A Brief History канала Steven Watson