Paganini Caprice No. 1, Part 2

Hello Everyone! Hopefully, you have a handle on part 1 of Niccolo Paganini's Caprice No. 1. Let's tackle part 2 of this amazing piece.

In part 1, you might have found the string skipping sections a bit tricky, especially for the right hand. There are similar sections in part 2. The violin has a much smaller neck than a guitar, so the string skips are easier on violin. Keep with it though, it will get easier if you keep practicing.

When working on the arrangement, I really didn't want to stray away from the original piece so I chose to keep the harmonies and rhythm like the original. However, I rearranged the notes in the string skipping sections to make them a little more accessible for the guitar. Notice the string skipping in bar 1 and bar 4. You could always add in an extra note on the B string to fill in the space, but just remember, eight 32nd notes make up one beat and it would be a good idea to keep the contour. Like I said, I wanted to keep this version as close to the original as possible, so I didn't add extra notes.

You will see some repeated patterns in this section. Check out the diminished chord arpeggio moving in minor thirds in bar 1, beat 2. Be sure to keep the same fingerings when you move this pattern around. Beginning in bar 7, you will notice the next two bars of chordal shapes. I use hybrid picking to play this section; my right hand middle and ring fingers pluck the B and E string and I pick the A string.

Download Example Audio:Fast - Slow


Ok, this is it for now! let me know if you would like more of this Caprice and feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Also, don't forget to visit www.mikecampese.com...