Spanish guitar-making course in Granada

Guitar-Making Course

Introduction

The course we have designed at our workshop is based on several ideas that we find very interesting and that, after years of experience in the field, we believe can be truly valuable to our students.

-The first idea we have is adapting to our students.

his is essential, as it is very important to adapt to the knowledge our students already possess before the course begins, such as: knowledge of the instrument, experience working with wood or using their hands, previous projects, and even people who are already familiar with the craft and wish to expand their knowledge to take their skills to the next level, or simply to enjoy the experience of building their own instrument. To this end, we hold an initial meeting where we plan the curriculum and tailor the course so that students get the most out of it and, of course, have a very positive experience. This approach means we can only admit a maximum of two students per course.

-The second principle is to provide a realistic approach to the craft.

This involves teaching our students to be self-reliant so that, once the course is over, they’ll be able to start building their own guitars and continue to develop their skills. To achieve this, we’ve adapted the curriculum to provide them with the maximum resources—from where to source quality wood, to how to set up their new workshop, to how to approach entering the market.

-The third idea is to take a truly artisanal approach.

This may be one of the most important ideas in the course, since the foundation of our learning will be based on traditional construction methods and knowing how to use fundamental tools in lutherie, such as planes, chisels, and others.

This means it’s not a “build your guitar in X amount of time” course or one that uses prefabricated parts; rather, it’s about learning to work with simple, old-fashioned tools to build a guitar from scratch—that is, starting with the raw materials. This is very important, because we don’t mechanize any process that our students wouldn’t be able to replicate in their own workshops—unless they invest in expensive and numerous tools and machines.

“Working with your hands and senses to awaken new skills”

-Fourth idea: teaching a method accessible to everyone.

This concept helps alleviate fears and doubts about the difficulty of building a guitar. How do we do this? We’ve designed a system where, to tackle any challenging element, we break it down into small, easy-to-execute tasks so that, little by little, we can reach that big goal. And, of course, always with the help and supervision of the instructor,

-Fifth point: We are not a school, nor do we focus exclusively on offering courses.

You’ll be coming to a guitar-building workshop where our primary activity is building guitars, but from time to time, we schedule courses to share our knowledge and make it an unforgettable, personal experience—one that I’ll lead myself.

Your teacher

Óscar Muñoz.

He is a craftsman who builds handmade classical and flamenco guitars, following the traditional style of the Granada School of Guitar Making.

His approach focuses on preserving the virtues of this renowned style of instruments, dedicating his work entirely to this goal while incorporating the many innovations and improvements introduced in recent years through continuous study. This objective is grounded in two key pillars: the continuous evolution that comes from experience accumulated over the years, and the pursuit of his own signature style—in other words, the sonic and mechanical qualities he believes his signature instruments should possess, imbuing them with a distinctive touch that reflects his own vision of what a guitar should be.

He has been working professionally in this field since 2014, drawing on traditional construction methods and leveraging the experience gained from 20 years of work at a family-owned cabinetmaking business, which has been well-known in Granada for several generations.

His connection to the guitar and its sound also dates back many years, as he has been involved with and been a part of musical groups and professional ensembles in recording studios. He began his career in this craft under the guidance of the European Institute of Guitar Making and the luthiers Stephen Hill and Pablo Requena, continually refining his craft thanks to the knowledge he has acquired, linked to the large number of top-tier luthiers in the city of Granada, with whom he maintains constant contact and for whom he is eternally grateful, as they have brought tradition and sensitivity to his own work. All of this has given him a deeply artisanal perspective on this craft, and he has always viewed guitar making as something that must be approached holistically and with the concept of a one-of-a-kind instrument.

Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the Granada Guitar Makers Association and holds official recognition as a craftsman, granted by the Regional Government of Andalusia. He participates in numerous festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural and educational events related to the guitar. In 2017, he won the silver medal at the “1st Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Makers’ Competition,” held as part of the 1st Granada Guitar Festival, and he has several prestigious international distributors. His guitars can be found in many parts of the world.

Our workshop

The workshop where
every guitar begins.

THE WORKSHOPThe course will take place entirely at the facilities of builder Óscar Muñoz, located in the town of Huétor Vega, a village 2 km from the city of Granada, which is easily accessible both by private vehicle and via Granada’s public transportation network. Due to its proximity to the city, there is a bus line from Granada that departs from the city center (Centro-Villa Argar, line S2) and drops us off at a stop just a 10-minute walk from our workshop facilities.The facility covers 45 m² and features plenty of natural light from the outdoor gardens.We have several spacious workstations equipped with everything needed to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

Open location in Google Maps

Course formats

Formats

•
Intensive course
The course is estimated to last 160 hours, divided among all these activities, interspersed with thestudent’s hands-on construction of the instrument and guidance from theinstructor.The course is designed both for people who have never had any exposure to the craft oflutherie or knowledge of the guitar, as well as for those who already have someexperience; therefore, it will be tailored to each student’s ability to meet deadlines andachieve the ultimate goal, which is to complete the construction of the instrument.At the end of the course, the student will have a fully finished instrument, with only thevarnishing remaining, which the student may then carry out themselves, either through a professional inthe field at their own expense, or through the workshop itself following an agreement with the student outsidethe scope of the course; however, the instrument will be prepared or pre-varnished so that it canbe played once completed without suffering damage at the end of the course.
•
Flexible course
The course is estimated to last approximately 160 hours, divided among all these activities, interspersed with the student’s hands-on construction of the instrument and the instructor’s guidance. The course is designed for both people who have never had any exposure to the craft of lutherie or knowledge of the guitar, as well as those who already have some experience; therefore, it will be tailored to each student’s ability to meet deadlines and achieve the ultimate goal of completing the instrument. Upon completion of the course, the student will have a fully finished instrument, pending varnishing, which the student may subsequently carry out themselves, either through a professional in the field at their own expense, or through the workshop itself following an agreement with the student outside the scope of the course; however, the instrument will be prepared or pre-varnished so that it can be played once finished without suffering damage at the end of the course. Duration and Schedule of Class Hours for the Part-Time Format. The course is estimated to last approximately 160 hours, which must be completed within a one-month period, up to a maximum duration determined by mutual agreement between the instructor and the student. The duration is approximately 160 hours, divided into morning and afternoon sessions over four weeks. Due to the split-session format, this estimate may be shortened or extended depending on the subjects to be covered.

Course contents

Learn by building.

Woods and Materials

In this section, we’ll explore the raw material: wood.

We’ll cover wood species and their characteristics, analyze wood quality, discuss its applications in different parts of the instrument, look at suppliers, review current regulations, and explain how to store and properly preserve wood.

Work tools.

We will learn how to use traditional instrument-making tools (planes, chisels, carving knives, blades, rasps, etc.) and the techniques associated with them. Students will learn how to use these tools until they develop sound working techniques.

Making and using molds and templates.

Course design and documentation.

We will learn how to read and interpret guitar blueprints while also creating the blueprint for our own guitar. Changes to its design and construction will affect the instrument’s sound quality, character, and playability.

Throughout the course, we will provide you with a course workbook where we will take notes and record all the information we acquire along the way, supplementing it with photographs of each step of the process.

The process of creating our own guitar.

All learning will be based on the students building a guitar, which we will create from scratch through to its completion and testing. Due to time constraints, we will not apply the varnish, but we will provide the students with the basics for doing so themselves.

My students