Every classical guitarist has a different tone; many prefer a round and dark tone, while I choose a very direct and bright tone to ensure everyone in the hall can hear the music clearly.

My tone has to be brighter because it needs to deliver a musical point across to the back of a hall, especially in larger spaces where warmer tones don't travel well.

Some well-known guitarists, like Segovia and Julian Bream, are recognized for their tones, which are actually quite bright rather than dark, contrary to popular belief. I choose to play with a bright and direct tone because it helps the musical line appear to ascend, making it clearer and more impactful.

When discussing tone, we shouldn't think about good or bad tone, but rather about having a good or bad sense of tone, which involves understanding the properties of sound from both acoustical and psychological perspectives.

In an intimate setting, I wouldn't use a bright tone if the music is meant to be pretty; instead, I would choose a tone that fits the context of the performance.

If the music is supposed to be prettier, I would probably use a tone that is captivating enough, but that depends on the musical content implying that it should be pretty.

The tones I use are not just one; they are a sum of several levels of decisions I have to make depending on the context of the performance.

Using a darker sound can make the pitch of the melody unclear, which obscures the melodic content of the line.

I brighten the tone to enhance expressiveness and clarity, allowing the notes to be more easily inflected and understood.

As I move from the first string to the second and third strings, I subtly brighten the tone to maintain a cohesive color throughout the melody.

The choice of tone is not the same every time; it varies based on the circumstances of the performance and the clarity needed for the musical narrative.

In performance, the perception of tone can change depending on the listener's position, affecting how aggressive or coherent the sound appears.

Understanding how sound operates and evokes emotion is a lifelong journey for musicians, as we strive to master the nuances of tone production.