Classical guitar on tap in Merced

Making the transition from shredding on an electric ax to plucking the delicate strings of a classical guitar may sound like an easy one – but it’s not.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Nathaniel Dahman, 37, said about picking up the classical guitar. “It’s gratifying in a way electric guitar wasn’t for me.”

The guitarist is set to perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the Merced College Theater, 3600 M St.

To the uninitiated, a guitar may just be a guitar. But, Dahman said, the differences are many.

A classical guitar has nylon strings rather than the steel strings found on its electric cousin. The space between the strings and the fret board are further apart on the wooden instrument, which requires players to be much more precise with their fingers.

Electric guitars are more forgiving if players are, for example, cold and losing feeling in their fingertips. And, because the wooden instrument is made the traditional way, it reacts to the weather or being handled roughly.

“There’s a physical aspect to it and you have to learn the mechanics,” he said. “Then there’s the mental part.”

He also glues pieces of a pingpong ball under his nails, because his natural nails crack too easily. Classical players forgo the guitar pick.

The performance this week is called “Inspiração,” the Portuguese word for “inspiration.” Dahman said he grew up in the era of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duran Duran and Iron Maiden, all musical acts that he still loves, but he felt inspired once again when he got into classical guitar about 11 years ago.

“It’s like an instrument and style of music of historic beauty,” he said.

Dahman grew up in Madera County, though he was born in Merced’s old hospital. He has taught guitar and other music classes at Merced College for four years now.

There is no cost to see the show, but organizers are accepting donations, and it’s open to the public.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Classical guitar on tap in Merced."