Classical Guitar
Below are my editions of standard classical guitar literature that are used in both my beginning and advanced books. They are categorized by level and by technique within that level. Feel free to download these works to fit your needs. If you are a guitar educator and interested in comprehensive curriculum for your guitar program, you can also download the complete beginning and advanced books. The beginning book, which integrates rock, classical guitar and guitar ensemble into each lesson, can be downloaded on the Curriculum page. (There is also an eBook version of the beginning book on that page.) The advanced curriculum presents these three areas into separate books. The complete advanced classical guitar book is below and the and the complete rock book is located on the Rock Guitar/Piano page. The guitar ensemble library has become too large to make it practical or necessary to compile into one book. However, all of the ensemble works can be downloaded on the Guitar Ensemble page.
Classical Guitar Studies from the Beginning Book
In addition to developing skill in popular-style playing, the first half of the beginning book also focuses on developing music-reading skill so that by the second semester, students are prepared to begin learning the beginning classical guitar and quartet music. The beginning classical guitar pieces are below and the beginning-level quartets are on the Guitar Ensemble page.
Click on the + sign next to the title to listen to a little home recording I made of the piece and view and download a pdf of the score.
Simple Arpeggio Patterns
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P-i-m
After one semester of music-reading skills development, my students begin to learn classical literature, this page being the first lesson. Allegro is a very simple p-i-m pattern with easy left-hand chord transitions. The two studies will be beneficial in preparing right hand technique before taking on Allegro. The first isolates the p-i-m pattern, while the second focuses on thumb movement.
P-I-M-i
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Advanced Guitar For the Classroom – Classical Guitar
Below, you can download a single pdf of the complete Advanced Classical Guitar Book (2nd – 4th year), or download individual studies and repertoire contained in that book.
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The Complete Advanced Classical Guitar Book
The first part of the Classical Guitar book is intended for my second-year students. Continuing on from the beginning book, the guitar literature moves from the relatively simple arpeggio patterns presented in the first book to more advanced technique. This includes two-part literature (melody and bass) using the rest stroke, three-part music (melody, bass and pedal) using both rest and free stroke, slurs and grace notes, playing out of first position and finally, harmonics. The book presents Lagrima or Adelita, by Francisco Tárrega, as an end-of-the year final, but you can choose whatever piece suits you. Note that in all technical areas, there are multiple pieces or studies to choose from. It is not intended that all the pieces be played. One or two works just fine.
The section for 3rd and 4th year begins on page 19. Here, there are more advanced studies and repertoire which emphasizes some of the same techniques the second- year students will be working on, but obviously, taking it a step further. Again, in each technical area, there are a variety of pieces to choose from. This includes a collection of Fernando Sor Studies on page 45, which may be used for technical support or for concert repertoire. Finally, beginning on page 57, there is additional repertoire for advanced students. Restrictions of Use
Below is a pdf of the entire Advanced Book Classical Guitar Book. You have permission to print out and distribute this curriculum to your students as hard copies only. Do not distribute or post this curriculum in digital form. Additionally, when distributing this curriculum to your students, you are strictly forbidden from receiving compensation in any form or context. Bottom line, do not sell this curriculum! Thank you. By downloading this curriculum, you understand and agree to the above terms.
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Intermediate – Advanced Classical Guitar Studies & Repertoire
Second Year: Beginner/Intermediate Level
Using the Rest Stroke |
Slurs |
Third - Fourth Year: Intermediate–Advanced
ArpeggiosWaltz and variations (carulli)
More With the PedalRest Stroke |
Studies in SlursAdditional Fernando Sor Studies
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Additional Repertoire
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Twilight (Oshio)
Classical gas (M. williams)
Like Twilight, most wouldn't consider Classical Gas to be legitimate "classical guitar" repertoire. However, it's a fun piece and many of my students really enjoyed playing it.
The original version of this song, released in 1968, has an orchestral bridge. Mason Williams re-recorded this song as a solo guitar piece, without the bridge, and placed on his 1970 album, Handmade. The pdf below is my transcription of this version. |
