Classical Guitar
Below are my editions of standard classical guitar repertoire that are used in both the 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 where these works are presented sequentially, you can also download the complete beginning book and advanced classical book.
Classical Guitar Studies from the Beginning Book
Below are the studies contained in the beginning book and eBook found on the Curriculum 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
P-i-m
After one semester of developing music-reading skills, 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 on the top of this page will be beneficial in preparing right hand technique before taking on Allegro. The first study isolates the p-i-m pattern, while the second focuses on thumb movement and control.
P-I-M-i
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EMPHASIZING THE RING FINGER
Below are two pieces that not only emphasize the ring finger (which plays the melody), but also introduces 3-part literature – melody, bass and accompaniment. I use Estudio as the class final for the classical guitar portion of the book. What a gem of a little piece it is, and so impressive for a student to play who has studied classical guitar for only a few months!
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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 above.
The Complete Advanced Classical Guitar Book
The first part of the Classical Guitar book (pp. 6-18) is intended for second-year students. As a continuation of the beginning book, the repertoire and studies here move from the relatively simple arpeggio patterns presented in the beginning book to more advanced technique. This includes learning two-and three-part literature (melody, bass and pedal), using and combining rest stroke and free stroke, as well as the introduction of slurs, grace notes, harmonics, and playing out of first position. This section concludes with Lagrima or Adelita, by Francisco Tárrega, which are good end-of-the year finals. Note that in each technical area, there are multiple pieces and studies to choose from. It is not intended that all the pieces be played. One or two works just fine.
The third and fourth-year material begins on page 19. Here, there are more advanced studies and repertoire which emphasizes the same techniques as the second-year section, but obviously taking it a step further. Again, in each technical area, there are a variety of pieces to choose from. There is also 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 advanced repertoire for the fourth-year student. Restrictions of Use
Below is a pdf of the Advanced Classical Book for you to download for free. You have permission to distribute this book to your students as digital or hard copies. However, you are strictly forbidden from receiving compensation in any form or context for this book or any other material on this website. Thank you. By downloading this curriculum, you understand and agree to the above terms.
Updated 3/24 |
Intermediate – Advanced Classical Guitar Studies & Repertoire
Click on the + of each cell to view or download the music and listen to an audio recording of the piece. There are also a few tutorial videos for some of the pieces below.
Second Year: Beginner/Intermediate Level
Using the Rest Stroke |
Slurs |
Third Year: Intermediate–Advanced
ArpeggiosWaltz and variations (carulli)
More With the PedalRest Stroke |
Studies in SlursAdditional Fernando Sor Studies
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4th Year: Advanced Concert Repertoire
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 it on his 1970 album, Handmade. The pdf below is my transcription of this version. |