Pavana Francisco Tarrega(1852-1909)
Time 2:08
One of Tarrega’s shorter pieces. Pavana is not technically difficult to play. What’s important is the sense of timing to capture the dramatic shading of melody. The last section consists of pizzicato plucking, a technique borrowed from the violin and cello.
Chorale by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Grade 3-Intermediate
Time 1:00
Chorale is a hymn with a strong harmonization and is a very good F Major study. Think of a choir in a church. Chorale music is a common theme for wedding. This Chorale is fairly easy to play as the tempo is slow and there are not too [...]
Prelude in G Major- Francisco Tarrega(1852-1909)
Exercise- Pull Off
Time 1:05
The Pull Off song. Not so easy but short. A handful of chords to remember and a good practice for left hand pull offs. Tarrega not only wrote numerous original compositions for the instrument, he also transcripted works from other composers like Bach. I hear a [...]
Grade 3- Intermediate
German Dance (WoO42) by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Time 0:50
“German Dance” by Ludwig van Beethoven and it’s a song with a jumpy, lively feel. A short piece that’s not too difficult to play. This work is written for the piano and later adapted for the guitar. Somehow for me, the piano works better. Nevertheless, [...]
Prelude in D Major- Francisco Tarrega(1852-1909)
Time 0:40
Tarrega is responsible for taking the classical guitar to new heights. Because of Tarrega’s profound understanding of the guitar, including the romantic style and concept of fingering, virtually every classical guitarist have been influenced by this great maestro. Tarrega not only wrote numerous original compositions for the instrument, he [...]
Grade 1-Easy
Opus35 No 1 by Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Time 0:43
Fernando Sor is considered to be a key composer from the 19th century. Spanish born in barcelona in 1778. Fernando’s was bought up in a monastery. Sor wrote his first opera at 18. One of the best thing I like about sor is that his work is [...]
Grade 4-Late Intermediate
Minuet In G (Anh 114) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Time 1:22
The Notebook for Anna Magdalena is a collection of work Johann Sebastian Bach given to his second wife Anna Magdalena. This notebook is a compilation of music by both Bach and other composers of the era. There is debate over who actually wrote [...]
Study in A-Matteo Carcassi (1792-1853)
Grade 4- Late Intermediate
Exercise (pim-aim-aim-pim)
Time 1:40
Matteo Carcassi (Florence, Italy, 1792 – Paris, France, January 16, 1853), was a famous Italian guitarist and composer. Carcassi wrote a method for guitar (melodic and progressive studies) that remains valuable, relevant and interesting. His most famous works are collected in his 25 Studies, op.60. This [...]
Grade 4- Late Intermediate
Opus 35 No17 Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Time 1:11
Fernando Sor is the beethoven of guitar! Here’s a song from Sor’s famous 20. Andres Segovia selected a set of 20 of Fernando Sor’s studies, each emphasizing a particular aspect of technique, and these are now some of the best known of Sor’s works. Opus 35. [...]
Grade 2 Early Intermediate
Andante by Ferdinando Carulli (1770 – 1841)
Time 1:35
Italian born Ferdinando Carulli is one of the first composers for classical guitar. When he was born, the guitar as we know it today didn’t exist. Guitar dervies from lute and Carulli helped change the guitar into the larger, more resonant instrument we are all [...]
Estudio Opus48 No5 by Mauro Giuseppe Giuliani (1781 – 1829)
Exercise ( p i m a m i ) legato sweep
( p i m a m i ) are 6 notes in triplet time in legato, a pretty aggressive right hand pattern. To me, the sweep effect mimics the harp. Being legato means playing smooth [...]
Grade 3 Intermediate
Fur Elise (Intro)- Ludwid van Beethoven (1170-1827)
Fur Elise is probably Ludwig’s most famous song. Written in the romantic era from the Bagatelle in A minor for solo piano. Here’s the piano piece transcribed for the guitar. Fun Fact. “Fur Elise” translates to “For Elise”, however it is uncertain who “Elise” was. Some scholars [...]
Preludio in E Minor by Agustín Barrios (1885 – 1944)
A short prelude of 32 bars. One of the tougher preludes. To me, Barrios is top dog in level of difficulty. Barrios’s notes covers the guitar neck with lots of sliding chord positioning. Preludio in Em has 3 different Right hand patterns and a couple of [...]
Grade 1 Easy
Andantino in C Matteo Carcassi (1792 – 1853)
Matteo Carcassi (Florence, Italy, 1792 – Paris, France, January 16, 1853), was a famous Italian guitarist and composer. Carcassi wrote a method for guitar that remains valuable, relevant and interesting. His most famous works are collected in his 25 Studies, op.60.
Prelude in D Minor by Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909)
Time 0:46
This is one of many Tarrega’s shorter pieces hence it’s a prelude to a more lengthier piece. The right hand follows the pim pattern while the left hand positions itself to a handful of chords. This song can be memorized quite easily given it’s brevity. There is [...]
Grade 3- Intermediate
Aubade Rene Bartoli (1941-)
Rene Bartoli is a contemporary guitaist from France. Bartoli won the International Guitar Cometition of O.R.T.F. at Salle Gaveau in Paris at age 21. An aubade is a poem or song of or about lovers separating at dawn. Aubade has also been defined as “a song or instrumental composition concerning, [...]
Grade 4 Late Intermediate
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is the English title of the 10th movement of the cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Today, it is often performed at wedding ceremonies slowly and reverently, in defiance of [...]
Estudio-Moderato in Am Dionisio Aguado (1784 – 1849)
Grade 2 Early Intermediate
Exercise (pimi)
Time 0:52
Aguado was a Spainard born in Madrid. Aguado was a contemporary and friend of Fernando Sor. Aguado was a guitar tutor and he produced a body of work called the Escuela de Guitarra or School of guitarists. Estudio is a good beginner song [...]
Grade 3 Intermediate
Study in C Major by Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909)
Exercise (pim-ami-ami-ami)
Estudio means Study or exercise, in this case ( p i m a m i a m i a m i ) right hand pattern. Part of Tarrega’s genius was his sophisticated and innovative approach to right hand fingering blending melody and accompaniment throughout the [...]
Grade 4 Late Intermediate
Op 35 No 22 in Bm (Segovia Study No 5) – Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Exercise mostly pim on Barre Chords
Time 1:17
Many Fernando Sor’s songs are structure as Estudio or Study Exercises. The main goal of these “studies” is to provide memorable pieces and enhance the skill and knowledge of the practitioner. Andres Segovia [...]
