Guitar News

This beginner lesson for classical guitar covers 10 important lessons when learning classical guitar. This is a general overview lesson for beginner classical guitar but is also useful to intermediate students, see below for more specific topics. Find more lessons at the Lesson Archive Page. For free lessons, sheet music, and videos join the Email Newsletter. My free method book. Like these lessons? Consider supporting the site.

1. Reexamine your posture and hand positions – Small adjustments in a number of places in your set up can make a big difference. Beginners need to constantly reevaluate.

2. Consider ergonomics on classical guitar – Beginners and intermediate students should closely watch for strange contortions and anything that is not ergonomic. Using a mirror can help.

3. Practice very slowly – I’ve rarely encountered a student who practices as slowly as I think they should. Practicing ultra slowly will ensure you are playing with your best hand positions, sound, confidence, relaxation, accuracy, and more. Once you can play something well at a slow tempo, you can speed it up while keeping an eye on the quality level.

4. Play the melody on its own (keep it simple) – If you can’t play the melody nicely on its own, how can you play all the note? Learn to play the melody nice and legato first and introduce the rest of the notes after.

5. Dive deeper into musicality – Students can get super caught up in their own technique and progress but remember to strive for better phrasing, dynamic shaping, and overall musicality.

6. Quality practice and happiness – Making your practice sessions enjoyable will be key to long-term musical success and development. When experiencing difficulties, break up the piece or exercise into small manageable goals at a speed you can accomplish successfully. Even if you only play a few notes at a time, playing successfully will improve your skills and give you a feeling of accomplishment.

7. Treat and reward yourself – Make your practice session an enjoyable and special time of your day. Have a treat or nice coffee, buy that nice music stand and metronome.

8. Playing well, don’t compare yourself to others (too much) – Focus instead on having a solid rhythm, legato lines, confident and full tone. Forget about reaching fast tempos, develop a solid and beautiful foundation first.

9. Listen to more music (not just guitar) – You must increase your awareness of the larger musical world. Guitar is great but it’s only a small niche and won’t inform you of all the musical eras diversity. Listen to piano, strings, symphonies, Bach cantatas, voice, lieder, and more.

10. Practice everyday, there are no bad days – I don’t believe in good or bad practice days. All days are good opportunities to practice something. On days when you are having trouble focusing or executing material cleanly, slow down your speed and use a metronome until you are playing well. You may have to play at half the speed you intended but you can still get in some quality practice.

• Step 1: Lessons for Your Guitar and Hand Positions
• Basic Technique Overview Video – Slideshow of Photos, Tips, & Diagrams
• Sitting Position for Classical Guitar – Video, Photos, Tips, Diagrams
• Right Hand Position for Classical Guitar – Video, Photos, Tips, Diagrams
• Left Hand Position for Classical Guitar – Video, Photos, Tips, Diagrams
• Tips and Advice for Beginner Classical Guitarists – Video, connects the above lessons

• Step 2: Learn to Play with Method Books with Video Lessons 
• Classical Guitar Method Book Vol. 1 by Werner – Free 100 page PDF method with 20+ video lessons for beginners. Focus is on reading music and playing melodies and arpeggios.
• Classical Guitar Method Book Vol. 2 by Werner – Solos, duets, chords songs, 15+ video lessons. The main focus is on reading in different keys but also introducing slurs, half barres, rhythm, and some upper positions.

• Step 3: Practice Repertoire & Technique Books with Video Lessons
• Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece.
• Classical Guitar Technique by Werner – Essential exercises, scales, and arpeggios. Study this as you continue with all the below material.
• Ten Classical Etudes – Ten progressive etudes from the classical era with video lessons. Grade 4-7.

• Tips & Techniques for Reaching Higher Levels
• Fingernail Lesson for Classical Guitar
• Playing Musically on Classical Guitar
• Right Hand Tone Production
• Slurs on the Classical Guitar
• Right Hand Fingering Lesson Parts 1-4
• Right Hand Planting & Preparation
• Left Hand Preparation 

Bradford Werner plays Impressions soleil couchant (à Francis Poulenc) by Roland Dyens (1955-2016) and via my YouTube. I’ll be trying to post weekly student and intermediate pieces so you can discover new repertoire to play. I love this simple hommage to Poulenc that I’ll pair with Poulenc’s Sarabande. This comes from Dyen’s Vol. 1 of Les 100 de Roland Dyens which contains 100 intermediate pieces. The pieces are almost small motivic improvisations and etudes forming an unpretentious collection of musical flavours.

Sheet Music

• Les 100 de Roland Dyens Vol.1 – includes the above piece
• Les 100 de Roland Dyens Vol.2

Here are a number of lessons on rasgueado on classical guitar. This form of strumming often associated with Spanish or flamenco guitar is also heavily used in classical guitar both in repertoire and in technique practice. The below lessons are much more directed at rasgueado use for classical guitar guitarists at the beginner to later intermediate level (not for flamenco specifically). For more free weekly lessons join the Email Newsletter for updates and please consider donating to the site or sharing this post to support.

This exercise is from my new book Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, and Arpeggios. The 122 page book includes: Practice Routines, Tips, 100 Open String Exercises, 120 Giuliani Arpeggios, Scales, Slur Exercises, Shifts, Finger Independence, Barre, Tremolo, Common Harmonics, and much more.

Basic Rasgueado on Open Strings – There are many great books that fully cover rasgueado technique, not to mention the plethora of flamenco techniques. This book will provide a few simple patterns to give the right hand a basic rasgueado workout. The arrows pointing up on the page indicate a strum from the bass strings to the treble strings as the notation would suggest. Arrows pointing down on the page indicate a strum from the treble strings to the bass strings.

An impromptu lesson in rasgueado technique for guitar by Pepe Romero. Keep watching through to when he start playing. Romero has some impressive and strong rasgueado but keep close attention to his relaxation tips as that is the key! Watch until the end because the student (I’m assuming Andrey) makes a fantastic breakthrough, what a great moment. For more free weekly lessons join the Email Newsletter for updates and please consider donating to the site or sharing this post to support.

Video Link & Source: This is Classical Guitar on YouTube

This is a new video lesson for my ebook: 20 Favorite Exercises for Classical Guitar – For beginner to intermediate classical guitarists (Includes: notation, TAB, fingerings, practice tips). I’ve been meaning to re-record some of these with better video quality.

This exercise, No. 9 – Basic Rasgueado Patterns for classical guitar, is not intended to train you in the art of flamenco, instead, they are aimed to give your right-hand a good workout, strengthen the fingers, and increase the reflex-oriented ‘return to start’ direction of finger movements. I’ve found that rasgueado practice is excellent for the right hand position of students. You need a certain amount of clearance as well as having to move the fingers from the upper knuckle joint. Therefore, it’s similar to regular playing but in reverse. GO!

Books to consider

• Classical Guitar Method – Vol. 1, Notation, Video Lessons, 100 pages, Free PDF
• Classical Guitar Method Vol. 2, Notation, Video Lessons, 89 pages.
• Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece.
• Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, & Arpeggios – Notation, 122 pages, Gr. 1-9. Video lessons, hundreds of exercises. Includes Giuliani’s 120 arpeggios and 100 open string exercises to learn good fingering habits.
• 20 Favorite Exercises, Notation + TAB, Video lessons, Gr.1-6, Great for crossover or a quick boost.
• Ten Classical Etudes, Gr.4-7, videos lessons, Notation & Notation + TAB

Dowland by Michael Butten 
First Hand Records, 2019

Buy or learn more via First Hand Records or Amazon

I was very pleased to receive a copy of Michael Button’s new release of works by Elizabethan composer and lutenist John Dowland (1563-1626). Dowland is one of my favourite composers and we are very lucky to be able to play his music which works well on the modern guitar. There are plenty of excellent recordings of Dowland on lute but on guitar Dowland often gets designated as an opening act or prelude to other repertoire so it’s great to see an entire album dedicated to him. Once I start hearing Dowland I don’t want it stop or switch to another era or composer so this is an album to listen to from start to finish.

Dowland by Michael Butten is filled with a wonderful array of Elizabethan lute works ranging from tearful sorrow to joyful bounce. Butten showcases beautiful articulations, phrasing, and sweet resonant tone colours throughout. A sensitive touch on the instrument and rhythmic energy to match, this is an excellent interpretation of Dowland’s works.

1. Preludium
2. A Fancy in E minor
3. Lord Strang’s March
4. Lachrimae Pavan
5. The Frog Galliard
6. Fantasy in E major
7. Sir John Smith’s Almain
8. Can She Excuse?
9. Forlorne Hope Fancy
10. Lady Clifton’s Spirit
11. Mrs White’s Thing
12. Mrs White’s Nothing
13. Tremolo Fancy
14. Loth to Depart
15. Lady Hunsdon’s Puffe
16. Mrs Winters Jump
17. Fancy in B minor
18. Queen Elizabeth’s Galliard
19. The Shoemaker’s Wife
20. Farewell

Recorded at Holy Trinity Church, Weston, Hertfordshire, UK, 30 October – 1 November 2016
Engineered and produced by John Taylor
24bit, 96kHz hi-resolution recording and mastering
Photos taken by Timothy Ellis
Artwork by David Murphy (FHR)
Booklet notes by Graham Wade

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

Lesson: Exercise No.11 by Napoléon Coste (1805-1883) from Méthode complète pour la Guitare par Ferdinand Sor, rédigée et augmentée de nombreux exemples et leçons par N. Coste – Grade 1 does not usually require upper position playing but I think it would be a mistake to not introduce at least some training in this regard. This short piece is a good opportunity to start becoming familiar with upper position notes and shifts as all of the position changes occur on open strings.

The position shifts in this piece occur on open strings which allows the left hand to move while the open string is sounding. This gives you some extra time to shift and results in a legato sound. Make sure each note is connected in sound and that you fully utilize the time to shift during the open string.

Just as upper position playing will appear more often as you advance, so will barre technique. Playing a successful barre (also called capo) is more reliant on your ability to be precise rather than the amount of pressure or tension you apply with your 1st finger.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

Future Relics by Kevin Daniel Cahill
Learn more or buy via his Website or BandCamp
Available June 27th, 2019

Future Relics by Kevin Daniel Cahill

Kevin Daniel Cahill just released his debut album entitled Future Relics and “pairs original post-rock / instrumental compositions with newly commissioned works for solo Classical and Electric guitar by award winning composers Richard Greer, Jay Capperauld, Rory Comerford, and Ninfea Crutwell Reade.” The video below gives you a little idea about the wide range of moods and sounds you’ll hear. What I really appreciate is his willingness to release an album that truly represents his eclectic interests and the effort to combine them into a unified album. Many great classical artists have interests in electric work and other musical styles but often separate the projects.

Future Relics by Kevin Daniel Cahill is for the modern listener. Excellent new music selections for classical guitar meet electric guitar ambiance and multi-instrument art-rock. Many guitarists feel a love for the wider musical world but are simultaneously drawn to the focused compositions written for the classical guitar. This album is an audacious synthesis of both worlds.

More about the album

The concept of Future Relics amongst many things is inspired by nostalgia; how old and new work together in the modern day, putting new music on old mediums – the album itself released as a limited edition cassette tape as well as digital download. The album to me is akin to an analogue photograph – a moment in time captured.

The album serves to be a concept album, a cinematic soundscape of sorts, fusing two completely different genres of music to coexist as one. Featured on the album, I have collaborated with STRATA Frontman and Drummer Graham Costello, Jazz-Vocalist Georgia Cécile, Scottish violinist Abigail Young, Cornetist from Kinbrae classical/minalmist duo Mike Truscott and Producer/Pianist Luigi Pasquini.

The excellent Open Strings Berlin recently featured a video about For Deckard. This comes via their fantastic YouTube channel.

Learn to play classical guitar with these beginner and intermediate lessons. This page is mainly a classical guitar for beginners curriculum but also brings students into the intermediate level. Learn classical guitar today with this free classical guitar course. If you don’t have an instrument yet, check out our classical guitar gear page.

Before you begin to learn from any books you should look at these lessons to cover some basics.

• Step 1: Lessons for Your Guitar and Hand Positions
• Basic Technique Overview Video – Slideshow of Photos, Tips, & Diagrams
• Sitting Position for Classical Guitar – Video, Photos, Tips, Diagrams
• Right Hand Position for Classical Guitar – Video, Photos, Tips, Diagrams
• Left Hand Position for Classical Guitar – Video, Photos, Tips, Diagrams
• Tips and Advice for Beginner Classical Guitarists – Video, connects the above lessons

• Classical Guitar Method Book Vol. 1 by Werner – Free 100 page PDF method with 20+ video lessons for beginners. Focus is on reading music and playing melodies and arpeggios. This is my fully free beginner guitar course.
• Classical Guitar Method Book Vol. 2 by Werner – Solos, duets, chords songs, 15+ video lessons. The main focus is on reading in different keys but also introducing slurs, half barres, rhythm, and some upper positions.

• Fingernail Lesson for Classical Guitar
• Playing Musically on Classical Guitar
• Right Hand Tone Production
• Slurs on the Classical Guitar
• Right Hand Fingering Lesson Parts 1-4
• Right Hand Planting & Preparation
• Left Hand Preparation 

• Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece.
• Classical Guitar Technique by Werner – Essential exercises, scales, and arpeggios.
• 20 Favorite Exercises, Notation + TAB, Video lessons, Gr.1-6, Great for crossover or a quick boost.
• Ten Classical Etudes – Ten progressive etudes from the classical era with video lessons. Grade 4-7.

These are exercises with lessons from my technique book but all the videos are free to watch and demonstrate many techniques and exercise that you can copy and learn from for free.

• Technique Routines (Discussions on Time Management)
• Beginner Technique Routine
• Late-Beginner Technique Routine 
• Early-Intermediate Technique Routine
• Intermediate Technique Routine 
• Late-Intermediate Technique Routine
• Early-Advanced Technique Routine
• Part 1 – Right Hand Exercises
• Right Hand Open String Exercises with i, m, a (No. 1-19)
• Right Hand Open String Exercises with p,i,m,a (No.20-35)
• Preparation (Planting) in the Right Hand
• Open String Exercises No. 36-71
• Open String Exercises No. 72-100
• Giuliani’s 120 Right Hand Studies
• Part 2 – Left Hand Alignment, Shifts, and Scales
• Alignment Exercises for the Left Hand
• Chromatic Scale Exercises
• Variations and Ideas for Practicing Scales
• Open Position Scales Through the Circle of Fifths
• One Octave Moveable Major Scales
• Shift and String Squeak Exercises
• Favourite Two and Three Octave Moveable Scales
• Major Scales with Open String Shifts
• Triadic Arpeggios
• Part 3 – Slurs, Finger Independence, and Stretch
• Slur Exercises (Hammer-ons, Pull-offs)
• Selected Slur Scales
• Left Hand Independence, Alignment, and Stretch
• Selected Major Scales in 3rds, 6ths, Octaves, and 10ths
• Part 4 – Additional Techniques
• Barre Exercises
• Tremolo Exercises
• Basic Rasgueado
• Common Natural and Artificial Harmonics
• Speed and Relaxation

General Advice

• Music is special so always play thoughtfully and with musical feeling
• Music is easy but requires daily practice to improve
• Enjoy fixing your mistakes and solving problems
• End each practice session with a piece you can play well

Practice Tips

• Practicing is problem solving (not just playing)
• Always check your technique before playing
• Carefully consider fingering and instructions before playing
• Practice the music slowly at first (half speed or less)
• Practice difficult parts slowly and repeatedly in small sections

Sitting Position (see full article)

• The head of the guitar is at eye level (guitar is at 45º angle)
• Feet flat on the ground and footstool
• Face of guitar straight up and down (not angled back)
• Relax shoulders and neck

Right Arm & Hand (see full article)

• Right arm touches the guitar just in front of the elbow
• Right wrist is straight with a relaxed arch
• Right hand plays above the rosette
• Right hand fingers move into the palm, not up and away
• Right hand thumb is in front of the fingers

Left Arm & Hand (see full article)

• Left wrist is straight, not over-extended
• Left palm and knuckles are parallel with the strings
• Left hand thumb is vertical and behind 2nd finger
• Left hand fingers are curved and on fingertips
• Left hand fingers play very close to the fret

Happiness in small goals: Making your practice sessions enjoyable will be key to long-term musical success and development. When experiencing difficulties, break up the piece or exercise into small manageable goals at a speed you can accomplish successfully. Even if you only play a few notes at a time, playing successfully will improve your skills and give you a feeling of accomplishment.

Isolate difficulties and solidify strengths: Balance your practice sessions by working on difficulties as well as maintaining easy material you can play well. Playing at a high quality level as often as possible will help develop a solid foundation. Work on your difficulties near the middle of your practice session and finish with something you can play well. This will ensure you end with a positive feeling of success.

Practicing is Problem Solving: Practicing is different than just playing the guitar. When you practice you need to identify problems or elements you wish to improve and solve them immediately. Simply playing the guitar will not make you a better musician. If your teacher says you should practice for 30 minutes a day, be sure you are actually practicing for 30 minutes not just playing.

Combine repetition with thoughtful practice: Although a certain amount of repetition is required to establish your skills, balance repetition with thoughtful reevaluation. Sometimes, improvement will occur by reexamining your posture, hand positions, or elements not directly connected to what you are studying. Having a qualified teacher is very helpful. They can identify problems before you repeat it a hundred times. That said, aim to be mindful at all times about what you are doing.

Good days vs bad days: Actually, I don’t believe in good or bad practice days. All days are good opportunities to practice something. On days when you are having trouble focusing or executing material cleanly, slow down your speed and use a metronome until you are playing well. You may have to play at half the speed you intended but you can still get in some quality practice.

Play slowly: I’ve rarely encountered a student who practices as slowly as I think they should. Practicing ultra slowly will ensure you are playing with your best hand positions, sound, confidence, relaxation, accuracy, and more. The majority of your practicing should be at very slow tempos. Once you can play something well at a slow tempo, you can speed it up while keeping an eye on the quality level.

Page markers: Use page markers (sticky tabs) on the pages you are practicing so you can quickly flip to the next piece or exercise.

Keep it simple: Even the most advanced players will practice simple open string exercises but will do so at a very high quality level. Quality practice helps to improve your playing so keep the exercises and pieces simple enough that you can accomplish them at your highest potential. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. You‘ll only improve if you set realistic and manageable goals.

Trust your teacher: If your teacher recommends something contrary to what’s in this book, please trust their advice. Your teacher knows what’s best for you and your personal and unique development. Learning from books and online videos can be helpful but the real work is done through long-term communication with teachers and other musicians.

Classical Guitar Tabs and Free Sheet Music in PDF and book format. Video lessons for all pieces. Tablature has existed since the Renaissance and continues to be popular for classical guitarists. Here’s a list of classical guitar tabs. The picture below is an example of our high quality tabs.

• Classical Guitar TAB – 50 Selections from this site (link to hardcopy via Amazon). This is the best tab book you can buy with high quality fingerings, notation above, and detailed and accurate editions.

• Sagreras: Lección No. 84, Gr. 4, Free Notation & Free TAB
• Giuliani: Op.1, Part 4, No. 1, Gr.4, Classical, Free Notation & Free TAB 
• Dalza: Recercar, G.4, Renaissance, Free Notation & Free TAB

• Easy Classical Guitar, Vol. 1, Gr. 1-3, Notation & Notation + TAB, Videos
• Easy Celtic Guitar Vol. 1, Grade 1-4, Notation & Notation & TAB, Free notation PDFs
• Kellner: Rondeau, Pastorel, Passepied, Giga – Grade 6-9, Notation & TAB
• Gaspar Sanz Collection, Gr. 3-7, Videos, Notation & Notation + TAB
• Easy Christmas Songs – Vol. 1, Gr.1-2, Notation or TAB, Lyrics, Chords
• Easy Christmas Songs – Vol. 2, Gr.1-2, Notation or Tab, Lyrics, Chords

• Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece.
• 20 Favorite Exercises, Notation + TAB, Video lessons, Gr.1-6, Great for crossover or a quick boost.
• Ten Classical Etudes, Gr.4-7, videos lessons, Notation & Notation + TAB

• Traditional: Greensleeves Arrangement, Gr. 2, Traditional, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Anonymous (Renaissance): Spagnoletta, Gr. 2, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Anonymous (Renaissance): Wilson’s Wilde, Gr.2, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Ballet Lute Book: Robin Reddocke, Gr. 1, Renaissance, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Carulli: Moderato, Gr. 2, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Carulli: Waltz, Op. 121, No. 1, Gr. 1, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Celtic: The Ash Grove (Llwyn Onn), Gr.2, Lesson, Notation & TAB
• Celtic: Auld Lang Syne for Guitar, Gr.3, Notation, Lyrics, Chords, Free Notation or TAB
• Celtic: Danny Boy (Londonderry Air), Gr.3, Lesson, Notation & TAB
• Celtic: Loch Lomond for Easy Guitar, Gr.3, Notation & TAB
• Celtic: The Skye Boat Song (Outlander Theme), Gr.2, Notation & TAB
• Dallis Lute Book: Chanson Englesa, Gr. 1, Renaissance, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Ferrer: Ejercicio No.9, Gr.3, Romantic, Spanish, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Fuhrman: Tanz, Gr. 1, Renaissance, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Giuliani: Andantino Op. 50, No. 1, Gr. 1, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Logy: Gigue from Suite in C Major, Gr. 2, Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Mertz: Andante, Gr. 3, Romantic, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Mertz: Andantino, Gr. 2, Romantic, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Molino: Romance, Gr. 3, Romantic, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Españoleta Theme, Grade 2, Spanish Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Easy Rujero, Grade 2, Lesson, Spanish Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Las Hachas, Gr.3, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sor: Andante, Study Op. 35, No. 1, Gr. 2, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Sor: Study, No. 6, Op. 60, Gr. 3, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Sor: Andante, Study Op. 60, No. 14, Gr. 3, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Estudio / Study in C, Gr.3, Romantic, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Estudio in E Minor, Gr.3, Romantic, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Traditional: In the Bleak Midwinter for Guitar, Gr.3, Lyrics, Chords, Free Notation or TAB
• Traditional: Oh Shenandoah for Easy Guitar, Gr.3, Notation & TAB

• Anonymous: Spanish Romance – Romanza, Gr. 5, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Bach: Air ‘On the G String’ for Easy Guitar, Gr.4, Baroque, Notes & TAB
• Bach: Bouree from BWV 996, Gr. 6, Baroque, Free Notation or TAB
• Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Gr.4, Baroque, Free Notation or TAB
• Bach / Petzold: Minuet in G, Anh.114, Gr.4, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Bach: Prelude in D minor, BWV 999, Gr.7, Baroque, Free Notation or TAB
• Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite BWV 1007, Gr.7, Baroque, Editorial Free Notation or TAB
• Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 BWV 1007, Baroque, Notation, Free non-editorial edition
• Carcassi Etude No.1, Op.60, Gr.5, Classical, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Carcassi: Etude No. 6, Op. 60, Gr. 5, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Carcassi: Etude No.7, Op. 60, Gr. 5, Classical, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Carcassi: Etude No. 10, Op. 60, Gr. 5, Classical, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Carcassi: Study No. 14, Op. 60, Gr.5, Classical, Notation or TAB
• Carcassi: Study No. 19, Op. 60, Gr.5, Classical, Notation or TAB
• Cutting: Greensleeves, Gr. 5, Renaissance, Free Notation or TAB
• Dalza: Calata ala spagnola, G.6, Renaissance, Notation & Notation+TAB
• Dalza: Recercar, G.4, Renaissance, Free Notation & Free TAB
• Dowland: Mr. Dowland’s Midnight, Gr.4, Renaissance, Notation or Tab
• Dowland: Mrs. Winters Jump, Gr.4, Renaissance, Free Notation or TAB
• Ferrer: Cantilène Espagnole No.1, Op.41, Gr. 4, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Giuliani: Etude Op.1, Part 3, No.1, Gr.5, Classical, Free Notation or TAB
• Giuliani: Op.1, Part 4, No. 1, Gr.4, Classical, Free Notation & Free TAB 
• Giuliani: Etude No. 22, Op. 50, Gr.4, Classical, Notation or TAB
• Johnson, Robert: Alman, G.6, Renaissance, Free Notation or TAB
• Kellner: Rondeau in A Major, Gr.7, Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Kellner: Passepied in A Major, Gr.6, Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Kellner: Pastoral in A Major, Gr.6, Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Kellner: Giga in A Major, Gr.8, Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Llobet: El Noi de la Mare, Gr. 7, Catalan folk song, Free Notation or TAB 
• Llobet: El Testament d’Ameila, Gr.7,  Spanish folk song, Free Notation or TAB
• Mertz: Nocturne No.1, Op.4, Gr.6, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Mertz: Nocturne No. 2, Op. 4, Gr.6, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• da Milano: Ricercare XVI, Gr.7, Renaissance, Free Notation or TAB
• O’Carolan: Carolan’s Welcome, Gr. 4, Celtic Baroque, Free Notation or TAB
• Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Gr. 5, Baroque, Free Notation or TAB
• Petzold: Minuet in G, Anh.114, Gr.4, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sagreras: Lección No. 84, Gr. 4, Free Notation & Free TAB
• Sanz: Canarios, Gr.7, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Españoletas, Gr.4, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Folias, Gr.4, Baroque, Lesson, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Fuga, Gr.5, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: La Cavalleria de Nápoles, Gr.6, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Sanz: Villanos, Gr. 4, Baroque, Notation or TAB
• Schubert: Ave Maria Arrangement, Gr.4, Romantic, Notation or TAB
• Sor Study No.15, Op.44, Gr.5, Classical, Free Notation or TAB
• Sor Study No.13, Op.35 (Segovia No.2), Gr. 4, Classical, Free Notation or TAB
• Sor Study No.18, Op.35, Gr.5, Classical, Free Notation or Tab
• Sor Study in B Minor No. 22, Op. 35, Gr. 6, Classical, Notation or TAB
• Sor: Study No. 24, Op. 60, Gr. 5, Classical, Notation or TAB
• Sor Study No.8, Op.6 (Segovia #1), Gr.7, Classical, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Adelita (Mazurca), Gr.6, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Lágrima (Tear), Gr.4, Romantic, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Marieta, Mazurka, Gr.7, Romantic, Lesson, Free Notation or TAB

• Albeniz: Asturias (Leyenda) Op. 47, Gr.10, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata, Arr. Tarrega, Gr.9, Free Notation or TAB
• Mudarra: Fantasia X (Ludovico, Tres libros), Gr.9, Renaissance, Free Notation or TAB
• Scarlatti Sonata in A, K322, L483, Gr.8, Baroque, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Capricho Árabe, Gr.9, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Gran Vals, Gr. 8-9, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Tarrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Gr.9, Romantic, Free Notation or TAB
• Weiss: Tombeau (Comte d’Logy), Gr.9, Baroque, Free Notation or TAB

• Schubert: Ave Maria Arrangement, Gr.4, Romantic, Notation or TAB
• Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Free Notation or TAB – Wedding Classic, down the aisle
• Bach: Air ‘On the G String’, Notes & TAB – Wedding Classic
• Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,  Free Notation or TAB – Great for the signing of a wedding
• Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite BWV 1007, Free Notation or TAB – Great for the signing of a wedding
• Celtic: The Skye Boat Song (Outlander Theme), Notation & TAB
• Easy Classical Guitar, Vol. 1, Gr. 1-3, Notation & Notation + TAB, Videos
• Easy Celtic Guitar Vol. 1, Grade 1-4, Notation & Notation & TAB, Free PDFs
• Easy Christmas Songs – Vol. 1, Gr.1-2, Notation or TAB, Lyrics, Chords
• Easy Christmas Songs – Vol. 2, Gr.1-2, Notation or Tab, Lyrics, Chords

Recommended classical guitar tab editions from other trusted publishers, links to Amazon & Sheet Music Plus.

• Recommended Technique Books 
• Pumping Nylon in TAB by Scott Tennant – Exercises & workouts, memorable and popular. This book is great for students who want to dive into real technique practice for the first time. It’s by no means comprehensive but it’s manageable, I used to play cover to cover almost daily. Kind of a ‘favorite’ exercises book.
• Recommended Method Books 
• Traversing the Fretboard by Sean Thrower [read my review]– Some good moments. Tab.
• The Segovia Scales by Thrower [read my review]– With Tab.
• Anthologies, Graded, & Fun Collections
• Play Flamenco Guitar with Juan Martin (Notes + TAB) – Fun and gets right to repertoire!
• The Beatles for Classical Guitar  (Notes and Tab) – Recommended. These are great but are firmly in the intermediate and late intermediate level. I love the arrangement of Norwegian Wood in this book.
• Easy Beatles Arrangements for Classical Guitar (Notes + TAB) – Recommended. These are significantly easier than the above book but are still very full sounding.
• John Lennon for Classical Guitar (Beekman) – 15 songs in notation and tab. I bet these are good, I haven’t tried it but Beekman is solid.
• Fingerpicking Irish Songs – Some of these are pretty good, has melody above.
• Fingerpicking Jazz Standards (Notes + TAB) – some good.

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

Andantino, Op.241, No.5 by Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841) – This piece has a noticeable increase in right hand activity. It is a quintessential example of the classical era composing for guitar. This piece is in G major so warm up with a G major scale. Play the melody on its own. Aim for a legato and musically shaped melody. Practice the specific chord shapes used in this piece slowly and calmly. Classical era pieces such as this one tend to work very well on the guitar if fingering is followed. In Bar 1-4, the bass voice employs an alternating figuration of notes that are part of a chord. This is commonly known in the Classical era as an alberti bass. Try playing the bass voice on its own to hear how it sounds.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

La Tirantine by Adrian Le Roy (c.1520–1598) – From A Briefe and Easye Instrution to Learne the Tableture to Conducte and Dispose the Hande unto the Lute (London, 1568). Originally for lute.

The main thing to do in this piece is practice the chord shapes since they come up often and as three or four voice chords. Your ability to navigate the chords will really help. There is also a strong melody so practice it on its own and as musically as possible. A light bouncy dance feel can help bring the piece to life and also help the left hand jump about from chord to chord. Due to the tuning of the lute some inner voices have been omitted.Follow the general idea of alternating right hand fingering. Due to all the three note chords, repeated fingers are inevitable so do you best and aim for a dance-like legato sound.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

Ferran Talarn plays Cançó i dansa No.13 by Federico Mompou (1893-1987). This comes via Open Strings Berlin and their amazing Youtube Channel. Always love OSB videos for their thoughtful touches, such as the making of this video: “To transport Ferran’s most private emotions towards these two movements we found a spot in the earliest of all morning hours to shoot while the sun was coming up.” Excellent playing by Talarn with sensitive and caring touch in the opening followed by excellent articulations and dance feel in the later half. Great piece too.

Iliana Matos plays the first movement Allegro from Sonata clásica (1928) by Manuel Ponce (1882-1948). This comes via her YouTube channel. We don’t hear these Ponce sonatas as often as we should these days. I guess they are a lot of work and were played heavily in the past. Although difficult, the writing is so lush with thick harmony, strong melodic lines, and larger sonata forms being used. I personally love Sonata III the best but this classical hommage is also great. Fantastic playing by Matos who now lives in Canada and teaches at the University of Lethbridge. You can learn more about her at her bio page on her website.

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

Lección 19 from Nuevo Método para Guitarra by Dionisio Aguado (1784-1849). This is mainly an arpeggio etude but the bass does make a nice melody so try playing it on its own and get nice legato shaping. Also practice the chord shapes both as block chords and getting one note at a time. Instead of using larger chord shapes, practice the specific chords used in this piece. There are a number left hand fingering oddities that will help you change from one chord to the next in a smooth legato style. Some fingerings might seem complicated but they will enable you to play as legato as possible. You may find this exercise to be tedious but the effort will pay off when you start playing the piece.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

Slovenian guitarist Karmen Štendler plays Divagazioni by Italian composer Claudio Decorti who has dedicated the work to Štendler . This comes via her YouTube Channel with recording by the amazing Uros Baric at Baros Records in Slovenia. As she mentions, “Divagazioni is the Italian word for ‘ramblings’. The piece consists of melodic phrases wandering in different directions, captured in a distinct ABA structure, where the middle part is a waltz in E Major contrasting the minor A sections.” Great playing as usual by Štendler. Excellent pacing and expression without overindulging which could be easy here. Also check out my other featured posts of her or my tag of her work with the Weimar Quartet here on the site. 

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

Écossaise, Op.33, No.2 (Allegretto) by Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829). This piece introduces slurs (also called hammer-ons and pull-offs) as well as bass string muting on rests. Slurs facilitate legato phrasing and reduce the amount of right hand fingering. Bass string muting stops the bass from sustaining when the harmony doesn’t match or for articulation reasons. I have the removed the staccato marks from the original to focus on maintaining a legato line during the first half of the piece. – Only mute the bass note rests in the first half of the piece. The upper voice should be played legato regardless of notation.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

Lección 70 by Julio Sagreras (1879–1942), from Primeras lecciones de guitarra. Sagreras was an Argentine guitarist and composer. This study is another enjoyable piece that is a small step up in level from my method books but shouldn’t require much practice besides playing the melody and chords separately. The key is E minor. Practice the melody on its own and some of the chord shapes to prepare the piece.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

Lección 75 by Julio Sagreras (1879–1942), from Primeras lecciones de guitarra. Sagreras was an Argentine guitarist and composer and this study is great for working on combined melody and chord shapes. There is nothing very awkward or new about this piece except for more block chords, quicker moving arpeggios, and more involved right hand fingering. Practice the melody on its own and some of the chord shapes to prepare the piece.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

Canadian guitarist Jeffrey McFadden plays Fantasy on a Canadian Folksong (2018) by Jeffrey McFadden. This comes via McFadden’s fantastic Youtube channel. Recorded March 27, 2019 at St.Mary Magdalene Church, Toronto, by Drew Henderson. Guitar by my fellow Victorian  Marcus Dominelli (2019). Beautiful and virtuosic playing as usual by McFadden and quite the intricate variations on this song. Check out my great Canadian playing in my Classical Guitar Canada category.

Bonus points for naming the song. Tip: think lumber!

Answer: See this YouTube vid

This lesson comes from my new book Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Eight pieces at the grade one level with dedicated lessons preparing you for each piece. Check it out at Werner Guitar Editions!

This piece is the The Spanish Pavin, an anonymous lute work from the Renaissance. This is a melody-focused dance and should be played fairly slowly. A Pavin is a dance of Italian origin and popular in Europe in the 16th Century. Although it was originally faster, by the late 16th Century it had become a slower processional dance. Practice the melody on its own and some of the chord shapes to prepare the piece.

YouTube Lesson Link (4k)

Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 – Lessons and pieces in notation only with fingering. There is also a TAB supplement at the end which includes pieces (not the lessons). This item is a PDF Download. 39 Pages. 2019 Edition. By Bradford Werner.

Buy or learn more at my store: Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1 from Werner Guitar Editions

About & Level: This book teaches classical guitar repertoire at approximately the grade one level. This level is appropriate for students who have completed both my Volume 1 and Volume 2 method books. The pieces in this book appear in a progressive order starting with easy pieces and slowly introducing new techniques, oddity fingerings, or increased activity. The main goal is to teach students how to practice their repertoire by breaking it down into separate elements. Check out the samples in the image gallery to your left.

Contents – Each piece has two or three pages of lessons followed by a proper performance edition of the piece.

• The Spanish Pavin (Anonymous) – Melody-focused Renaissance dance
• Lección 75 by Julio Sagreras – Melody combined with arpeggios and chords
• Lección 70 by Julio Sagreras – Three-voice texture with a clear melody
• Ècossaise Op.33, No.2 by Mauro Giuliani – Simple slurs and muted bass strings
• Lección 19 by Dionisio Aguado – Arpeggio etude with three-voice chords
• La Tirantine by Adrian Le Roy – Renaissance dance with melody and full chord shapes
• Andantino Op.241, No.5 by Ferdinando Carulli – Increased activity, melody and alberti bass
• Exercise No.11 by Napoléon Coste – A brief foray into upper positions

• Lesson: The Spanish Pavin (Anonymous)
• Lección 75 by Julio Sagreras – Coming Soon
• Lección 70 by Julio Sagreras – Coming Soon
• Ècossaise Op.33, No.2 by Mauro Giuliani -Coming Soon
• Lección 19 by Dionisio Aguado – Coming Soon
• La Tirantine by Adrian Le Roy – Coming Soon
• Andantino Op.241, No.5 by Ferdinando Carulli – Coming Soon
• Exercise No.11 by Napoléon Coste – Coming Soon