Easy pieces for classical guitarists
Classical guitar boasts some amazing, enchanting, and seductive repertoire. Many students fall in love with classical guitar after hearing masterpieces like Asturias (Leyenda) by Albeniz, Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Tarrega, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo, or one of the many brilliant Bach pieces adapted to classical guitar. Some students even sign in to their first guitar lesson with sheet music in hand for one of these classical guitar masterpieces.
It might go without saying from listening to them, but these are not beginner pieces. They demand quite a bit of technical development and many years of study to be able to interpret them effectively. Still, I understand the desire to play music that inspires you right from the start. There are lots of great beginner pieces if you know where to look. They’re not the pieces that world-famous guitarists play in concerts and record on albums, but that doesn’t mean they’re not beautiful and fun to play.
If you love Spanish Guitar classics such as:
Asturias (Leyenda), Granada - Tarrega
Spanish Dance No. 5 - Enrique Granados
Capricho Arabe and Recuerdos de la Alhambra - Tarrega
Fantasía a Un Gentilhombre (a concerto) - Joaquin Rodrigo
Spanish Romance - Anonymous
Check out these easier pieces of a similar mood/vibe :
Torito - Jaime Zenamon
Variations on a Spanish Theme - Parkening Guitar Method vol. 1
Moorish Dance - Aaron Shearer
Andaluza - Claudio Camisassa
Spanish Folk Song - Parkening Guitar Method vol. 1
Midnight in Sevilla - Jeffery McFadden
Malagueña - Parkening Guitar Method vol. 1
A couple notes:
(1) The recordings aren't all by professionals, but they'll still give you a good idea of how the piece sounds. Some of the players even seem to be students themselves. Thanks to those students for sharing their music with the world!
(2) Spanish Romance is not out of reach if you’re an intermediate player who can handle some stretches and barre chords. That would be an excellent goal to work towards. If you get frustrated by the mere site of Part II, though, start with Spanish Folk Song (listed above), which adapts the same melody to a simpler version.
I'll explore some more musical styles soon, for the students who get drawn in by guitar music of Bach, the classical era, South American composers, etc.
If you love the logical, addictive flow and gorgeous builds of Bach’s music, you don’t have to wait until you’re ready for his most famous masterpieces to start diving into the Baroque era. There are plenty of short, easy-to-manage pieces that will help you develop your technique and baroque interpretation skills. Save the Lute and Cello Suites (except for a few select movements), A minor Fugue, and the Chaconne for later, but you can always listen to them and study the scores from a music theory perspective.
Here are some suggestions for Bach-loving beginners.
Bourree II from Cello Suite No. 4, BWV 1010
Parkening Guitar Method vol. 1
https://youtu.be/0cn8YNjjpQQ?t=846
Minuet from Suite for Keyboard in G Minor, BWV 822
Royal Conservatory of Music ‘Bridges’ Volume 3
https://youtu.be/ijrwGg8bz0o
Gavottes I and II from Cello Suite #6, BWV 1012
Benjamin Verdery’s ‘Easy Classical Guitar Recital’
https://youtu.be/MQy1ZAFbaKc
Minuet in G Major - BWV Anh 114
https://youtu.be/lNg9iMQDnIM
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring - BWV 147
There are many arrangements of this. The arrangement at the end of the Parkening Guitar Method Vol. 1 is appropriate for intermediate beginners.
https://youtu.be/4-h7BsomLPs
Bourree from Lute Suite in E Minor - BWV 996
Parkening Vol. 1
https://youtu.be/QIW0BrrA5LE
These are some pieces by other composers with a similarly lovely Baroque sound:
Prelude in C Major from Sonata in C by Handel, HWV 598
Royal Conservatory of Music ‘Bridges’ Volume 3
https://youtu.be/vE5Yr75-8HE
Sarabande (Anonymous, 17th centry), arranged by Paul Gerrits
Royal Conservatory of Music ‘Bridges’ Volume 3
https://youtu.be/cUnP-Y23ZOc
Theme by Handel
Parkening Guitar Method vol. 1
https://youtu.be/1Z04GJL3eXE?t=15
Prelude (https://youtu.be/4XlAlEpIEhw, the very first movement of this recording) and Bourree (https://youtu.be/PTv6pMZoZhg) from Robert Di Visée’s Suite in D Minor
Parkening Guitar Method vol. 2
Pavanas by Gaspar Sanz
Parkening Guitar Method vol 2
https://youtu.be/PIgQu22T43I
*note, the BWV number is part of a system used to classify Bach’s work -- he was a prolific composer, so using that number will help you be sure you find the piece you’re looking for.