Introduction
Classical guitar music is a beautiful, complex art form. It’s also one of the most challenging things to learn as a beginner musician,
So it’s helpful to know that there are some classic pieces out there that can get you started. Here are some of my favorite best classical guitar songs:
Adelita by Francisco Tarrega.
- Adelita by Francisco Tarrega
- Name of piece: Adelita
- Composer: Francisco Tarrega
- Year of composition: 1904
- Key of the piece: C Major (or C Minor) (this is important because the key will determine how you play the song)
- The genre of music: Romantic Spanish Dance, probably from his book “Tres piezas de Cambio”. It’s a very difficult piece for classical guitarists to play well and it requires skill at all levels from beginner to advanced player. The notation here is quite complicated so I’ll try to simplify it as much as possible without losing any information about what notes are being played at any given moment during this song!
Lagrima by Francisco Tarrega.
Lagrima is a piece of classical guitar music by the famous Spanish composer Francisco Tarrega. It is in the key of E minor and is a very popular piece of classical guitar music. This song was written to be played on guitar, although it can be transposed for other instruments as well.
Marieta by Francisco Tarrega.
Marieta is a piece of classical guitar. It’s a solo piece that can be played on the guitar or other string instruments, but it was written specifically for classical guitar players and their use of the instrument.
Originally published in 1884, this song is known as “The Girl of My Dreams” because it was inspired by a real-life woman named María de la Trinidad Pérez de Ayala y Mota who lived in Seville during the period in which Francisco Tarrega wrote this song (the 1880s). She had fallen in love with another man who left her without saying goodbye, so when he returned years later after becoming famous then-called “El Niño del Prado”—the boy from the Prado Museum—she asked him why he had left her without saying goodbye. He replied that she wasn’t good enough for him; then they married anyway!
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega.
Recuerdos de la Alhambra is a great piece for beginners, as it’s not too difficult to play but still has enough complexity to keep you interested. The main thing that makes this song so good for learning finger technique is that it has lots of different chords in each measure and uses many different scales and arpeggios. The first section of the piece starts with only one chord per measure (Cmaj7), but after that, all the other chords change based on what note you play on your strings.
To improve your shifting ability, practice moving up one fret at a time until you can shift two frets without having any trouble—or if there are some tricky stretches where things seem too easy or hard at first try playing them without holding back! This will help prepare you for more advanced shifts later on down this path!
Sueño by Francisco Tarrega.
- Sueño by Francisco Tarrega. One of the most popular pieces of classical guitar music, Sueño was written in 1902 and is considered one of the most beautiful pieces for guitarists to play. It’s also known for its beautiful melody and relaxing feel that makes you want to fall asleep immediately after listening to it.
J.S. Bach’s Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004
Bach’s Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004 is a solo piece for the guitar. It’s one of the most famous pieces of classical guitar music and it’s very difficult to play on the guitar.
The chaconne was written by J S Bach during his time in Leipzig (1724-50). The piece consists of fourteen parts that have been arranged with variations into six movements. Each movement has its theme and variations with some parts being longer than others.
Johann Kaspar Mertz’s Hungarian Fantasy on a Theme of Donizetti
This is a wonderful piece of music by Johann Kaspar Mertz, written for the guitar. It’s based on the theme of Donizetti’s opera “The Elixir of Love,” but it has its unique sound and feels to it. This piece is in standard tuning (EADGBe).
Joaquín Rodrigo’s Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre
This piece was written in the style of Spanish Renaissance music, a style that was popular in Spain during Rodrigo’s lifetime. The piece has four movements:
- 1st Movement, Concierto de Aranjuez (Arrangement for Guitar) – A fast-moving introduction featuring quick runs and arpeggios.
- 2nd Movement, Adagio con Viento (Slow Wind) – An elegant melody with gentle accompaniment from bass instruments only.
- 3rd Movement, Intermezzo 1º Bajo (First Violin) – A lively theme featuring double stops on each chord.
- 4th Movement, Intermezzo 2º Gamba (Second Violin) – An equally lively theme with more syncopation than its predecessor.
Manuel Ponce’s Estrellita (My Little Star)
Manuel Ponce’s Estrellita (My Little Star) was composed in 1911. It’s a beautiful piece for the guitar, which is why it’s one of the most popular classical guitar pieces ever written.
The piece was originally written with two guitars, but you can play it on any instrument that has strings like a violin or cello. It uses an F major key and has three sections: an introductory phrase, variations on that theme, and a coda. The whole thing ends with just a single chord as there are no endings or endings included in this piece at all!
Joaquín Malats’ Serenata Espagnola (Spanish Serenade)
Joaquín Malats’s Serenata Espagnole (Spanish Serenade) is a classical guitar piece that was written in the 1930s. It is an exploration of the Spanish language, with the composer having studied it at school and later used it to inspire his pieces.
The piece has been called “one of the most beautiful and evocative works in classical guitar literature” by music critic and historian Leonard Feather.
These are the best pieces of classical guitar music to listen to if you want to begin learning the guitar.
- The best pieces of classical guitar music to listen to if you want to begin learning the guitar.
- Arranged in order of difficulty, popularity, and historical significance.
Conclusion
If you want to learn the classical guitar, then these pieces of music are a great starting point. They will help you learn what it means to play an instrument and how to read music as well. Many people consider these pieces of classical guitar music to be some of the best pieces ever written, so don’t miss out on learning from them! Look at the best classical guitars now
