Are you learning to play classical guitar? Looking for some good books to walk you through what you need to know and how to do it? maybe you’re looking for exercises to help you perfect your technique or some easy pieces to play in recital.
Whatever you’re looking for, hopefully, we’ll be able to help, as in this post, we’re going to take a look at what we think are the top ten beginner classical guitar books to help you get started. playing.
You are reading: Classical guitar books beginners
So, whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to improve your skills, these books will help get you started on the right track. Let’s get started!
1. christopher parking’s guitar method
If you’re in a hurry and since the classical guitar can be a difficult instrument to master, it’s good to know that a renowned classical guitar master has published a method book.
parking takes time in his book, the christopher parkening guitar method, to demonstrate all the essential techniques for all budding classical guitar students, and he does so with plenty of photos.
After all, it’s one thing for someone to tell you how to place your hand, but it’s something else entirely if you can see it.
Throughout the book, the parking lot offers real-world pieces of music to practice a specific technique. on the back, it offers arrangements of well-known pieces (“malagueña”, some bach) written to incorporate the techniques taught in the book.
Essential reading material for all classical guitarists and a book that we have no hesitation in recommending.
2. scott tennant pumping nylon
In his book Pumping Nylon, Scott Tennant spends a little more time on the dos and don’ts of classical guitar, which can be a good thing. after all, it’s harder to unlearn bad habits than it is to learn the right ones in the first place. even so, new players can feel a bit overwhelmed.
once he gets down to actual performance technique and annotated exercises, tennant uses illustrations (rather than photographs) that clearly demonstrate visual concepts.
The book also covers scales and some music theory, which is crucial to becoming a well-versed musician, no matter how cool people who can’t read music seem to think.
Speaking of scaling, here’s some information about some common issues players run into with some scaling. it’s good to keep preventative measures in mind before you find the problem.
3. hal leonard classical guitar method
This robust methods book from the Hal Leonard Corporation covers much more than just string names. covers time signatures, slurs and other musical notation, and hand positions.
After covering posture and instrument anatomy, this method book moves on to arpeggio exercises that focus on one hand at a time, which can be very helpful.
many people who have trouble playing the guitar become obsessed with freelance tasks.
This book allows you to work in isolation before combining your hands. each section works like a lesson and concludes with some nice but playable arrangements to practice.
4. lead guitar – book 1
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You’re probably better off using a methods book with a guitar teacher, but if you’re not doing that, this is a great book for self-study.
There is a lot of information in this methods book, and such volume could be daunting. but the book’s lessons are presented in a logical manner, guiding the student through the progressively more complicated techniques needed to play the classical guitar.
The emphasis on musicality, including phrasing, transforms the book from a simple how-to book to a how-to book.
There are also specific exercises geared toward increasing finger strength, speed, and dexterity.
5. the beatles for classical guitar
sometimes you want to play a real song that people actually know instead of studios. That’s what this book of 31 beatles songs arranged for classical guitar offers you.
but keep in mind that this is not a method book. If you have never played the classical guitar before, this book is not for you as it will not teach you how to play the instrument.
but once you know how to play it, you need repertoire, and this has some fun stuff, including a lot of familiar beatles hits. The good thing about this book is that it also has arrangements in various degrees of difficulty. there are things you can play as a beginner and then some more difficult pieces for you to work on.
if “michelle” is above your pay grade, you can choose a different song done in a more attainable arrangement. as she gets better, she’ll go back to “michelle”.
6. the classical guitar compendium
Like the last book, “The Classical Guitar Compendium” is not a method book. however, it would make an excellent companion piece and should have a place on the lectern of the neophyte classical music player.
is full of literature, of both kinds. there are studies and exercises written expressly for playing in practice, not for an audience. then there are beautiful arrangements of classical music pieces.
You’ll find names like Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, and of course J.S. bach. the pieces are attainable for a new player, but not so simple as to be boring, too easy, or insulting.
7. a modern approach to classical guitar
With a wealth of information on music notation, this method book helps the new musician navigate the new world of music in print.
As you would expect in a method book, there are pages and pages of instructions on postures and performance techniques, most of which are illustrated with photographs.
The book also spends some time on keys, explaining what makes a piece of music in a particular key, as well as the corresponding scales.
Towards the end of the book, presumably reached when the student has improved his technique, we find music written by master composers.
These are a welcome relief from the out-of-tune exercises we sometimes have to do when learning a new instrument.
8. classical guitar technique
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quickly learn the difference between rest and free hit, and spend time training the little finger on your left hand to do what it’s told (harder than you think).
This method book teaches technique string by string, which helps when you’re learning note names and their corresponding locations on the guitar.
As in any good method book, you’ll find illustrations of left and right hand techniques, posture discussions, musical notation instructions, and a host of pieces to play as you learn more and more about the instrument.
9. 30 easy Spanish guitar solos
The good news is that this book contains guitar solos, pieces you’ve heard and probably wanted to learn to play on your classical guitar.
The bad news is that these fixes have been simplified (or else they wouldn’t be “easy”).
not everyone can play a segovia piece like he did so a stripped down version can be a good thing but if you are eager to learn say “salamanca” you will learn it from this book but you need to learn it again if you want to play the original version.
This is not a bad book. just create the title – the pieces are relatively easy. if you’re a fast learner, you might get over it sooner than you intended.
10. first pieces for classical guitar
This book is almost a combination of literature and method. “almost” because it does not teach technique. features 20 arrangements of familiar guitar pieces written in standard music notation and tablature.
The appeal here (for some) will be the ability to learn some classical guitar pieces without learning to read music. if that’s a goal, this book will help. but to learn to read music and learn technique, this is not the book you are looking for.
conclusion: which one should I buy?
that’s all for our list of good classical guitar books, we hope you found it useful to choose which one to choose.
If you’re in a hurry and want only the best, while none of the method books on this list are bad, we recommend picking up Christopher Parking’s guitar book.
From all of them you will learn most of what you need to become a beginning player of classical music. but since christopher parking is the reigning king of classical guitar, learning directly from him is a good idea.
Photo illustrations are also top notch – there is little room to misunderstand instructions on how this or that technique works.
Let’s assume parking is not your thing. In that case, again, any of these books are quality materials, but “Playing Lead Guitar – Book 1” (#4 on the list) is excellent for picking up lots of ideas and instruction on musicianship in addition to learning to play the instrument. .
As far as repertoire books go, the beatles book is a lot of fun and might come in handy if you’re doing a solo concert somewhere. But if it’s classical literature for classical guitar you’re after, “The Classical Guitar Compendium” is exceptional. contains all the basics of classical guitar repertoire, so you can’t go wrong with that.
many rep books have a bunch of bach and a piece in spanish, and that’s about it. This book contains music from several different periods and by many different composers, so you’re sure to find something you’ll love to play.
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