Looking for a good classical guitar repertoire book

[tvegas99]

I used the Aaron Shearer books many years ago when I was studying classical...I'm interested in learning more classical pieces to add to my repertoire for when I do solo jazz gigs...any suggestions

I'm not looking for a How to Learn Classical Guitar book, just the motherload of good arrangements for popular repertoire in one book, any thoughts?

[jkruger03]

Frederick Noad Solo Guitar Playing I and II. It's a method book but has some very nice songs. Another one I use is The Library of Guitar Classics.

[theflyingturtle]

How about the Sor studies or the Carcassi studies? They're relatively simple, clean, catchy and people like them. Especially folks that don't usually like classical music. I can't remember the titles exactly but there are several books of Bach collections which usually go over well and the simple Francisco Tarrega etudes Adelita and Lagrima are, to me, especially lovely. Chicks dig em too!

[parns2112]

the "period" Noad books are great collections as well...Renaissance Guitar, Baroque Guitar, Classical Guitar, and Romantic Guitar

[Beagle1]

+1 on the Noad books...a very good place to start.

However, I think at some point you'll have to buy collections of works from a single composer (Sor, Tarrega, Barrios, etc), or individual pieces as there's no single book that I'm aware of that has all the good stuff in it. You may be better off just figuring out some of the staples of the classical rep you want to learn and just buy sheet music for those pieces. Guitar Solo in San Francisco is a great place to order classical guitar music from:

http://www.gspguitar.com/

[derekd]

Sor
Carcassi
Tarrega

Those are the ones I spent the most time with. Toss in Bach's Bouree in Eminor, Austurias, Greensleeves, and a few others, and you should be in biz. Not sure where to find all that kind of stuff in one place, but would be worth the effort/$.

[stevel]

I used the Aaron Shearer books many years ago when I was studying classical...I'm interested in learning more classical pieces to add to my repertoire for when I do solo jazz gigs...any suggestions

I'm not looking for a How to Learn Classical Guitar book, just the motherload of good arrangements for popular repertoire in one book, any thoughts?

I'll put in another vote for the Noad series.

One of the best sets I've come across is:

http://www.frederickharrismusic.com/FHMCsite/capricorn?para=showPage&docId=catListProd&section=CARESOURCES

It's the Guitar Series, 3rd edition.

I have the 2nd edition but I just checked my volume 5 against the 3rd edition and the content is mostly the same, so it's basically the same series.

I bought all 8 volumes available (at the time) and they start from very, very simple, to pretty complex, and include Renaissance lute pieces (tune G down to F#), an Baroque through contemporary.

There's a nice smattering of Sor, Carcassi, Giuliani, Tarrega, etc. In fact, some of the pieces that I had from my guitar teacher that were old then - like from the late 60s - on sheet music appear in this collection - it's the only place I know to get some of these pieces.

The Noad series had some duplications, but I bought them anyway just to have some other repretoire too.

Between those two, they covered most of the "general" stuff I wanted (and found enjoyable to play).

I've also seen "popular songs arranged for classical/fingerstyle guitar" type books too - is that more of what you're looking for?

Steve

[sausagefingers]

"World's Favorite Solos for Classical Guitar" published by Ashley Publications, arranged by Harvey Vinson.

[aaron1433]

No love for Villa Lobos yet? There's a very nice book compilation of his solo works that is readily available. Also the pumping nylon repertoire book has some good studies that would easily fit in to a "background music" gig.