An excellent book explaining fundamentals of classic guitar technique, along with performance exercises and pieces for beginners. It dates from the "teach-yourself" era, with abundant explanations and photos of hand positions. Definitely oriented toward the adult beginner, but can be used by teachers with younger students. Some of the solo pieces are difficult for grass-roots beginners, but a teacher can supplement with other material suited to individual students.

This book by the distinguished award-winning concert artist, a founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, is rapidly becoming a standard for classical guitar technique. Presented in a practical, "master class" style of writing, it is best used as a reference for exercises involving the development of each hand. Working these exercises with a qualified teacher is highly recommended for correct use of the hands.

Mostly early level pieces by Carcassi, Carulli, Giuliani, and Sor, with some lute pieces and Tarrega's ever popular "Adelita" & "Lagrima." Formerly published as "Music for Classical Guitar," V.59 of the "Music for Millions Series." Layout is clean, easy to read.

Three books in one. Different contents, but similar in concept to Noad's Solo Guitar Playing, Book 1. In comparison, First Book for the Guitar has a larger, easier to read, format, with abundant teacher-student duets, and solos somewhat easier for beginners. Recommended for younger beginners, or adults with limited music or guitar background.
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A “must” for caring teachers and performers of Bach! Have you experienced Bach's music as dry, stuffy, complex, unemotional? As a performer, have you done battle with the tangle of ornamentation? Happily the scholarly perspective is maturing (one might say “softening”) in favor of less rigidity than has generally been the case in the last 50-75 years. This book is a late 20th century re-examination of specific issues and musical attitude in the performance of Bach’s keyboard works, based on continuing research and the author’s experience as a distinguished performer/scholar. Especially intriguing is his discussion of the problems of “urtext” editions. Most of the topics discussed in the book (ornamentation, rhythm, tempo, articulation, dynamics, sonority) have direct relevance for guitar performance. The topics are best understood by intermediate and advanced students. An inspiration for teachers!
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Every musical instrument needs a "backbone" method for developing reading and technique. Highly recommended and used by nearly all world class teachers and performers, the Sagreras series of books present progressive short studies that inform and develop with beautiful, musical, guitaristic content. This book is normally NOT a true "first book," but an in-depth followup to basic introductory material, represented by other selections on this web page. It is best studied with a qualified classic guitar teacher.

Second book in this series.

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Sagreras’ First Lessons for Guitar was published in 1922, and expanded by 1934 to a six volume set of progressive etudes and technical studies. This edition combines all of these into two volumes: Lessons 1-3, and Lessons 4-6 with Sagreras Técnica superior. In addition to the original Spanish text, translations into English, French and German are added. As noted for the separate volumes of Lessons One and Two on this web page, the Sagreras studies are absolutely essential to mastery of classic guitar, and should be part of a “backbone” library. Musically they are very satisfying - not at all the dry bones of technique alone. Hobbyists and young students can expect to take several years to cover all of these lessons, while supplementing with other repertoire. The increasing difficulty of finding the separate Sagreras lesson books 3-6 makes this edition an excellent buy.

An essential set of studies for early intermediate level students, Carcassi's Op.60 includes work in such technical elements as scales, arpeggios - with and without melodic voices, preparation for tremolo, octaves. They require reading on the entire fretboard, and are especially rich in both measured and ornamental slur studies. The FJH edition is superbly edited by Leo Welch, David Hoge, John Sutherland, and B. J. Sutherland. It includes information on the historical context of the studies, is beautifully engraved with adequate space for study notes and easy reading, and is very reasonably priced.
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The standard classic guitar repertoire has long included these works by the twentieth century Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959). Small in number, these pieces are highly significant for their blending of Brazilian folk idioms with "schooled" compositional craft by one who knew the idiosyncrasies of the guitar first-hand. This edition brings all of Villa-Lobos output for solo guitar into a single volume– well worth the price, compared to the cost of purchasing them separately.
CONTENTS OF VILLA-LOBOS: SOLO GUITAR

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The time has come to expand possibilities for classic guitar by use of the “little” finger of the right hand. Some individuals have developed this technique, but a systematic method has been missing - until now. After a 14-year research project, Charles Postlewate has provided his method in this landmark book. One of the more amazing skills is the ability to produce an uninterrupted tremolo by playing the “little” (“c”) finger simultaneously with the thumb. Beginners can start using the “c” finger immediately; advanced students and performers can work on these exercises and incorporate the techniques gradually. Text in both English and Spanish.
CONTENTS, RIGHT-HAND STUDIES FOR 5 FINGERS by POSTLEWATE

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This collection of pieces - especially as demonstrated by Postlewate’s performance on the CD - is an important landmark for classical guitar. As the companion to his method for training the little finger of the right hand (Right-Hand Studies for Five Fingers: Using Chords, Arpeggios, Tremolos and Harmonics, listed above on this web page) it clearly demonstrates the advantages of this expanded technique in actual repertoire. Postlewate devoted 14 years to researching and developing the addition of the little finger to right hand technique, and this book provides intermediate-to-advanced level students with performance music for applying their training.
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This essential DVD completes the current collection of Charles Postlewate’s materials on development of the little finger of the right hand in classical guitar technique. Essential – because now the technique can be seen in real performance. A two-hour, bilingual English/Spanish production, the DVD is in two parts: Part I demonstrates the five-finger technique in guitar repertoire, from the book Homage to Villa Lobos, with explanations of techniques by Postlewate. Part II explains the traning techniques from Right-hand Studies for Five Fingers, with invaluable close-up shots of the hand.
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