Arrangements for Classical Guitar
An arrangement is a piece of music written for another instrument and then adapted to the guitar.
Many great guitarists and composers wrote arrangements of classical music favorites.
For example, Bach did not write for guitar, but we love to play him. Likewise, the guitar favorite Asturias was actually written for piano.
Some composers are even better known for their guitar arrangements than for their original instruments. Music sounds different on the guitar, and this suits some music better than others.
The original piece may come from orchestra, choir, piano, cello, or any other solo or ensemble. These open up vast amounts of music for us to explore on classical guitar.
Below you’ll find guitar arrangements at all levels. These include classical favorites, traditionals, folk songs, hymns, holiday music, and more.
Have fun!
Beginner-Level Guitar Arrangements
- Adriaenssen, Emmanuel – Branle Englese
- Albeniz, Isaac – Op. 170 L’automne-valse – Introduction
- Anonymous – Greensleeves
- Anonymous – Nonesuch
- Bach, J.S. – Bourrée (duo)
- Bach, J.S. – BWV 1010 Bourrée
- Bach, J.S. – Chorale BWV 514
- Bach, J.S. – Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 4
- Bach, J.S. – Minuet in G
- Beethoven, Ludwig van – Für Elise
- Beethoven, Ludwig van – Ode to Joy (duo)
- Beethoven, Ludwig van – Ode to Joy (solo)
- Benedict, Julius – Carnival of Venice (guitar arrangement)
- Blonde de Nelse – Troubadour Song (Chanson)
- Bossinensis, Franciscus – Ricercar
- Brahms, Johannes – Lullaby (duo)
- Brahms, Johannes – Lullaby (solo)
- Celtic Music – Afton Water
- Folk Song, American – Guthrie, Woody – This Land is Your Land
- Folk Song, American – Home on the Range
- Folk Song, English – The Water is Wide
- Folk Song, English – The Water is Wide (duo)
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Auld Lang Syne
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Baring-Gould, Sabine- The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
- Holiday Music, Christmas – God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Good King Wenceslaus
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Hanby, B. R. – Up on the Housetop
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Holst, Gustav – In the Bleak Midwinter
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Holst, Gustav – In the Bleak Midwinter (duo)
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Holy, Holy, Holy
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Jingle Bells
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Mason, Lowell – Joy to the World
- Holiday Music, Christmas – O Christmas Tree
- Holiday Music, Christmas – O Holy Night (duo) – Adam, Adolphe
- Holiday Music, Christmas – O Holy Night (solo) – Adam, Adolphe
- Holiday Music, Christmas – The Holly and the Ivy
- Holiday Music, Christmas – The Twelve Days of Christmas – Traditional Christmas Song
- Holiday Music, Christmas – We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Holiday Music, Jewish – O’Hanukkah
- Horetzky, Felix – Pleyel’s Hymn
- Hymn – Abide With Me
- Hymn – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Hymn: Will the Circle Be Unbroken
- La Cucaracha
- Luther, Martin – A Mighty Fortress is Our God
- Machaut, Guillaume – Quant Je Suis Mis
- Mertz, Johann Kaspar – Adagio (duo)
- Molino, Francesco – La Fanfare
- Molondron – Traditional Spanish
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (for guitar duo)
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (for solo guitar)
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Romance
- National Anthem – Aeguk-ga (National Anthem of South Korea)
- National Anthem of the United Kingdom – God Save the King
- National Anthem of the United Kingdom – God Save the Queen
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Ramble to Cashel
- Purcell, Henry – A New Irish Tune (guitar arrangement)
- Purcell, Henry – Minuet Z. 649 (guitar arrangement)
- Purcell, Henry – Minuet Z. D225 (guitar arrangement)
- Renaissance Music – Hail, Queen of Heaven
- Renaissance Song – Little Brunette, You Make Me Die (Petite Brunette, tu me fais mourir)
- Richard the Lionheart – Ja Nuns Hons Pris
- Schubert, Franz – Lullaby with Tremolo
- Scottish Lute Music – Volte
- Scottish Traditional – Down By The Sally Gardens
- Scottish Traditional – Mairi’s Wedding
- Scottish Traditional – Scotland the Brave
- Scottish Traditional – She Moved Through The Fair
- Scottish Traditional – The Skye Boat Song (Over The Sea To Skye)
- Sor, Fernando – Op. 35 No. 22 Etude (duo)
- Traditional – El Vito (Folk Song of Andalucia)
- Traditional – Reveille (arranged for guitar)
- Traditional Hawaiian – Aloha Oe (arranged for guitar)
- Traditional, Christian – What a Friend We Have in Jesus
- van den Hove, Joachim – Canary Dance
- Voit, Hans – Für All Ich Krön
- Weatherly, Frederick – O Danny Boy (guitar arrangement)
Early-Intermediate Guitar Arrangements
- Albéniz, Isaac – Op. 170 No. 1: L’automne – Valse
- Albéniz, Isaac – Op. 170 No. 2: L’automne – Valse
- Albinoni, Tomaso – Adagio
- Anonymous – Greensleeves
- Anonymous – Packington’s Pound
- Anonymous – Spanish Romance
- Army Song – The Caissons Go Rolling Along
- Bach, J.S. – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
- Bach, J.S. – BWV 1010 Bourrée
- Bach, J.S. – Come, Sweet Death
- Bach, J.S. – Gavotte I BWV 808
- Bach, J.S. – Minuet in G Major
- Bach, J.S. – Minuet in G minor
- Bach, J.S. – Musette
- Bach, J.S. – O Jesulein süss BWV 493
- Beethoven, Ludwig van – Für Elise
- Brahms, Johannes – Hungarian Dance No. 1
- Brahms, Johannes – Hungarian Dance No. 5
- Brahms, Johannes – Lullaby (solo)
- Celtic Music – A Bonny Lass to Marry Me
- Celtic Music – Aileen’s Reel
- Celtic Music – Alexander’s Hornpipe
- Celtic Music – All the Way to Galway
- Celtic Music – Bolt the Door
- Celtic Music – Running the Goat
- Celtic Music – Sleepy Maggie
- Celtic Music – The Carlton Weaver
- Celtic Music – The Gaelic Club
- Celtic Music – The Shepherd’s Flock
- Celtic Music – Whistling Rufus
- Cherubini, Luigi – Air from “Faniska”
- Chopin, Frédéric – Preludio (Tarrega Edition)
- de Falla, Manuel – Romance del Pescador
- de Lisle, Claude Joseph Rouget – Chanson des Marseillois
- Dorn, C.J. – March from “Moses in Egypt”- Rossini
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 06 Song Without Words
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 18 – The Last Rose of Summer
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 25 Air from Fra Diavolo
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 36 Marche Funebre
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 40 Barcarolle Masaniello by Auber
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 42 Andante from Don Giovanni
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 43 Minuetto from Don Giovanni by Mozart
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 44 Air from “The Pirate” by Bellini
- Dowland, John – Lady Laiton’s Almain
- Dowland, John – Mr. Dowland’s Midnight
- Dowland, John – Mrs. Winter’s Jump
- Dowland, John – My Lord Willoughby’s Welcome Home
- Dowland, John – Orlando Sleepeth
- Fauré, Gabriel – Pavane
- Folk Song, American – America the Beautiful
- Folk Song, American – Billings, William – Chester
- Folk Song, American – Brackett Jr, Joseph – Simple Gifts
- Folk Song, American – Oh Shenandoah
- Folk Song, Celtic – Paddy Whack
- Folk Song, Celtic – Red is the Rose
- Folk Song, Japanese – Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
- Gelinek, Joseph – Air
- Grieg, Edvard – Anitra’s Dance
- Grieg, Edvard – In The Hall of the Mountain King (for Guitar Duo)
- Grieg, Edvard – In The Hall of the Mountain King (for Guitar)
- Gurlitt, Cornelius – Morning Prayer
- Handel, G.F. – Choral (Tarrega edition)
- Happy Birthday – Arr. Allen Mathews
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Deck the Halls
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Noel, Noel
- Holiday Music, Christmas – Silent Night
- Holiday Music, Christmas – The First Noel
- Holiday Music, Christmas – The Little Drummer Boy
- Holiday Music, Christmas – We Three Kings of Orient Are – John Henry Hopkins
- Holiday Music, Jewish – The Dreidel Song
- Holiday Music, Spanish Christmas – Barrios, Agustin – Villancico de Navidad
- Holiday Music, Spanish Christmas – Llobet, Miguel – El Noi de la Mare (Catalan)
- Holiday Music, Spanish Christmas – Los Peces en El Rio
- Horetzky, Felix – German Air
- Horetzky, Felix – Un Noel
- Horetzky, Felix – C’est L’Amour
- Horetzky, Felix – Rousseau’s Dream
- Horetzky, Felix – Sul Margine D’un Rio
- Horetzky, Feliz – Kelvin Gore
- Horetzky, Feliz – Polish National Air
- Horetzy, Felix – French Air
- Hymn – Angels We Have Heard On High
- Hymn – Be Still My Soul
- Hymn – Be Thou My Vision
- Hymn – Beneath the Cross of Jesus
- Hymn – Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
- Hymn – Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown
- Hymn – Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Hymn – Francis of Assisi – All Creatures of Our God and King
- Hymn – God Be with You till We Meet Again
- Hymn – Great is Thy Faithfulness
- Hymn – He Is Born, the Divine Christ Child
- Hymn – Hine, Stuart – How Great Thou Art
- Hymn – I’ll Fly Away
- Hymn – It Is Well with My Soul
- Hymn – Jesus, Hold My Hand
- Hymn – Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
- Hymn – Let All Things Now Living
- Hymn – O Sacred Head Now Wounded
- Hymn – Praise Him! Praise Him!
- Hymn – Shall We Gather at the River
- Hymn – Sweet Hour of Prayer
- Hymn – The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended
- Hymn – The Old Rugged Cross
- Hymn – There Is a Balm in Gilead
- Hymn – Traditional – Amazing Grace
- Hymn – When We All Get To Heaven
- Jacobs, Walter – Vienna, ma belle (trio)
- Joplin, Scott – The Entertainer
- Kemp’s Jig – Traditional English
- La Bamba – Traditional Mexican Song
- Lecuona, Ernesto – Malagueña
- Llobet, Miguel – Canco de Lladre
- Llobet, Miguel – El Testament d’Amelia
- Mendelssohn, Felix – Wedding March
- Nassouwe, Wilhelmus – National Anthem of the Netherlands
- National Anthem – Australia
- National Anthem – Das Lied der Deutschen (Anthem of Germany)
- National Anthem – La Marseillaise
- National Anthem – March of the Volunteers (China)
- National Anthem – O Canada
- National Anthem – United States of America
- National Anthem of India – Thou Art the Ruler of All Minds
- O’ Carolan, Turlough – Morgan Magan
- O’ Carolan, Turlough – Mrs. Power (Carolan’s Concerto)
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Carolan’s Receipt for Drinking
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Carolan’s Welcome
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Loftus Jones
- O’Carolan, Turlough – O’Carolan’s Dream
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Planxty George Brabazon
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Planxty Irwin
- O’Carolan, Turlough – Si’Bheg and Si’Mhor
- Offenbach, Jacques – Can Can
- Pachelbel, Johann – Canon in D
- Paganini, Niccolo/Liszt, Franz – La Campanella
- Pernambuco, João – Sons de Carrilhões
- Pernambuco, João – Sons de Carrilhoes (alternative version)
- Sanz, Gaspar – Espanoleta (Advanced)
- Satie, Erik – Gnossienne No. 1
- Satie, Erik – Gymnopedie No. 1
- Satie, Erik – Gymnopedie No. 3
- Schubert, Franz – Lullaby with Tremolo
- Scottish Lute Music – Corne Yards
- Scottish Lute Music – Curent (Volte)
- Scottish Lute Music – Gabot
- Scottish Lute Music – The Canaries
- Scottish Traditional – The Flowers of the Forest
- Scottish Traditional – The Parting Glass (Burn’s Farewell)
- Tarrega, Francisco – Capricho Arabe (Simplified)
- Traditional – Londonderry Air
- Traditional – O come, O come Emmanuel
- Traditional – Wild Blue Yonder (arr. solo)
- Vivaldi, Antonio – Largo from Concerto for Lute in D Major, RV. 93
- Vivaldi, Antonio – Spring (duo)
- Vivaldi, Antonio – Spring (solo)
Intermediate Guitar Arrangements
- Albeniz, Isaac – Op. 170 L’automne-valse No. 3
- Anonymous – Spanish Romance
- Anonymous – Spanish Romance with Tremolo
- Bach, J.S. – Arioso
- Bach, J.S. – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
- Bach, J.S. – Sleepers Awake
- Bach, J.S. – Air on the G String
- Bach, J.S. – Badinerie BWV 1067
- Bach, J.S. – Bourree in Em
- Bach, J.S. – BWV 997 Sarabande
- Bach, J.S. – BWV 999 Prelude
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 01 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 03 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 04 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 07 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 08 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 09 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 10 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Invention No. 13 for Two Guitars
- Bach, J.S. – Sheep May Safely Graze
- Bartok, Bela – No. 6 Study, For Children Vol. 1
- Beethoven, Ludwig Van – Adagio (Theme)
- Beethoven, Ludwig van – Andante
- Beethoven, Ludwig van – Minuet in G
- Beethoven, Ludwig Van – Moonlight Sonata
- Bizet, Georges – Habanera from “Carmen”
- Celtic Music – Bell’s Favourite Jig
- Celtic Music – Bonaparte’s Retreat
- Celtic Music – The Fields of Athenry
- Celtic Music – Whiskey Before Breakfast
- Chopin, Frédéric – Funeral March
- Chopin, Frédéric – Mazurka
- Chopin, Frederic – Op. 9 No. 2 – Nocturne (arr. Tarrega)
- Cielito Lindo
- de Falla, Manuel – Cancion del Fuego Fatuo
- Debussy, Claude – Golliwog’s Cake Walk (duo)
- Dorn, C.J. – Op. 27 No. 39 Air from the Magic Flute
- Dowland, John – Can She Excuse My Wrongs
- Dowland, John – Lady Rich’s Galliard
- Dowland, John – Melancholy Galliard
- Dowland, John – Pavana Lachrimae
- Elgar, Edward – Pomp and Circumstance
- Frescobaldi, Girolamo – Aire with Variations
- Giordani, Giuseppe – Caro Mio Ben
- Giuliani, Mauro – Op. 45 Variations on the Spanish Folia
- Gluck, C.W. von- Dance of The Spirits (from “Orfeo ed Euridice”)
- Granados, Enrique – Dedicatoria
- Grieg, Edvard – Morning
- Handel, G.F. – Air
- Holiday Music – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts) for Guitar Trio – Robert Wells and Mel Tormé
- Holiday Music, Christmas – O Come All Ye Faithful
- Holiday Music, Spanish Christmas – Hacia Belen va una Burra
- Holiday Music, Spanish Christmas – Llobet, Miguel – El Noi de la Mare (Catalan)
- Holiday Music, Spanish Christmas- Campana Sobre Campana
- Horetzky, Felix – John Anderson My Jo
- Horetzky, Felix – Scotch Air
- Horetzky, Felix – Air from Ballet of Nina
- Horetzky, Felix – Air from the Ballet of Alfred the Great
- Hymn – The Lord’s Prayer
- Hymn – There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
- Jacobs, Walter – German Air
- Jacobs, Walter – Op. 37 I Cannot Sing the Old Songs
- Jacobs, Walter – Op. 37 I Cannot Sing the Old Songs Variation
- Jacobs, Walter – Vienna, ma belle March
- Joplin, Scott – Maple Leaf Rag
- Lange, Gustav – Albumblatt
- Lecuona, Ernesto – Malagueña
- Llobet, Miguel – Canco de Lladre
- Llobet, Miguel – El Testament d’Amelia
- Llobet, Miguel – La Filla del Marxant
- Llobet, Miguel – Plany
- Mendelssohn, Felix – Barcarola (Tarrega edition)
- Mendelssohn, Felix – Barcarola II (Tarrega Edition)
- Mendelssohn, Felix – Wedding March
- Milan, Luis – Pavana No. 1
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Non più andrai
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Rondo Alla Turca
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Sull’aria? Che soave zeffiretto
- Mozzani, Luigi – Feste Lariane
- O’Carolan, Turlough – O’ Carolans Farewell to Music
- Pachelbel, Johann – Canon in D
- Pernambuco, João – Sons de Carrilhões
- Pernambuco, João – Sons de Carrilhoes (alternative version)
- Puccini, Giacomo – O Mio Babbino Caro
- Ravel, Maurice – Bolero
- Robles, Daniel Alomía – El Cóndor Pasa
- Romero, Luis – Peruvian Air
- Rossini, Giachino – March
- Rossini, Gioachino – William Tell Overture
- Satie, Erik – Gnossienne No. 2
- Satie, Erik – Gymnopedie No. 1
- Scarlatti, Domenico – Sonata K. 163
- Scarlatti, Domenico – Sonata K. 32/ L. 423
- Scarlatti, Domenico – Sonata K. 34/L. 7
- Scarlatti, Domenico – Sonata K. 42/L. S36
- Scarlatti, Domenico – Sonata K. 94
- Schubert, Franz – Adieu (Tarrega edition)
- Schubert, Franz – Ave Maria
- Schubert, Franz – Ave Maria (with tremolo)
- Schubert, Franz – Lob der Thränen
- Schubert, Franz – Serenade
- Schubert, Franz – Standchen (arrangement J.K. Mertz)
- Schumann, Robert – Andantino Cantabile (Tarrega Edition)
- Schumann, Robert – Op. 15 No. 01 Scenes from Childhood
- Schumann, Robert – Reverie (Tarrega edition)
- Schumann, Robert – Romanza (Tarrega edition)
- Scottish Lute Music – I Never Knew I Loved Thee
- Scottish Lute Music – Untitled (A Scots Tune)
- Sor, Fernando – Op. 24 No. 07 Allegretto (Alternative)
- Strauss Jr., Johann – On The Beautiful Blue Danube
- Tarrega, Francisco – Fugue by R. Schumann
- Tarrega, Francisco – Study on a Fragment of Schumann
- Tarrega, Francisco – Suspiro de Amor
- Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich – Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
- Traditional Cuban Song – Guantanamera
- Traditional English – Rule, Brittania
- Wagner, Richard – Bridal Chorus
- Weiss, Sylvius Leopold – Bourrée in C major from Suite no. 13
Advanced Guitar Arrangements
- Albeniz, Isaac – Granada
- Anonymous – Spanish Romance with Tremolo
- Bach, J.S. – Bourree in Em
- Bach, J.S. – BWV 997 Double
- Bach, J.S. – BWV 999 Prelude
- Bach, JS – BWV 997 Gigue
- de Falla, Manuel – Dance of the Corregidor
- de Falla, Manuel – Danza del Molinero
- Debussy, Claude – Clair de Lune
- Llobet, Miguel – La Filadora
- Mudarra, Alonso – Fantasia
- Schubert, Franz – Ave Maria (with tremolo)
- Weiss, Silvius Leopold – Passacalle
- Weiss, Silvius Leopold – Fantasia
- Weiss, Sylvius Leopold – Tombeau
Hi, I’m Allen Mathews.
I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Despite a lot of practice and schooling, I still couldn’t get my music to flow well. I struggled with excess tension. My music sounded forced. And my hands and body were often sore. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two other stellar teachers – one focused on the technical movements, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Now I help guitarists find more comfort and flow in their music, so they play more beautifully.
Click here for a sample formula.
These warm-up and stretching exercises are helping me a lot! Because I’m a software developer I have to stay 8 hours typing on a computer keyboard, so I use my hands a lot during the day. At night, when I have some time to practice the guitar my hands and arms are usually in pain because they have been working a lot during the day, but I’ve found that doing the warm-up/stretching exercises in The Woodshed releases me from this pain and I’m then able to practice after doing them.
You are building a very interesting and working guitar course, because for what I’ve seen so far it really works!
~ Ulysses Alexandre Alves
-Ulysses Alexandre Alves
Hi Allen,
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~ Peter Graham
-Peter Graham
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