Here a list and mini review of my favourite classical guitar exercise and technique books. I’ve used all these books while teaching my students both at my private studio and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
Recommended books that include video lessons
- Classical Guitar Method – Vol. 1, Notation, Video Lessons, 100 pages, Free PDF
- Classical Guitar Method Vol. 2, Notation, Video Lessons, 89 pages.
- Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, & Arpeggios – Notation, 122 pages, Gr. 1-9. Video lessons, hundreds of exercises. Start this after my method books and continue with repertoire from grade 1 and up.
- 20 Favorite Exercises, Notation + TAB, Video lessons, Gr.1-6, Great for crossover or a quick boost. A tab alternative to the above book.
- Classical Guitar Repertoire Lessons Grade 1-4 – Coming soon
- Ten Classical Etudes, Gr.4-7, videos lessons, Notation & Notation + TAB
- an educational intent.
More Books via Amazon
- Kitharologus: The Path to Virtuosity by Ricardo Iznaola – Progressive: from beginner to extreme advanced. Very good technique book and the progressive sections are a great idea to help organize students. Covers technique exercises and also a significant amount of fingerboard knowledge. Beware however, although the book starts out easy (open strings) but it gets very difficult very fast. This is not a criticism but you should know that you will not just zoom through the book and it goes way into pro territory and expectations.
- Iznaola on Practicing: A Manual for Students – A great but little book on how to practice well. Many students of guitar are not going to read a huge book so this concise little booklet is perfect for getting a grounding in good practice habits and philosophy. It not an exercise book, just text on how to practice.
- Sight Reading for the Classical Guitar, Level I-III by Robert Benedict – Form, phrasing, dynamics, texture and how to sight read. Excellent book for a solid education in music. Beginner but also a good review for intermediates.
- Scale Pattern Studies for Guitar by Aaron Shearer – Sight reading skills and scales..no BS! Nearly 300 pages of scales and sight reading. Learn the scale then learn how to read music using the scale. This connection between reading and scales is very important. Highly recommended.
- Giuliani’s complete studies and exercises – This includes his studies but also his exercises and 120 arpeggios.
