Study on E and Variation by Mertz

Study on E and Variation by Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856) for classical guitar. Original title, Ubungen auf der E saite (Exercise on the E String) from Schule fur die Guitare. Free PDF Sheet music for classical guitar. Late-Beginner level, for use after my Volume 1 method.

Free PDF Sheet Music Edition

Mertz was an Austro-Hungarian guitarist and composer and heavily influenced by Liszt, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Schumann. His method book has six exercises on this theme. I recommend playing No.1 and No.2 as one continuous piece so I’ve added an editorial fermata.

Right Hand Fingering: p-i is Mertz’s indicated fingering and also my recommendation. However, p-m is acceptable as is p-i-p-m.

This is part of a collection of supplemental pieces for after my Classical Guitar Method Volume 1 (100 page Free PDF). I thought it would be nice to offer a few extra pieces before students move on to my Classical Guitar Method Volume 2.

Here is the YouTube lesson link if you want to watch it there.

Bradford Werner
Bradford Werner

Bradford Werner is a classical guitarist and music publisher from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He originally created this site for his students at the Victoria Conservatory of Music but now shares content worldwide. Curating guitar content helps students absorb the culture, musical ideas, and technique of the classical guitar. Bradford also has a YouTube channel with over 94,000 subscribers and 13 million views. He taught classical guitar at the Victoria Conservatory of Music for 16 years and freelanced in Greater Victoria for 20 years and now dedicates much of his time curating content online and helping connect the classical guitar community. See more at his personal website.

5 Comments

Ask a Question or Leave a Positive Comment

  1. This is a great little back-to-basics exercise for thumb accuracy and 1st position clean fretting. I played it ages ago, but now I’m finding it challenging. All of a sudden, I feel as if the guitar nut is miles away from me.

  2. Nice piece. Glad you added it to your Method 1 repertoire. I particularly like the second variation which sounds somewhat like tremolo for beginners.