Transcriptions and Arrangements for Guitar

by Brian Roberts 

Most of my arrangements are highly fingered. These fingerings are there to enhance or help create particular musical phrasings, articulations, textures, sounds and characters, while taking ease and success of playing into account. The level of these editions varies from pieces designed for players in their first year to advanced, so hopefully you'll find some pieces that are just right you.

(Arrangements for Ensemble are at the bottom of the page.)

Scores may be downloaded as PDFs after viewing.

'OLD FRIENDS'.  A Collection of 47 easy to intermediate pieces from 19th Century Europe.  View
-----Venezuelian Folksong'La Partida'  ViewVals VenezolanoThis is very beautiful and fun to play! 
-----Erik Satie'Gymnopédie No.1'  ViewArranged and fingered, 2022

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J.S. Bach1st Cello Suite, BWV 1007 'Prelude'  ViewClick here to listen to me playing this on my Video Page'Allemande'  View'Courante'  View'Sarabande'  View'Minuets I & II'  View'Gigue'  ViewSource: Cello Score, Alfred Dörffel, 1878, Bach-Gesellschaft Edition, Vol. 27Arranged and fingered, 1977

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J.S. Bach 2nd Cello Suite, BWV 1008 'Prelude'  View 'Allemande'  View'Courante'  View'Sarabande'  ViewClick here to listen to me playing this on my Video Page'Minuets I & II'  View'Gigue'  ViewSource: Cello Score, Alfred Dörffel, 1878, Bach-Gesellschaft Edition, Vol. 27Arranged and fingered, 2008-9

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J.S. Bach (1685-1750)3rd Cello Suite, BWV 1009'Prelude'  View'Sarabande'  View'Bourrees I & II'  View'Gigue'  ViewThe Bourrees were published under the name of  'Loure' in some editions in the 19th and early 20th Century, but name 'Bourree' is in all the early manuscripts.Source: Original manuscript from Anna Magdalena Bach, Johann Sebastian's second wife. As of yet, it's date is unknown.Arranged and fingered, November 8-18, 2014

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J.S. BachFrom The 4th Cello Suite, BWV 1010'Prelude'  View 'Sarabande'  View'Courante'  ViewSource: Lute Score, Alfred Dörffel, 1878, Bach-Gesellschaft EditionArranged and fingered in March 21, 2009, Bach's 324th birthday

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J.S. BachFrom The 5th Cello Suite, BWV 1011'Sarabande',  View'Gavottes I & II'  View'From the 3rd Lute Suite, BWV 995' & 5th Cello Suite, BWV 1011'Source: Lute Score, Alfred Dörffel, 1878, Bach-Gesellschaft Edition

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J.S. BachFrom The 6th Cello Suite, BWV 1012'Gavottes I & II'  in D Major View  in C Major ViewThe other movements in this suite work better in D major, but the C major arrangement of this movement might be a good choice for you if you are playing the Gavottes alone and find them difficult to play in D or you just like the sound in C. Source: Cello Score, Alfred Dörffel, 1878, Bach-Gesellschaft Edition, Vol. 27

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J.S. Bach'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' ViewArrangement in A of the complete piece

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Three Early Baroque Pieces (Anonymous)'Courante, Aria & Gigue' ViewThese three pieces were originally written for the five course Baroque Guitar. I learned them many years ago, while studying in Vienna.

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 Anonymous Baroque'Aria & Bourree I-II' ViewIt's not only Renaissance music that has the power to Console.

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 Jan Antonín Losy (1650-1721)'Partita in a minor'  ViewAria, Capriccio, Sarabande, Gavotte, GigueThis wonderful suite is Losy's most famous work.  He wrote much more, but his manuscripts are very difficult to decipher.Arranged and fingered, January,1972

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 Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750) 'Sarabande in d minor'  ViewI've been playing this beautiful and profound Sarabande since the 1960s.

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Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)Violin Fantasia No. VI, TWV 40:19'Grave', 'Presto', 'Siciliana' & 'Allegro' View

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Georg Philipp TelemannViolin Fantasia No. VII, TWV 40:20 'Dolce', 'Allegro', 'Largo' & 'Presto' View

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Georg Philipp Telemann Violin Fantasia No. IX, TWV 40:22 'Siciliana', 'Vivace' & 'Allegro' View 

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Luis de Milán (c. 1500-c.1561)'Fantasy No. 26' ViewThis transcendentally beautiful fantasy from the early Spanish renaissance, originally written for the vihuela de mano, echos from the stone walls of the Middle Ages. I transcribed this from the 'El Maestro' book of manuscript tablatures of Milán at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Library on March 21,1984. A few days ago, I found this original transcription folded in another piece of music (almost thirty years later!), so I decided to finally set it for guitar, putting in some of the ornaments and embellishments that the players in the 16th century might have added into their performances and to make it flow on the guitar the way it would have on the vihuela de mano. Here's a scan of my handwritten manuscript. Download

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Luis de Milán (c. 1500-c.1561)'Fantasy No. 3' View

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Luis de Milán (c. 1500-c.1561)'Fantasy No. 8' View

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John Dowland (1563-1626)'What If A Day, A Month Or A Year' ViewAn elaborated intabulation by Dowland of the well known anonymous tune.

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Anonymous from Elizabethan England'Go From My Window'  ViewHere's a delightful piece that I freely arranged in G major from the Dowland Intabulation. It is set in such a way to resonate and articulate naturally and beautifully on the guitar. This music truly has the "Power To Console"

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Anonymous'Greensleeves' with divisions (variations) ViewThis piece is from Elizabethan England. The divisions are written in the style of the Renaissance.

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Anonymous from Elizabethan England'Dance & 'What If A Day, A Month Or A Year'  ViewSimple anonymous versions that pair very nicely. 

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'Greensleeves' with divisions (variations) Viewin the style of the Renaissance

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Gaspar Sanz (1640–1710)'Pavanas' View

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Anonymous 'Four Renaissance Dances' View

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Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)Keyboard Sonata No. 5, Hob. XVI:11'Presto' View'Andante' View'Minuet' ViewArranged in 1989

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Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840)'Romance from the Grand Sonata' ViewArranged and fingered, 1999

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Johann Kasper Mertz (1806-1856)'Ländler No. 4, Op. 9' ViewHere's a realization of the 'Ländler' with the full durations written out, just to give your the idea of the exact durations. Confusing to read, but good to see, at least once.:)  View
-----  Mauro Guiliani'Etude in A minor', Op.48, No. 2 ViewAn arpeggio piece with the left moving to 15 fret, 2nd string, while playing 1st string open. This creates a nice texture.But it is challenging to play smoothly and cleanly.

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Mauro Giuliani 'Etude in E Minor', Op.48, No. 5 ViewThis is a well known arpeggio piece that challenges your sense of meter. It sounds great when you continue to feel the triplets and let the moving notes be syncopated. This piece is also great for developing connection across the bar line, by moving the left hand with the first 'i' finger in the new measure. I've added the ties across the bar lines to encourage this.

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Mauro Giuliani'Etude in B minor', Op.100, No. 3 View

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Leonard Schultz (1814-1860)'Guitarist's Bijou' Viewfrom the manuscript of Dr. W. Slansky, St. Petersburg, 1908, located in THE BOIJE COLLECTION at The Music Library of Sweden 

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Leonard Schultz'Andante Expressivo' Viewfrom the manuscript of Dr. W. Slansky, St. Petersburg, 1908, located in THE BOIJE COLLECTION at The Music Library of Sweden

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Leonard Schultz'Peasant's Dance' Viewfrom the manuscript of Dr. W. Slansky, St. Petersburg, 1908, located in THE BOIJE COLLECTION at The Music Library of Sweden

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Matteo Carcassi (1792-1853)'Etude in A' ViewThis is the well known etude, but with special fingerings to make it more flowing and connected

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Fernando Sor (1778-1839)'Study in b minor, Op. 35, No. 22' ViewThis is the another well known etude, that I have provided special fingerings to make it more flowing and connected.

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AnonymousFive Versions of the 'Spanish Romance''Spanish Romance in A Minor' ViewThis is a tremolo setting of the famous Romance.
'Romanza Fantasía' ViewThis is a special setting of the famous so call Spanish Romance that's actually claimed by several nations! The elaborations bring out it's Eastern European roots.
'Romanza in a minor' ViewThis is a another easier setting of the famous Romance.'Romanza Espanol in e minor and A major' ViewThis version has the standard first e minor section with a tremolo second section in A major.
'Spanish Romance in e minor' ViewThis is the standard familiar Spanish setting of the Romance.

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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)'Ode to Joy'  View

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Ludwig van Beethoven'Für Elise' View

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Johann Krieger (1651-1735)'Minuet in A minor' View

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MaryLou Roberts'Returning Home' 2001 View A Suzuki Book Three Level Reading Piece.

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John Dowland 'Mrs. Winter's Jump' View

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Anonymous Elizabethan 'Toye in D' ViewAn easy arrangement using the upper notes

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Anonymous Elizabethan 'Dance in A minor' ViewA simple arrangement, using the upper notes

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Anonymous Elizabethan 'Packington's Pound' View

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Robert Johnson  (c.1583-c.1634)'Alman' View

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Daniel Gotlieb Turk (1750-1813)'Arioso'  View

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Some Classical Guitar Arrangements of Tradition & Folksongs from around the world.----- Russian 
'Kalinka Variations' ViewAn easy arrangement, using the upper notesusing the upper notes----- Ukrainian 
'Minka' ViewAn easy piece using the upper notes----- Irish 
'Drowsey Maggie' View
'Cockles and Mussles' (Molly Malone) View 
'Oh Danny Boy' (pre-1855) View Based on the traditional harp tune, Londonderry Air, first published in the 1855 book, The Ancient Music of Ireland
Morning Has Broken View 
Turlough O'Carolan'Si Bheag Si Mhor' ViewThanks to Mick Hickey in Cork, Ireland for his tablature (2013)arrangement, which this arrangement is based on.
-----Scottish
'The Water Is Wide'  ViewThe water might be wide, but this piece is short and sweet.

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French
Adolphe Adam'O Holy Night' (1847) in G major Viewin A major  ViewThis very stirring French Christmas Carol fits the guitar beautifully, but challenges the techniques we use to make a musical line sing, something that can only be done if the melody is connected and continuous, like the human voice. The notes, fingerings and techniques used in this arrangement were chosen to create both a legato, singing melody and to bring out the dramatic, stirring and dignified quality that is inherent within this carol. 

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Spanish 
'El Noy de la Mare' ViewThis is a simple arrangement
'Malaguena' ViewA simple arrangementArranged and fingered, 2006-----Mexican 
'Caminos de Michoacan' View
'Cielito Lindo' ViewSimple Version View
'Cuatro Milpas' View
'For Our Mothers' View
-----Cuban
'Zun, Zun, ba,ba,e' View
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Chilean 
'Waltz in G' View
-----South African
'Abi Yo Yo' View
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Chinese
Wong Li Ping 'The Crystal World' ViewA melody from the 1978 Chinese Documentary, 'The Diving Girls' This sweet and hopeful melody falls easily and beautifully on the guitar.
'Anonymous 'Lullaby' ViewThis simple and charming little Traditional Chinese melody is good for a first year student to get used to playing in the upper positions.

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Arrangements of Popular Songs for Classical Guitar
Henry Mancini 'Moon River' (1961) View 

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Harold Arlen'Over The Rainbow' (1939) View A long time favorite of mine. I love the sentiment and the music. It's arranged in a classical, meditative style.

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Paul McCartney'Yesterday' (1965) View Here's my take on the most covered song in history. (with good reason). This is set in a classical style, with a meditative and intense mood.

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Paul McCartney'Blackbird' (1968)  View Here's my arrangement of 'Blackbird' This piece is unique in that Paul McCartney's guitar part, without the vocal, makes a great guitar solo!  When we transcribe other Beatle pieces for guitar solo, we adapt the vocal melody to guitar with added accompaniment. This piece is also great for learning shifting and sliding techniques, as well as cross string dexterity. 

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 George Harrison'Here Comes The Sun' (1969) View This song has a unique ringing sound that is bright and flowing, created by the seventh fret capo, and upbeat and off beat rhythms and textures.

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Paul McCartney'Here, There & Everywhere' (1966) View McCartney includes this among his personal favorites of all the songs he has written and it fits the classical guitar beautifully.-----
Guitar Duets
Enrique Granados (1867-1916)'Oriental' Spanish Dance No. 2' ScoreThis is the way my wife, MaryLou and I have played this for years. I just finally wrote it down!-----Adam Falckenhagen (1697-1754)'Minuet in E' Score-----Antonio de Cabezon (c.1500-1566)'Duo I' Score-----Brian Roberts 'Canzona for Duo Guitar' Score-----Guitar Trios
Johann Michael Nicolai (1629-1675)'Ciaconi' Score-----Anonymous English'Divisions on Greensleeves' Score Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 -----Anonymous German'Die Katzenpfote' Score Part 1 Part 2 Part 3  From the 'Glogauer Liederbuch' (c.1480)-----Guitar Quartets
Izaac Albeniz (1860-1909)'Berceuse'  Score-----Brian Roberts'Dance Of The Secret Source' Score Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4*There is a well-known simple guitar piece in it's entirety by Ferdinando Carulli hidden within the background of this piece-----Brian Roberts'In Good Company' Score Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4-----Brian Roberts'After The Colors'  Score-----John Dowland (1563-1626)'Frog Galliard'  Score Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4Click here to listen to this being played on my Video Page-----Jamaican Folk Dance'Calypso'  Score Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4Click here to listen to this being played on my Video PageClick here for hear a group from Bogotá, Colombia playing this-----Giavanni Gastoldi (1554-1609)'Balletto III'  Score-----Pierre Attaignant ((1530))'Tourdion'  Score----- Solo Pipa and Guitar Ensemble
'Language of Pipa' by Linhai  Score Pipa Solo Guitar Part 1 Guitar Part 2 Guitar Part 3The Solo can also be played by Mandolin, Guitar or Other Melody Instrument -----Pipa and Guitar Duet
'Language of Pipa' by Linhai  Score The Pipa part can also be played by Mandolin, Guitar or Other Melody Instrument -----Violin and Guitar Duet
Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840) 'Cantabile, Op.17, No. 8'  Score