Sweet, gentle tones and resonance: A selection of enchanting classical guitar masterpieces

When people hear “guitar,” many probably picture an acoustic or electric guitar, but just as classical music forms the foundation of contemporary music, classical guitar is indispensable when talking about string instruments.

That said, for those who aren’t sure where to start listening, we’ve gathered beloved masterpieces from around the world—from gentle, soothing pieces to dazzling virtuoso works.

Please enjoy the classical guitar’s sweet, mellow timbre and its rich, resonant sound!

Playlist

Sweet, gentle tones and resonance: A selection of enchanting classical guitar masterpieces
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	AsturiasIsaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz		A fiery piece from Albéniz’s Suite Española
2	CavatinaAleksander Tansman		Tansman composed a large-scale piece called Cavatina.
3	Forbidden GamesSakkyokusha fushō		Introduction to the famous movie song “Romance of Love”
4	Memories of the AlhambraFrancisco Tárrega		A masterpiece with beautiful tremolo technique
5	cathedralAgustín Barrios		The Cathedral of Barrios, a masterpiece brimming with charm
6	SunburstAndrew York		Beautiful guitar works by Andrew York
7	Lágrima (Tears)Francisco Tárrega		A gentle masterpiece composed by Tárrega
8	Tango on SkyRoland Dyens		Laurent Dyens’s representative work, a masterpiece of classical guitar
9	One day in NovemberLeo Brouwer		Brouwer’s melancholy guitar masterpiece
10	No. 2 from Introduction and Rondo, Op. 2Drew Henderson		Aguado’s masterpiece. An emotionally rich introduction and a lively rondo.
11	24 CapricesNiccolò Paganini		Paganini’s 24 Caprices for Solo Violin
12	Spanish Dance No. 1Manuel de Falla		A masterful opera incorporating Falla’s folk music
13	In Praise of ChopinAleksander Tansman		A three-movement guitar work by Tansman, who deeply admired Chopin
14	Sonata in D minorGiuseppe Domenico Scarlatti		Scarlatti's Sonata in a guitar arrangement
15	Concerto for Guitar and OrchestraHeitor Villa-Lobos		Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Masterpiece for Guitar and Orchestra
16	Chaconne in C majorIda Presti & Alexandre Lagoya		Handel Variations by a Legendary Duo
17	Guitar Sonata, Op. 61Joaquín Turina		Tárrega's famous guitar piece
18	Guitar Concerto No. 1, Op. 30Mauro Giuliani Sergio Pantaleo Giuliani		A masterpiece among Giuliani’s guitar concertos
19	ToccataSérgio Assad		Sérgio Assad’s classic guitar pieces influenced by Brazilian music
20	Child of the Holy MotherKataronia min’yō		The Virgin’s Child is a folk song perfect for Christmas
21	La Source du LysonNapoléon Coste		Guitar music acquires human lyricism
22	Paraguayan Dance No. 1Agustín Barrios		Introducing Barrios's hidden gem
23	The following day, Un Día DespuésREY GUERRA		Ray Guerra's beautiful and soothing guitar piece
24	Spanish Suite No. 1 “Granada”Isaac Albéniz		Composer Albéniz, who made use of the characteristics of Spanish music
25	Concierto de AranjuezJoaquín Rodrigo		A bright concerto with appealing Latin elements
26	Nostalgia ChoroAgustín Pío Barrios		Barrios's Nostalgic Choro
27	A Cuban landscape with ringing bellsLeo Brouwer		The innovative guitar pieces of Cuban composer Brouwer
28	The Thief’s SongMiguel Llobet		Sublimating Spanish folk songs into guitar music
29	Passacaglia in E minorRobert de Visée		Visée's passacaglia is noble and captivating
30	Night SongBenjamin Britten		An original, inventive guitar piece that Britten wrote for Bream.
31	MadroñosFederico Moreno Torroba		A masterpiece of guitar music originating from Spain
32	choroVilla-Lobos		Villa-Lobos rendered Brazilian music into guitar form
33	Inner SoundscapeKimura Dai		The talent and success of a young guitarist
34	Gran JotaFrancisco Tárrega		Tárrega’s works are an important part of the classical guitar repertoire.
35	Spanish DanceEnric Granados		Spanish dances have a strong sense of Spanishness.
36	Fantasia No. 2Fernando Sor		The fantasy by Sor, a great composer in the classical guitar world
37	Pavane of TearsJohn Dowland		Dowland left many masterpieces for guitar and lute.
38	HachisuzumeJulio Salvador Sagreras		Hachisuzume, a speedy and dazzlingly virtuosic piece
39	Grand SonataNiccolò Paganini		Paganini's great compositions for guitar
40	FoliosTakemitsu Tōru		The innovative style of Toru Takemitsu’s guitar music
41	SalvadorEgberto Gismonti		Egberto Gismonti is a genius guitarist
42	OdeonErnesto Júlio Nazareth		The Spanish guitar was introduced to and developed in Latin America.
43	Arabesque RhapsodyFrancisco Tárrega		Tárrega’s “Capricho Árabe” — fantastic
44	A Fantasia for a Certain Noble DeityJoaquín Rodrigo		Rodrigo's Divine Fantasy
45	In Praise of DebussyManuel de Falla		Introducing the habanera rhythm into guitar music
46	Collection of Hymns to the Virgin Mary		Compiling the stories of the Virgin Mary in Spain
47	SceneryEmilio Pujol		The Beautiful Arpeggios of Pujol’s Works
48	Cinema ParadisoEnnio Morricone		Cinema Paradiso
49	moonlightFernando Sor		Sol's Moonlight, a track for quiet, dark nights
50	SarabandeJ.S.Bach		Bach's Sarabande in the guitar version is approachable.
51	Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 6 (unaccompanied)J.S.Bach		Bach reveals new charms through arrangements for guitar
52	SonataManuel Ponce		Latin music became a defining feature of the classical guitar.
53	ReggaetonMarcelo Coronel		Composed by Colonel. A fusion of South American folklore and classical guitar.
54	Concerto in DMario Castelnuovo-Tedesco		Masterpieces of guitar concertos are introduced
55	12 Spanish DancesPantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados		Granados's Spanish Dances, heart-thrilling
56	Joviniana No. 1Sergio Assad		The Assad Brothers’ modern guitarization of bossa nova
57	Petenérade la Maza		Spanish music modernizes guitar music
58	Toro mata – Cow killerPerū min’yō		An enchanting song of Peruvian folk music
59	Harp and Shadow		A piece Leo Brouwer dedicated to Toru Takemitsu
60	LibertangoAstor Piazzolla		Piazzolla’s signature piece, a passionate and stirring tango
61	TangoFrancisco Tárrega		Tango, a guitar piece composed by Tárrega
62	The Miller’s Dance from the ballet music The Three-Cornered HatManuel de Falla		A passionate ballet piece by a Spanish composer
63	Etude No. 20Matteo Carcassi		Carcassi’s guitar method is still the best textbook.
64	TientoMaurice Ohana		Oana fused the tiento form with contemporary music and folk music.
65	Venezuelan SuiteAntonio Lauro		African Rhythms of Venezuelan Composer Lauro