Folk Music for Easy Classical Guitar (Standard Notation & Tablature)

Enjoy playing your favorite familiar tunes with this carefully curated collection of thirty folk songs, skillfully arranged for easy classical guitar by Amy Hite. Unlike other arrangements claiming to be beginner-friendly, this collection is truly tailored for novice guitarists, ensuring an enjoyable playing experience.

These arrangements are well-suited for beginning guitarists as many of the melodies are harmonized with open bass notes and chords that are easy enough for the hands of a beginner student. They are colorful and fun to play! Written in standard notation format.

Turkish Delight is a piano solo version of Uskudara gideriken, a traditional Turkish folk song and is part of Spotlight Solos Volume 2. Arranged by Jennifer Eklund.

Recuerdos de la Alhambra, originally written for classical guitar by Francisco Tárrega, arranged for piano by Debbie Center. This is a lovely Spanish-style showstopper for any occasion!

Zum Gali Gali, a traditional Israeli folk tune, arranged by Jennifer Eklund as a fast and flashy solo for late beginners.

Note: If you are interested in even more versions of this piece consider the Zum Gali Gali Mega Pack that features five solo versions, a trio for beginners, and transposition worksheets.

The Irish Washerwoman arranged as a lively trio for beginners by Jennifer Eklund. This is a fun spin on a familiar melody and serves as a great introduction to easy collaborative playing and will also be effective in group piano settings with multiple keyboards. Purchase includes separated parts and a full conductors score.

El Choclo is a fun and impressive tango arranged for intermediate piano solo by Piano Pronto author Jennifer Eklund.

Shoreside Shanty, composed by Joanne Griffiths, is a lively swinging shanty sure to delight late beginners of all ages!

The Skye Boat Song, a traditional Scottish folk song, arranged by Jane Tate in a lyrical style for early intermediates.

Spanish Ladies is a traditional sea shanty arranged here as an evenly-leveled duet for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund.

Zum Gali Gali, a traditional Israeli folk tune, presented in four different versions, appropriate for primers through late beginners. Arranged by Jennifer Eklund.

Note: If you are interested in even more versions of this piece consider the Zum Gali Gali Mega Pack that features five solo versions, a trio for beginners, and transposition worksheets.

Starboard Shanty, composed by Joanne Griffiths, is an upbeat minor-key shanty ideal for beginners of all ages.

Skye Boat Song, a traditional Scottish folk song, arranged for easy piano solo with a lush teacher duet accompaniment. Arranged by Jennifer Eklund.

Grandpa’s Jig is a lively showcase solo for beginners that serves as an excellent introduction to playing in 6/8 time. This piece by Joanne Griffiths is part of her songbook entitled “Meet the Pilburys.”

The Scottish Reivers were gangs of horsemen who raided the towns along the border of England and Scotland from the 13th to the 17th century. They were master riders and were revered across the land. Each year the town of Duns in Scotland has a festival to celebrate the Reivers. This showcase solo for beginners is inspired by my many childhoods dancing in the town’s Market Square waiting to see the riders come through!

This worksheet packet is a great launching point for students to learn about transposition and proper handwriting skills. After learning a base version of “Zum Gali Gali” in the key of D minor, they have the opportunity to notate the piece in two alternate tonal centers: E minor and A minor. Answer guides are included.

Note: If you are interested in multi-level versions of this piece consider the Zum Gali Gali Mega Pack that features five solo versions, a trio for beginners, and transposition worksheets.

Zum Gali Gali, a traditional Israeli folk tune, arranged as a lively trio for beginners by Jennifer Eklund. This piece serves as a great introduction to easy collaborative playing and will also be effective in group piano settings with multiple keyboards. Purchase includes separated parts and a full conductors score.

Note: If you are interested in even more versions of this piece consider the Zum Gali Gali Mega Pack that features five solo versions, a trio for beginners, and transposition worksheets.

Bunessan, a traditional Scottish melody also known as Morning Has Broken, arranged for intermediate violinists of all ages. Lush teacher accompaniment included making this selection ideal for recitals and other performance opportunities.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, arranged by Jennifer Eklund, in a contemporary lyrical style for early intermediates. This solo provides ample opportunity to work on interpretation, rubato, and lyrical artistry.