Solo Guitar Music

Larry Beekman has five books of arrangements for classical guitar, and two books of original compositions. Each book is described below with links to many performances.

Beatles for Classical Guitar

John Lennon for Classical Guitar

Fingerpicking Enya

An International Christmas

Dreamscapes

Folksongs for Classical Guitar

Asanas for Classical Guitar


 


Beatles for Classical Guitar

Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1988. $16.99

30 Beatles classics arranged for the intermediate level finger-style guitarist. Includes: Here Comes the Sun, In My Life, Nowhere Man, P. S. I Love You, Penny Lane, Something, This Boy, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and 22 others.

Listen to Larry Beekman performing these arrangements from Beatles for Classical Guitar on YouTube:

Across the Universe | Ask Me Why | Come Together | Cry Baby Cry | From Me to You | Hello, GoodbyeI Don’t Want to Spoil the Party | I Will | I’m a Loser | I’m Happy Just to Dance with You |I’m Only Sleeping | I’m So Tired | In My Life | The Long and Winding Road | Maxwell’s Silver Hammer | No Reply | Nowhere Man | P. S. I Love You | Something | This Boy| Two of Us | While My Guitar Gently Weeps |YesterdayYou’re Going to Lose That Girl

Also, be sure to check out the Beatles for Classical Guitar User’s Guide on the Free Music page. It contains many playing tips, as well as links to several performances of pieces from the book.

“One of the most respected and highly regarded collections of Beatles arrangements. Several guitarists have recorded Larry’s solos on their CDs, most notably Penny Lane, In my Life, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Features Beatles tunes not often covered, such as Cry Baby Cry and Hello Goodbye. Includes a total of 30 arrangements. Personally, I just can’t stop playing Larry’s treatment of Penny Lane”–guitaristsforum.com.

“Your (Beatle) arrangements have the feel and sound of the 60’s… aside from you only Chet Atkins was able to get the right feel… and I had to spend many hours lifting his arrangements, whereas I could look at your arrangements and play much more quickly.” — Art (Arturo) Carnrick, from a review on facebook

“one of the best folios of popular printed sheet music we’ve seen”–from a review at encoremusic.com.

“The arrangements in the book are very good, this is one of the best Beatles books i have for classical guitar” –from a review at amazon.com by Eduardo Diaz Lopez (Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico)

“I’ve had this book for years – it’s probably my favorite in the “Beatles for Solo Guitar” genre. Unique Selection – the only book where I’ve found hidden gems like I’m So Tired. Unlike some other books, you will actually play these arrangements!” –from a review at sheetmusicplus.com by Robert L. (Boston, MA)

“A must have collection for classical and finger style players”–from a review at amazon.com

To purchase Beatles for Classical Guitar, please go to amazon.com

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John Lennon for Classical Guitar

Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 2013. $16.99.

John Lennon was an excellent song writer not only with The Beatles, but also as a solo artist. These are all great tunes that work very well as guitar solos. I have always liked these songs, but I grew even more fond of them as I worked on the book. Selections include Beautiful Boy, Imagine, Jealous Guy, Real Love, Woman and 11 others.

Listen to Larry Beekman performing all 15 arrangements from “John Lennon for Classical Guitar” on YouTube:

Beautiful Boy | Crippled Inside | Grow Old with Me | I’m Losing You | Imagine | Instant Karma | Jealous Guy | Look at Me | Nobody Told Me | # Nine Dream | Oh My Love | Real Love | (Just Like) Starting Over | Watching the Wheels | Woman

To purchase John Lennon for Classical Guitar, please to go amazon.com

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Fingerpicking Enya

Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 2009. $9.99.

15 pieces by Enya carefully arranged for the intermediate level finger-style guitarist. Standard notation and tab. One of the nice things about Enya’s music is that while it is very pleasant to listen to and fun to play, it is also suitable for just about any situation. Selections include Caribbean Blue, May It Be, China Roses, Watermark, Only Time and eleven others.

Listen to Larry Beekman performing all 15 arrangements from this book on YouTube:

Anywhere Is |Athair ar Neahm | Boadicea | Caribbean Blue | China Roses | Fairytale | From Where I Am | Lothlorien | May It Be |No Holly for Miss Quinn | One By One | Only Time | Pilgrim | Portrait | Watermark

To purchase Fingerpicking Enya, please go to amazon.com

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front cover of book
An International Christmas (PDF format)

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 1999. $8.95 

40 Carols from around the world arranged for the intermediate level finger-style guitarist.This book is very useful for guitarists who play for holiday parties and need arrangements that are easy to learn, and at the same time are full sounding. In addition, it also includes a suggested order of difficulty to facilitate its use as a teaching supplement. Includes: Deck the Halls, Fum Fum Fum, The Holly and the Ivy, I Wonder as I Wander, Joy to the World, Masters in this Hall, Noel Nouvelet, Pat-a-Pan, Polish Lullaby, Silent Night, Still Still Still, What Child Is This, and 28 others. See an excerpt from this book on the Free Music  page.

Here are two of the carols from this book, “Only a Manger Bed” and “Pat-a-Pan”:

And here are links to Larry Beekman performing other songs from this book on YouTube:
Masters in this Hall / Silent Night | What Child Is This?

“I just received your “The International Christmas,” and I am so excited. Finally someone did some beautiful arrangements of Christmas music that are playable at an intermediate level and below. I can’t put it down. I am really looking forward to teaching and playing this music this year and from now on.”                                                                                                                                                            -Ed Roberson, Knoxville, TN

Please visit the online Store to purchase An International Christmas

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FolksongsforCGDreamscapes (PDF format)

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2016. $9.95

These 10 solos (plus one bonus track, “The Dancer”) are written to serve as a supplement to and/or continuation of my method book How to Play the Acoustic Guitar, Volume 2. There is one solo corresponding to each of the ten most commonly used classical guitar keys, which are the keys covered in my method books. My main purpose has been to focus on melodic and playable music that uses modern compositional harmonies and rhythms. While the pieces aren’t necessarily “easy,” they should be accessible to the intermediate player. Both classical and fingerstyle guitarists should find these pieces useful and fun to play, whether used as a supplement to any classical guitar method book or as repertoire.

Listen to Larry Beekman performing all 11 pieces from “Dreamscapes” on YouTube:

Boardwalkin’The Borderland RagThe DancerDreamscapeHold SteadyMorning MistThe Road HomeSlinkySneakyA Sunset Stroll

And here’s Larry Beekman performing “Twilight Vision” from this book:

Please visit the online Store to purchase Dreamscapes.

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FolksongsforCGFolksongs for Classical Guitar

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 1991. $10.95
30 Folksongs for the beginning to intermediate level finger-style guitarist. This book contains enjoyable arrangements of well known folk music for finger-style players. In addition, these songs are arranged in order of difficulty, making this book a good teaching supplement for classical guitar students who would like to venture beyond the standard repertoire. Includes: Morning Has Broken, Cripple Creek, This Train, All Through the Night, Scarborough Fair, The Sloop John B., Amazing Grace, Simple Gifts, and 22 others. See an excerpt from this book on the page  Free Music

Here is a link to Larry Beekman performing Simple Gifts from this book on YouTube.

Please visit the online Store to purchase Folksongs for Classical Guitar.

Bonus: purchase “Folksongs for Classical Guitar” and receive for free “Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Volume 1 (PDF format)”, which contains two arrangements not included in this version.

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FolksoVol1ngs for Classical Guitar, Volume 1 (PDF format)

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2015. $7.95

This is an updated version of the original 1991 book. The collection now contains 32 songs, and is in two volumes. Volume 1 introduces keys in the same sequence as How to Play the Acoustic Guitar Book 2, and the arrangements progress in order of difficulty. Both classical and fingerstyle guitarists should find these arrangements useful and fun to play, whether used along with a method book or on their own. Includes “Wayfaring Stranger”, “House of the Rising Sun”, “Cripple Creek”, “This Train”, and 12 more.

Please visit the online Store to purchase Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Volume 1 (PDF  format)

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Vol2Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Volume 2 (PDF format)

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2015. $7.95

This is an updated version of the original 1991 book. The collection now contains 32 songs, and is in two volumes. This volume introduces more advanced techniques that appear later in the method book, such as dropped D tuning and higher position notes. Both classical and fingerstyle guitarists should find these arrangements useful and fun to play, whether used along with a method book or on their own. Contents include “Lonesome Valley”, “Shenandoah”, “Midnight Special”, “Scarborough Fair”, “The Sloop John B.”, and 11 more.

Please visit the online Store to purchase Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Volume 2 (PDF  format)

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Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Extended Versions (PDF format)

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2023. $7.95

In the past few years I have uploaded to YouTube all the tunes in Folksongs for Classical Guitar. For many of them I added a variation section. From time to time people have asked me if these “extended versions” were available. Since I hadn’t written them down, until now they were not. With this book I have remedied that situation by writing out as best I could what I played on 15 of the tunes, including the variations. So this book is – Folksongs for Classical Guitar – Extended Versions. Contents include “All Through the Night”, “Amazing Grace”, “Midnight Special”, “The Sloop John B.”, “This Train”, and 11 more.

Please visit the online Store to purchase Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Extended Versions (PDF  format)

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“I like the concept of the book for use in in learning guitar and improving technique… sort of like Sor’s book, where you are learning stuff, it is easier if you are playing an enjoyable tune. Great book! Nice arrangements… thanks for making PDFs so I can put them in my iPad..                                                     – Art (Arturo) Carnrick, guitarist/chemist, Pensacola, FL

Here’s Larry performing “Amazing Grace” from this collection:

Also, videos of all 32 arrangements in “Folksongs for Classical Guitar, Volumes 1 & 2 can now be seen here: Folksongs for Classical Guitar

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AsanasforCGAsanas for Classical Guitar

Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2008. $11.95

From the book: “Ever since I began my study of yoga I have been fascinated by the exotic names of the many asanas. Sometime in the late 90’s I got the idea to write pieces using the names of them as titles. The Sankrit word Asana literally translates to pose. Therefore, these pieces are technically poses for classical guitar (whatever that means). In reality, they are simply my musical homage to the yoga tradition.” The pieces are intended for the intermediate/advanced guitarist who can read music up to the 12th fret. Also, they are great pieces for anyone who wants to break out of the mold of traditional time signatures. There are 10 pieces, and the book is 24 pages. See a sample on the Free Music page.

Listen to Larry Beekman performing these arrangements from this book on YouTube:

Sun Salutation | The Tree | The Dancer | The Cobra | The Camel | The Rabbit

Please visit the online Store to purchase Asanas for Classical Guitar

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