Guitar
J. Pachelbel (1653–1706)
Canon in D Guitar
The most-played piece at weddings and school concerts. Layer after layer of melody builds over the same eight chords.
Korean folk song
Arirang Guitar
Korea's best-known folk song, sung in music class and at cultural exchange concerts.
F. X. Gruber (1787–1863)
Silent Night Guitar
The most-played Christmas carol. Its gentle three-beat melody is easy to pick up, even for beginners.
G. F. Handel (1685–1759), tune · arr. L. Mason
Joy to the World Guitar
A carol famous for its opening D–C♯–B–A scale coming down step by step. Bright and march-like, it works well for ensembles.
Traditional English carol · harm. J. Stainer
The First Noel Guitar
A traditional English carol with the repeating 'Noel, Noel'. The melody repeats, so it's quick to memorize.
A. Adam (1803–1856)
O Holy Night Guitar
Adam's best-known carol. It starts quietly and bursts out at 'Fall on your knees'.
J. F. Wade (1711–1786)
O Come, All Ye Faithful Guitar
The Christmas hymn 'O come, all ye faithful'. The refrain grows louder three times, making it a great closing piece for choirs and ensembles.
French folk song
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Guitar
Often the very first piece on a new instrument. Playing each note twice is great for learning to keep the beat.
German folk song
Lightly Row Guitar
A children's song that starts G–E–E, F–D–D. You can play it with your hand in a single five-finger position.
English folk song
London Bridge Guitar
An English nursery rhyme famous as a playground game. Short and repetitive, so it's easy to memorize.
German folk song
The Cuckoo Guitar
A children's song in three beats that imitates the call 'cuckoo, cuckoo'.
J. Brahms (1833–1897)
Brahms' Lullaby Guitar
Brahms' lullaby. Its slow three-beat lines are good practice for playing long, connected notes.
M. J. Hill (1859–1916)
Happy Birthday Guitar
Moved to C major so you can play it right away at a birthday party.
J. L. Pierpont (1822–1893)
Jingle Bells Guitar
The full Jingle Bells with verse and chorus. Choose Highlights to play just the chorus.
American children's song
Mary Had a Little Lamb Guitar
A children's song that begins E–D–C–D–E–E–E. It uses only five notes, from C to G, so it makes a great first piece.
American children's song
If You're Happy and You Know It Guitar
The clapping spots are left as rests, so you can clap along right there while you play.
S. Winner (1827–1902)
Ten Little Fingers Guitar
A counting song. Good practice for repeating the same note quickly.
American folk song
Old MacDonald Guitar
A song where you swap in different farm animal sounds. The repeated-note chorus helps you learn the rhythm.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
Pongdang Pongdang Guitar
A children's song by Hong Nan-pa, taken from the original 1933 score of '100 Korean Children's Songs'.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
Spring in My Hometown Guitar
Hong Nan-pa's song that begins 'The hometown where I lived'. The original is in B♭ major; the beginner version is in C major.
Children's song
Itsy Bitsy Spider Guitar
The spider song as it's sung in Korea, in 6/8 time.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
The Sun Is Shining Guitar
A children's song by Hong Nan-pa. Play it short and detached, following the staccatos in the original score.
Korean folk song
Doraji Taryeong Guitar
A Gyeonggi folk song that begins 'Doraji, doraji, baek-doraji'. Set in 9/8 to the semachi rhythm.
H. C. Work (1832–1884)
My Grandfather's Clock Guitar
An American song whose chorus imitates the tick-tock of a clock.
Mexican folk song
La Cucaracha Guitar
A Mexican folk song. Play the opening three-eighth-note rhythm short and lively.
German folk song
O Christmas Tree Guitar
The German carol 'O Tannenbaum'. It's a Christmas song rather than a hymn, so it suits school events too.
English carol
We Wish You a Merry Christmas Guitar
An English carol played brightly in 3/4: verse, chorus, and verse again.
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827)
Ode to Joy Guitar
The theme from the finale of Beethoven's Ninth. The notes move mostly step by step, so it's easy to learn first.
J. Strauss II (1825–1899)
The Blue Danube Guitar
The waltz theme by Johann Strauss II, often heard at year-end concerts.
F. Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
Wedding March Guitar
Mendelssohn's march for the recessional at weddings. It opens with a trumpet fanfare.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Eine kleine Nachtmusik Guitar
The first movement of Mozart's serenade. The original is for strings, so the piano left hand takes the cello part.
J. Brahms (1833–1897)
Hungarian Dance No. 5 Guitar
Brahms' Hungarian Dance. Its gypsy-style rhythm slows down and speeds up.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Swan Lake Guitar
The 'Scene' theme from Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake — the lonely melody sung by the oboe.
M. Leontovych (1877–1921)
Carol of the Bells Guitar
A Ukrainian carol where four notes, C–B–C–A, repeat like bells. It's in 'Home Alone'.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Sugar Plum Fairy Guitar
The celesta piece from The Nutcracker. Melody instruments are written an octave lower, like a celesta part.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Waltz of the Flowers Guitar
The waltz from The Nutcracker, a must at year-end ballet performances.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
The Frog Guitar
Hong Nan-pa's song that goes 'Gaegul gaegul, the frog sings'. Taken from the original 1933 score of '100 Korean Children's Songs'.
J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
Air on the G String Guitar
The Air from Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3, taken from a piano arrangement in G major.
Gyeongsang folk song
Miryang Arirang Guitar
A Gyeongsang-province folk song that begins 'Nal jom boso' (Look at me). Set in 9/8 semachi rhythm as in Korean school textbooks.
American children's song
The Wheels on the Bus Guitar
'The Wheels on the Bus' — a short song repeated three times.
English nursery rhyme
Five Little Ducks Guitar
The nursery rhyme 'Five Little Ducks'. One duck goes missing each time, so it's repeated twice.
American children's song
Row Your Boat Guitar
The nursery rhyme 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' in 6/8 — also sung as a round.
French children's song
Frère Jacques Guitar
The round sung in English as 'Are You Sleeping, Brother John?'.
E. Grieg (1843–1907)
Hall of the Mountain King Guitar
From Grieg's 'Peer Gynt'. The same melody gets faster and louder.