Graduated Repertoire for the Classical Guitarist, Book 2: Intermediate Guitar Book

The incremental progression in this book genuinely works. Each piece builds on specific technical demands without overwhelming students, and the mix of established repertoire alongside original compositions keeps the learning path from feeling formulaic. The annotated guidance from the authors cuts through ambiguity and gives students concrete direction on interpretation and execution.

You're building real musicianship here, not just checking off technical boxes. The pieces reward focused practice with immediate payoff in sound and expression, and the blend of familiar classical pieces with fresh compositions keeps the experience engaging rather than purely academic.

Intermediate guitarists ready to move beyond early method books into a sustained repertoire practice. This works equally well as a private lesson resource or for self-directed study, since the annotated guidance supports independent learning.

• Study the author's notes before playing through. These aren't afterthoughts; they identify the exact technical and musical objectives for each piece.
• Work through new pieces in the order presented rather than jumping ahead. The sequence exists to prepare your hands and ears for what comes next.
• Record yourself playing the historical selections alongside the new compositions to hear how McFadden and Zohn position classical tradition within contemporary writing.
• Break multi-page pieces into manageable sections aligned with the technical challenges noted in the introduction, rather than sight-reading through.

Use this as your primary solo repertoire source at the intermediate level, rotating selections into recitals and competitions throughout the year. The structured progression also works well as a bridge curriculum between method books and more specialized ensemble or advanced repertoire studies.

• Position shifts across the fretboard with accuracy and efficiency
• Fingerstyle technique in both open and closed positions
• Score reading with increased rhythmic complexity and key signatures
• Dynamic control and tonal variation for expressive phrasing
• Classical right-hand patterns and left-hand independence
• Interpretation choices within the classical guitar tradition