How is the guitar course ordered?
It follows the classical guitar methods: the top strings first, then the third string, then the bass strings, then melody over a bass.
| Stage | Pieces | What is new |
|---|---|---|
| Top strings | Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb | E, D, C on strings 1 and 2, then G |
| More strings | Au clair de la lune, Twinkle, Ode to Joy | String 3, steady quarters and halves, F and G |
| Bass strings | Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Amazing Grace, Greensleeves | Strings 6, 5, 4; 3/4 with a pickup; 6/8 and sharps |
| Melody over a bass | Carulli, Sor, Carcassi, Pleyel, Horetzky | Bass and chords, arpeggios, the first two-voice study |
What does it teach?
Everything lies in first position, apart from one reach to the fifth fret in Sor’s Study, Op. 35 No. 14. Tempos run from about 66 to 100 beats a minute.
- Pieces 1 to 5: reading single notes on the top strings.
- Pieces 6 to 8: the low strings and new meters. Greensleeves brings 6/8, E minor and sharps.
- Pieces 9 to 12: a bass note with chords, then arpeggios. Carulli’s Waltz has repeats, Fine and D.C. Sor’s Op. 35 No. 1 is the first piece with two voices.
- Pieces 13 to 15: Pleyel’s Hymn gives first chords, and a French tune adds melody, bass and chords. Sor’s Op. 35 No. 14 has dotted rhythms, a triplet and repeats.
The scores are classical notation on one staff, with no tablature. Composers and arrangers died long before 1926, and the notes were checked against public-domain prints.
How do I start?
Tap Learn → Guitar in Setlists, or Learn an instrument in an empty library. SheetScroll adds the pieces, makes a setlist called Learn guitar, and opens piece one. The next piece is a tap or pedal press away.
Put the device near the guitar, and move closer if SheetScroll says it is too quiet. The pieces listen without Pro.
How should I practice with it?
- Tune first. SheetScroll’s tuner names each string and shows flat, sharp or in tune.
- Say the string number as you play. The first pieces teach strings 1 and 2, then 3.
- Take the bass strings slowly. Go Tell Aunt Rhody is the first piece on strings 6, 5 and 4.
- Mark your own fingerings. The scores carry none, so write them with the pen or a Finger stamp.
- Play each piece until it flows before you move on. Repeat the studies by Sor.
What do I play next?
Open the free guitar sheet music, or bring your own tabs, PDFs and Guitar Pro files. Pro adds listening for those, tab included. The guitar page has more.
The pieces
Learn guitar: From first notes to Sor. 15 pieces, in the order they are played.
- Hot Cross Buns, Traditional: Notes on strings 1–2
- Mary Had a Little Lamb, Traditional: Adding G on string 1
- Au clair de la lune, Traditional: Adding string 3
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Traditional: Steady quarters and halves
- Ode to Joy (theme), Ludwig van Beethoven: F and G, string 1
- Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Traditional: The bass strings
- Amazing Grace, Traditional: 3/4 time, pickup note
- Greensleeves, Traditional: 6/8 time and sharps
- Waltz, Op. 241 No. 1, Ferdinando Carulli: Bass and chords
- Study, Op. 35 No. 1, Fernando Sor: First two-voice piece
- Andantino, Op. 241 No. 5, Ferdinando Carulli: Arpeggios with a bass
- Prelude in C, Matteo Carcassi: Melody over a bass
- Pleyel's Hymn (arr. Horetzky), Ignaz Pleyel: First chords
- Au clair de la lune (arr. Horetzky), Traditional: Melody, bass and chords
- Study, Op. 35 No. 14, Fernando Sor: Two voices, dotted rhythms
In the app: Setlists → Learn.
Questions
Is the guitar course in tab?
No. The pieces are in classical notation on one staff. For tabs, import your own text tabs, Guitar Pro files or PDFs.
Is it for acoustic or electric guitar?
The pieces are written for classical guitar in first position. SheetScroll follows guitar by microphone, tab included.
Do I need Pro for these pieces?
No. The course pieces listen and turn their own pages in the free reader.
Why are Spanish Romance and Scarborough Fair missing?
The course uses only music that is clearly public domain. The Romance’s authorship and first publication are disputed, and the familiar Scarborough Fair melody comes from 20th-century collected versions.
Related
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- TeachersMark up pieces, set up recitals, build a lesson library and give students practice that listens. A sheet music app for music teachers, with a free reader.
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- Tuning your instrumentStandard tunings for guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, cello and more, how to use a tuner or tune by ear, how winds and brass tune, and A440 vs 442.