It is one of the most beautiful moments in the early Beatles catalogue, and it is played on a classical guitar. The delicate, arpeggiated lead line of And I Love Her comes from a nylon-string José Ramírez in the hands of George Harrison — a small, lovely reminder that even the world's biggest pop band reached for the Spanish guitar.
The guitar with a story
The instrument was a José Ramírez "de Estudio" study guitar, bought in Madrid in the summer of 1963 by the Beatles' friend Klaus Voormann on the advice of his guitar teacher. By July 1964, Voormann had given the guitar to Harrison. The Ramírez name was already legendary in the classical world; the same workshop's instruments were associated with Andrés Segovia, and Siccas has written about the founders José Ramírez I and Manuel Ramírez.
"And I Love Her"
During the February 1964 sessions for A Hard Day's Night, the song was reworked: the drums gave way to bongos, the electric guitars to acoustics, and Harrison's electric to Voormann's nylon-string Ramírez. The result is that unmistakable, gently rolling classical-guitar figure — proof of how much warmth a nylon string can bring to a pop song.
Harrison and the Spanish guitar
This was no one-off. Harrison reportedly used the Ramírez on around fifteen Beatles recordings, and he spoke in later years of his admiration for the Spanish guitar and for Segovia in particular. So admired is the instrument that José Ramírez now builds a tribute model, the "GH," in its honour.
FAQ
Did George Harrison play a classical guitar?
Yes — he played a nylon-string José Ramírez on "And I Love Her" and around fifteen other Beatles recordings.
What guitar is on "And I Love Her"?
A José Ramírez "de Estudio" nylon-string classical guitar, given to Harrison by Klaus Voormann.
Did Harrison like classical guitar?
Yes — he expressed admiration for the Spanish guitar and for Andrés Segovia.
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