Almost every classical guitarist, somewhere in their journey, plays a study by Matteo Carcassi (1792–1853). His teaching pieces are so woven into how the instrument is learned that his name is practically a synonym for the étude itself.
An Italian virtuoso in Paris
Carcassi was an Italian guitarist and composer who, like so many of his generation, made his career across Europe — touring Germany, France and England, and settling for much of his life in Paris, then the centre of the guitar world. He was celebrated as a brilliant performer, but it is his pedagogy that made him immortal.
The Method and the 25 Studies
His two great teaching works are the Classical Guitar Method, Op. 59 and the 25 Melodious and Progressive Studies, Op. 60. The Method builds a player step by step — sight-reading, keys, playing in the upper positions, then advanced ideas like double-stops and ornamentation. The Op. 60 studies are the jewel: each one trains a specific technique, yet every one is genuinely musical and a pleasure to hear. That balance of usefulness and beauty is exactly why they have never gone out of use.
Why students still play him
Generations on, the Op. 60 studies remain a rite of passage for the intermediate guitarist — the bridge between simple beginner pieces and the concert repertoire. They sit naturally alongside the other great teaching composers of the nineteenth-century guitar, the era that gave the instrument its foundations.
Where to get the sheet music
Carcassi died in 1853, so his music is in the public domain and free to download legally — see our guide to free classical guitar sheet music.
FAQ
Who was Matteo Carcassi?
An Italian guitarist and composer (1792–1853), famous above all for his guitar Method and his 25 studies.
What are the Carcassi studies?
The 25 Melodious and Progressive Studies, Op. 60 — études that each teach a technique while being lovely to play, a staple of intermediate study.
Is his music free?
Yes — Carcassi is in the public domain, so his works are legally available at no cost.
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