Larry Beekman Guitar Publications
Larry Beekman has been publishing books of arrangements for finger-style guitar since 1985. Beatles for Classical Guitar, published by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, has been a favorite of finger-style players for more than 20 years. His latest Book, John Lennon for Classical Guitar, has just been released by Hal Leonard Corporation (July, 2013). Fingerpicking Enya was released by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation in 2009. Folksongs for Classical Guitar, An International Christmas and How to Play the Acoustic Guitar (books 1 and 2) are all published by Larry Beekman Guitar Studio. His first three titles, now out of print, were also published by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. These books ranged from pop and rock to broadway standards.
To order, use the ordering information at the bottom of the page.John Lennon for Classical Guitar
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 2013. $16.99.John Lennon was an excellent song writer not only with The Beatles, but also as a solo artist. These are all great tunes that work very well as guitar solos. I have always liked these songs, but I grew even more fond of them as I worked on the book. Selections include Beautiful Boy, Imagine, Jealous Guy, Real Love, Woman and 11 others.
Listen to Larry Beekman performing all 15 arrangements from "John Lennon for Classical Guitar" on YouTube:
Beautiful Boy | Crippled Inside | Grow Old with Me | I'm Losing You | Imagine | Instant Karma | Jealous Guy | Look at Me | Nobody Told Me | # Nine Dream | Oh My Love | Real Love | (Just Like) Starting Over | Watching the Wheels | Woman
Return to List of PublicationsFingerpicking Enya
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 2009. $9.99.15 pieces by Enya carefully arranged for the intermediate level finger-style guitarist. Standard notation and tab. One of the nice things about Enya's music is that while it is very pleasant to listen to and fun to play, it is also suitable for just about any situation. Selections include Caribbean Blue, May It Be, China Roses, Watermark, Only Time and 11 others.
Listen to Larry Beekman performing all 15 arrangements from this book on YouTube:
Anywhere Is | Athair ar Neahm | Boadicea | Caribbean Blue | China Roses | Fairytale | From Where I Am | Lothlorien | May It Be | No Holly for Miss Quinn | One By One | Only Time | Pilgrim | Portrait | Watermark
Return to List of PublicationsBeatles for Classical Guitar
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1988. $16.99.30 Beatle classics arranged for the intermediate level finger-style guitarist. Includes: Here Comes the Sun, In My Life, Nowhere Man, P. S. I Love You, Penny Lane, Something, This Boy, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and 22 others.
Listen to Larry Beekman performing these arrangements from Beatles for Classical Guitar on YouTube:
Across the Universe | Ask Me Why | Cry Baby Cry | From Me to You | I Don't Want to Spoil the Party | I Will | Im a Loser | I'm Only Sleeping | I'm So Tired | In My Life | Maxwell's Silver Hammer | No Reply | Nowhere Man | P. S. I Love You | Something | This Boy | Two of Us | While My Guitar Gently Weeps | You're Going to Lose That Girl
Also, be sure to check out the Beatles for Classical Guitar User's Guide on the Free Music page. It contains many playing tips, as well as links to several performances of pieces from the book.
"One of the most respected and highly regarded collections of Beatles arrangements. Several guitarists have recorded Larry's solos on their CDs, most notably Penny Lane, In my Life, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Features Beatles tunes not often covered, such as Cry Baby Cry and Hello Goodbye. Includes a total of 30 arrangements. Personally, I just can't stop playing Larry's treatment of Penny Lane"--guitaristsforum.com.
"your (Beatle) arrangements have the feel and sound of the 60's... aside from you only Chet Atkins was able to get the right feel... and I had to spend many hours lifting his arrangements, whereas I could look at your arrangements and play much more quickly." -- Art (Arturo) Carnrick, from a review on facebook
"one of the best folios of popular printed sheet music we've seen"--from a review at encoremusic.com.
"The arrangements in the book are very good, this is one of the best beatles books i have for classical guitar" --from a review at amazon.com by Eduardo Diaz Lopez (Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico)
"I've had this book for years - it's probably my favorite in the "Beatles for Solo Guitar" genre. Unique Selection - the only book where I've found hidden gems like I'm So Tired. Unlike some other books, you will actually play these arrangements!" --from a review at sheetmusicplus.com by Robert L. (Boston, MA)
"a must have collection for classical and finger style players"--from a review at amazon.com
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Asanas for Classical Guitar
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2008. $11.95
From the book: "Ever since I began my study of yoga I have been fascinated by the exotic names of the many asanas. Sometime in the late 90's I got the idea to write pieces using the names of them as titles. The Sankrit word Asana literally translates to pose. Therefore, these pieces are technically poses for classical guitar (whatever that means). In reality, they are simply my musical homage to the yoga tradition." The pieces are intended for the intermediate/advanced guitarist who can read music up to the 12th fret. Also, they are great pieces for anyone who wants to break out of the mold of traditional time signatures. There are 10 pieces, and the book is 24 pages. See a sample on the Free Music page.
Listen to Larry Beekman performing these arrangements from this book on YouTube:
Sun Salutation | The Tree | The Dancer | The Cobra | The Camel | The Rabbit
Return to List of PublicationsHow to Play the Acoustic Guitar, Book 1
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2001. $14.95; with CD, 19.95
This method is for the student who wants to learn the basics of classical guitar and is also interested in learning how to play contemporary popular music. The pieces used are primarily folk and popular tunes. There is also original music based on popular styles. For example, there are several pieces based on one of the foundations of popular music, "the 12 bar blues". The method covers all the notes in 1st position, basic folk guitar chords, and some useful rhythm guitar strumming patterns. It is intended for either individual or group instruction, and it works well with students of all ages. The CD includes all 19 of the duets in the book, with the student and teacher in separate channels, as well as 11 easy solo arrangements. See excerpts from this book on the Free Music page.
Here is a link to Columbian guitarist José Luis Montero Laguado and one of his students performing "Jeedy", the very first duet in this book (note: the slightly odd title refers to the two notes the student plays, G and D): Jeedy
And this is a performance of another duet (played as a trio here) from this book, Rockiny Myner by Larry and two of this students. Thanks to the father of the students, Mike Snell of Blue Wall Design for creating this video/one act play!
Return to List of PublicationsHow to Play the Acoustic Guitar, Book 2
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 2003. $14.95; with CD, 19.95.
This is a continuation of Book 1. It covers the notes all the way up to the 12th fret, and how to read music in the 10 most commonly used guitar keys. Also included are the chords needed for almost all folk and popular music, more advanced rhythm guitar styles, including fingerpicking, and information on music theory, such as how chords are constructed. After completing How to Play the Acoustic Guitar, Books 1 and 2, you will be well prepared to play and understand most acoustic guitar music. The CD includes 4 duets, with the parts in separate channels, and also 26 solo arrangements. See excerpts from this book on the Free Music page.
Return to List of PublicationsAn International Christmas
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 1999. $13.95.
Special!: From now until 12/31/12, get "Folksongs for Classical Guitar" for 1/2 price ($3.95) with purchase of this book.
40 Carols from around the world arranged for the intermediate level finger-style guitarist.This book is very useful for guitarists who play for holiday parties and need arrangements that are easy to learn, and at the same time are full sounding. In addition, it also includes a suggested order of difficulty to facilitate its use as a teaching supplement. Includes: Deck the Halls, Fum Fum Fum, The Holly and the Ivy, I Wonder as I Wander, Joy to the World, Masters in this Hall, Noel Nouvelet, Pat-a-Pan, Polish Lullaby, Silent Night, Still Still Still, What Child Is This, and 28 others. See an excerpt from this book on the Free Music page.
Here are links to Larry Beekman performing songs from this book on YouTube: Masters in this Hall / Silent NIght | What Child Is This?
"I just received your "The International Christmas," and I am so excited. Finally someone did some beautiful arrangements of Christmas music that are playable at an intermediate level and below. I can't put it down. I am really looking forward to teaching and playing this music this year and from now on." -Ed Roberson, Knoxville, TN
Return to List of PublicationsFolksongs for Classical Guitar
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio, 1991. $7.95.
30 Folksongs for the beginning to intermediate level finger-style guitarist.This book contains enjoyable arrangements of well known folk music for finger-style players. In addition, these songs are arranged in order of difficulty, making this book a good teaching supplement for classical guitar students who would like to venture beyond the standard repertoire. Includes: Morning Has Broken, Cripple Creek, This Train, All Through the Night, Scarborough Fair, The Sloop John B., Amazing Grace, Simple Gifts, and 22 others. See an excerpt from this book on the Free Music page.
Here is a link to Larry Beekman performing Simple Gifts from this book on YouTube.
Return to List of PublicationsEarlier Works (out of print)
- Neil Diamond for Classical Guitar (19 songs) - Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1985.
- Popular Hits for Classical Guitar (23 songs) - Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1986
- Broadway Hits for Classical Guitar (26 songs) - Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1987
Ordering Information
Beatles for Classical Guitar and Fingerpicking Enya can be easily found at most sheet music stores, or Amazon.com. To order any other title (except out of print items), send the list price along with $2.00 postage & handling for one book, or $4.00 for two or more (within the U.S.) to:
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio5726 Kenwood Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64110
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Other Highly Recommended Books
How to order
Sketches of Latin America
Blue Guitar, 1997. $10.95.
Here are 18 delightful solos by guitarist Jim Giddings. These songs all have a Latin American feel. Not only are they all very playable, they sound very full. This is great gig music! See an example from this book on the Free Music page.
Return to List of PublicationsLa Casa de Miguel
Jim Giddings, 2003. $10.95.
For fans of "Sketches of Latin America" (or anyone else), here are 15 more great Latin solos by Jim Giddings. See an example from this book on the Free Music page.
Return to List of Publications10 Hymns for Guitar
Jim Giddings, 2002. $9.95.
These are more fine arrangemnents by Kansas City guitarist Jim Giddings. Once again, they are all very idiomatic. See "Amazing Grace" from this collection on the Free Music page.
Return to List of PublicationsPassages: 12 Preludes for Guitar
Jim Giddings, 2007. $10.95.
12 original preludes by Jim Giddings. Guitarist John McClellan has included Prelude #3 from this collection on his recent CD with Tim Thompson, Joshua Hit the Road. In addition to being great solos, these pieces could also serve as a very good suppliment to any method book. See "Prelude #3" on the Free Music page.
Return to List of PublicationsOrdering Information
To order any title (except out of print items), send the list price along with $3.00 postage & handling for one book, or $5.00 for two or more (within the U.S.) to:
Larry Beekman Guitar Studio5726 Kenwood Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64110