Carcassi, Matteo – Opus 60, Nr. 1 (Free Score)

Carcassi — Étude No. 1, Op. 60 (Free Solo Edition)

About the piece: As the opening étude of Matteo Carcassi’s 25 Études Mélodiques, Op. 60, No. 1 sets the technical foundation for the whole collection: a driving Allegro built almost entirely on right-hand arpeggio formulas (p-a-m-i, p-i-m-i, m-i-m-i) played staccato over a sustained bass line. The second half of the piece moves the left hand up the fretboard through third and eighth position before resolving in a series of full chordal strokes — a compact but demanding study in right-hand pattern control and position work.

Edition notes

• Composer: Matteo Carcassi
• Genre: Classical, Study/Etude
• Instrumentation: Solo Guitar
• Level: Intermediate
• Notation: Treble clef, standard notation
• Format: PDF download
• Edition: Critical edition by Dr. Sam Desmet — fingerings and dynamics added

Part of the Carcassi: Reimagined project

This étude is published as part of the ongoing Carcassi: Reimagined project — Sam Desmet’s series of critical solo editions of Carcassi’s Op. 60, developed alongside a parallel guitar-duo reinterpretation with composer Troy Gifford. A duo arrangement of No. 1 hasn’t been released yet; read more about the project, including the duo arrangements already available, on the Carcassi: Reimagined project page. Five other études from the set (Nos. 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10) are already available as guitar duos in the Carcassi: Reimagined Op. 60 Duo Collection.

FAQ

Is this arrangement free to use in teaching and recitals?
Yes — this is a free critical edition intended for study and performance use.

What level is Étude No. 1?
Intermediate. It’s the opening étude of the Op. 60 set — approachable for a player comfortable with basic right-hand arpeggio patterns and position shifts up to the 8th fret, but demanding in its tempo and staccato articulation.