In this lesson, we’ll learn Opus 35 No. 13 by Fernando Sor, a short classical guitar study in C major.

This Andante comes from Sor’s collection of 24 exercises, Op. 35. Although the harmony is relatively simple and the left hand stays within a fairly compact area of the fretboard, the piece is a great study in voice leading, balance, and bringing out a clear melody over moving bass notes.

Grab your guitar and let’s get started!

Opus 35 No. 13 guitar arrangement

The numbers next to some notes on the top staff indicate which fingers to use on the fretting hand.

You can refer to this simple guide to understanding music symbols if needed.

If needed, check out this post to learn how to finger pick on guitar.

How to play Opus 35 No. 13

One of the most important things to work on in this piece is the balance between the different voices.

Try to bring out the upper melody clearly while keeping the moving bass line connected underneath it. Between those two parts, you’ll often hear an inner voice filling out the harmony. Play this inner part slightly softer so it supports the melody rather than competing with it.

Also listen closely to the voice leading from one chord to the next. Sor creates a lot of movement and expression from simple chords in C major by letting individual notes move smoothly between each harmony.

Instead of thinking of each beat as another chord shape, try listening for three layers: the melody on top, the bass underneath, and the softer harmony in the middle. This will help the piece sound more musical and less like a series of separate notes.

If you like this style of playing, you can check out this post to learn how to connect a melody and chords on guitar.

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Want to learn more songs? Check out the sheet music with guitar tabs resource on this site.

All the best,

JG Music Lessons

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