Segovia 20 Sor Studies Pdf May 2026
Avoid random “free PDF” sites—they often bundle malware or skip crucial fingering pages.
The 20 Sor Studies are not just exercises. They are a conversation between two geniuses: Sor, the Classical era master, and Segovia, the 20th-century reinterpreter. A good PDF just gives you the notes. Your fingers and ears bring them to life.
Ready to begin? Get the legal PDF, sit down with your guitar, and play Study No. 1—slowly.
The rain drummed a relentless, uneven rhythm against the window of Julian’s small apartment, a sharp contrast to the disciplined clarity he was trying to coax from his guitar. Propped on his music stand was a weathered printout—the Segovia edition of Fernando Sor’s 20 Studies
For weeks, Julian had been haunted by Study No. 5, the famous B-minor etude. In his hands, the haunting melody felt clunky, the moving bass line tripping over the arpeggios. He remembered the legend: Andrés Segovia had curated these twenty pieces from Sor’s massive body of work not just for their technical challenge, but for their poetic soul. Segovia, the "Grand Master," had insisted that every note must sing, yet Julian felt like he was merely reciting a list of chores.
He looked at the PDF markings—the specific, sometimes awkward fingerings Segovia had added in 1945. They were notorious. Many students bypassed them for "easier" alternatives, but Julian knew Segovia chose them to force a specific vibrato or a particular string color. He adjusted his posture, tucked the guitar closer to his ribs, and focused on the fourth measure.
As he played, the room seemed to fade. He wasn't in a cramped city apartment anymore; he was in a 19th-century salon in Paris where Fernando Sor might have debuted these themes, or perhaps in a masterclass in Granada, under the piercing, watchful gaze of Segovia himself. He stopped fighting the fingerings. Instead of seeing them as obstacles, he treated them as a map toward a specific emotion—a melancholy that required the resonance only the fourth string could provide.
Suddenly, the thumb began to move independently, a steady, pulsing heartbeat under the melody. The "patting your head and rubbing your belly" sensation that often frustrated students finally smoothed out into a single, cohesive voice. The B-minor theme didn't just play; it breathed.
Julian reached the final chord, letting the harmonics ring into the silence of the room. The rain was still falling, but it no longer sounded like noise. It sounded like an accompaniment. He realized then why these twenty studies had remained the "cornerstone" for nearly a century: they weren't just exercises. They were a bridge between the precision of the past and the passion of the player.
He reached for his pencil, marked a small "x" next to the study on his PDF, and turned the page to Study No. 6. The journey was only just beginning. Key Takeaways from the Segovia-Sor Studies Curated Selection segovia 20 sor studies pdf
: Segovia selected these 20 pieces from Sor's hundreds of etudes to provide a complete pedagogical path. Musicality over Ease Segovia fingerings
are often difficult because they prioritize tone color and phrasing over technical convenience. The "B-Minor" Etude
: Study No. 5 (Op. 35, No. 22) is widely considered one of the most beautiful and essential pieces for developing thumb-melody independence. Universal Standard
: Since its publication in 1945, this edition has served as the standard "entrance exam" for serious classical guitarists.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into this repertoire, I can: breakdown of the technical focus for each of the 20 studies. specific recordings
by Segovia or John Williams to hear different interpretations. Help you find public domain versions
of Sor's original Op. 6 and Op. 35 to compare the fingerings. How would you like to proceed with your guitar practice
1. Estudio No. 1 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 6) Focus: Right-hand arpeggio technique, balance, and tone production.
2. Estudio No. 2 (Original Sor Op. 29, No. 13) Focus: Slurs (hammer-ons and pull-offs), left-hand independence. The 20 Sor Studies are not just exercises
3. Estudio No. 3 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 3) Focus: Rapid scales and right-hand alternation.
4. Estudio No. 4 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 11) Focus: Arpeggios and left-hand shifts.
5. Estudio No. 5 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 2) Focus: Legato phrasing and chord balance.
6. Estudio No. 6 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 9) Focus: Syncopation and rhythmic precision.
7. Estudio No. 7 (Original Sor Op. 29, No. 6) Focus: Scales and position playing.
8. Estudio No. 8 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 4) Focus: Two-part counterpoint and voice leading.
9. Estudio No. 9 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 12) Focus: Expressive playing and mordents (ornamentation).
10. Estudio No. 10 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 1) Focus: One of the most famous; rapid arpeggios and left-hand stretch.
11. Estudio No. 11 (Original Sor Op. 35, No. 17) Focus: Musicality and melody within arpeggios. No. 6) Focus: Right-hand arpeggio technique
12. Estudio No. 12 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 5) Focus: Large stretches and chord changes.
13. Estudio No. 13 (Original Sor Op. 29, No. 7) Focus: Agility and scale passages.
14. Estudio No. 14 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 8) Focus: Two-voice texture and independent fingers.
15. Estudio No. 15 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 10) Focus: Flatting keys (Bb, Eb) and chromatic movement.
16. Estudio No. 16 (Original Sor Op. 6, No. 15) Focus: Cross-string trills and stamina.
17. Estudio No. 17 (Original Sor Op. 35, No. 22) Focus: Often called "Sor's Waltz"; rhythm and chord melody.
18. Estudio No. 18 (Original Sor Op. 35, No. 16) Focus: Position shifts and legato melody.
19. Estudio No. 19 (Original Sor Op. 35, No. 12) Focus: Beautiful melody with accompaniment; expressive rubato.
20. Estudio No. 20 (Original Sor Op. 29, No. 5) Focus: Advanced arpeggios and independence.
Many guitarists ask: Why did Segovia ignore Sor’s Op. 60 (the "Introduction to the Guitar")? Because those 25 studies are too easy for a concert artist. Segovia wanted a performer’s toolkit. The 20 studies exclude elementary exercises and focus on mechanical hurdles that appear in Villa-Lobos, Bach, and Albeniz.
If you finish the 20, move to the "Sor: Complete Studies" (Chanterelle Verlag) – but only after you have mastered Segovia’s fingerings.