The American Guitar Collection

Compositions, arrangements, instruction books and collections for guitar published in 19th Century America.
In 19th Century America, guitarists and publishers were all very busy, much more than is commonly known, producing sheet music of all kinds for guitar... from jigs and reels, popular songs, to more serious classical compositions and arrangements.
This page also has large collections of old sheet music and instruction books for banjo, mandolin and ukulele.
The sheet music offered on this page is scans of the original sheet music, prepared as PDF files for standard paper size in an easy to print black and white format.

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and explore, or, use the menu below to see
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Vahdah Olcott-Bickford (October 17, 1885 – May 18, 1980) was an American astrologer and guitarist, composer, arranger and teacher, sometimes known as "the Grand Lady of the Guitar".

We have prepared a sheet music collection of many of her pieces.

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Page

Guitar Music of William Foden

William Foden (23 March 1860 – 9 April 1947) was an American composer, musician, and teacher. Foden is considered America's premiere classical guitarist during the 1890s and the first decades of the twentieth century.
We have collected the original sheet music of William Foden and prepared a PDF collection....

Music of American Guitarist
William Foden

The Guitar Music Of
The Amazing "Mrs. Knoop"

L'Alhambra Waltz 1847
The Flowers Of Andalusia 1850
Rosignol Polka 1850
Carnival Of Venice 1847
The Adieu (El Adios) 1866

Madame Delores Nevares de Goñi was one of the most prominent and talented guitarists of her time. Her performances were widely popular throughout the Americas between 1841 and 1892.Madame De Goni's first husband also was a guitarist, but in 1845 she married George Knoop, a renowned cellist, after Sr. de Goni ..discreetlty left the scene. Most of her guitar compositions were published using only the name "Mrs Knoop".

An 1840 notice in the New York Herald:
"A distinguished female, professor of the Spanish guitar, has just arrived from Europe' Her name is Dona Dolores de Goni, a Spanish lady of exquisite beauty, and still more exquisite accomplishments in Spanish music. During the last spring and summer she gave many exhibitions before the royalty and nobility of England, that brought forth great applause. Despite the lavish claims in the press notice, de Goni was only moderately successful in London."

Download the music of Mrs. Knoop
Scans of the original sheet music in PDF format, prepared for easy printing on standard size paper.

You will quickly be sent the download link by email after your payment is processed.


$3.50 - Paypal or Credit-Card

What may be the earliest guitar transcriptions of 8 John Philip Sousa marches. Scans of the original sheet music prepared for easy printing, in a PDF file.

Sousa for the Guitar page

The Guitar Music Of J. C. Smith

J. C. Smith was a talented guitarist and composer who composed and published many works for guitar in Youngstown, Ohio in the last part of the 19th Century. Many of his publications have elaborate and skillfully done artwork, apparently created by J. C. Smith, and many of these engravings are included with the following sheet music.
This sheet music collection is original scans of the music of J.C. Smith, prepared as PDF files for easy black and white printing on standard size paper.

The American Guitarist - Sweet Home Variations (9 variations)
American Fantasia (Fantasia with variations)
Au Revoir Polka
Dance Of The Fairies
Greenville Variations
Lightning Polka
Sappho's Reverie
Pavanne Of The Midnight Stars (duet and trio for guitars)
Diana's Fantasia (for two

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Download the music of J.C. Smith
Price - $4.50

Earlier American guitarists and composers often created quite unusual and entertaining pieces of music for the guitar. This collection of many pieces gives a good idea of this music. We have created a PDF from scans of the original sheet music that can be printed easily in black and white.

Unique Classic
American Guitar Pieces

 

 

Two of the many pieces....

The legendary polka was not only a very popular dance in early America, it was also the subject of many compositions and arrangements for guitar. We have created a collection of many of these polka guitar pieces. It is in PDF format, created from scans of the original sheet music and prepared for easy black and white printing.

The Art Of The Polka

The guitar composers of early America were fond of the waltz. This is a PDF collection of scans of the original old sheet music by many composers, prepared for easy black and white printing on standard paper.

Joy Of The Waltz Page

A PDF collection of songs written about the guitar. Most of these songs were composed for piano and voice. Except for the last song "To My Guitar", that was composed for the guitar and voice While not guitar pieces, these scanned images of the original pieces of sheet music written about the guitar, show an interesting history of the guitar in early America.

Songs About The Guitar Page

The Guitar Music
Of William O. Bateman

William O. Bateman (1825–1883), "a successful lawyer, music engraver, guitarist, and nationally recognized guitar composer. He not only composed but he also taught guitar and music engraving. Many of his compositions and arrangements were published.
To his credit, Bateman was a main teacher of the prominent American guitarist/composer William Foden.

The William O. Bateman Page

A PDF collection of many unique and interesting patents from early Ameica, for guitar "improvements", new instrument inventions related to the guitar, guitar variations, combinations, guitar parts, slides, picks, attachments of many kinds etc.

Guitar Patents

Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind ) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century.

She made an extraordinarily popular concert tour of the United States.

This PDF collection is scans of the old original sheet music of Jenny Lind songs arranged for guitar in America during the 19th Century. The PDF is prepared for easy black and white printing on standard size paper.

The Swedish Nightingale

Transcriptions for Guitar
in both standard notation and tablature
These short transcriptions were created for the fun of it
and are of the basic themes for the shows.
We have included 4 MP3 samples.

Classic Cartoon
& TV Music

The Guitar Arrangements
of Stephen C. Foster

Stephen Foster has often been called "the father of American music" He was a great songwriter. He wrote more than 200 songs, including "Oh! Susanna", "Hard Times Come Again No More", "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home" ("Swanee River"), "My Old Kentucky Home", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (written for his wife Jane Denny McDowell), "Old Black Joe", and "Beautiful Dreamer", and many of his compositions remain popular today.

Foster published many of his songs with guitar accompaniment, arranged by himself, a supposedly very good guitar player. We have prepared a PDF file with scans of the original published sheet music, arranged by Foster.

Stephen Foster guitar arrangements page

The Guitar Music of
Charles De Janon (1834-1911)

Charles De Janon was born in Cartegena, Columbia and his family emigrated to New York when he was six years old.

He studied both the violin and piano, but at age nine took up the guitar. This was a good choice for him because he went on to become one of America's most important guitarists from the mid to late 19th century.

He was known by many to be a bit of a child prodigy when he began to compose and publish various works for guitar as a teenager.

Web page about the
music of Charles De Janon

The Music of American Guitarist Luis T. Romero

Romero was born in San Luis Obispo, California in 1854 and died in Boston, November 19, 1893.
His parents emigrated from Spain.
While quite young he had learned and played the guitar. He eventually he moved to Los Angeles and continued his studies with Miguel S. Arrevalo.
Later he moved to San Jose, California, performed and taught guitar and while living there began to publish numerous works.
He then moved to Boston and continued his teaching practice while establishing his performance career which led to publishing many of his original and arranged works for guitar.

Luis T. Romero web page

Guitar Duets



These collections contain scans of the original sheet music of various guitar duets, on trio, one duet for guitar and violin (or flute) and one duet for guitar and flute. The collections are prepared in PDF format for standard size paper in an easy to print black and white format.

The various pieces in the first collection range from rather easy to play to more complex. They also range from fun, such as Hayden's "Frolic at the Husking" and Weidt's "Barn Dance", to a bit more serious.
We have now added a second collection of duets by the renowned guitarist Justin Holland.

New... Collection 2 Guitar Duets by Justin Holland Prepared in an easy to print PDF format. Cown Diamonds Faust Fra Diavolo Der Freischutz La Fille Du Regiment Les Vespres Siciliennes Lucia Di Lammermoor Lucrezia Borgia Maritana Martha Masaniello Norma Oberon La Sonnambula Storm Bird Gallop La Traviata Il Trovatore You can download the Justin Holland Duets PDF for $5.00 Price - $5.00 After your secure payment is processed you will immediately be sent the download link to the email you give while purchasing the collection.

A collection of unusual PDF files created from scans of the orignal old public domain sheet music other publications related to the guitar, and prepared in an easy to print black and white format.

 

Guitar Fun Web Page

Fun & Interesting
Guitar Music

As well as serious classical styles, In 19th Century America, all kinds of unusual, sometimes simple, light and often happy guitar music was published and the following are examples of such humorous, interesting and unique music. Often, pieces that could be played on banjo and easily adapted for guitar were published and we have included a few such pieces.
The music is scans of the original sheet music, prepared as a PDF in an easy to print format.

Nine Famous Hornpipes
The Alamo Rag
Slightly on the Mash
Barnyard Mazurka
Dream Life Polka
Love is a Flower
Galopade #1
Galopade #2
Aurora Borealis Polka
Autumn Waltz
La Danze De La Arana
Racoon Patrol
Moonlight Waltz
Shells of Ocean Waltz
The Cachucha
'Dars A Wrinkle In De Banjo
Harmonic Polka
Jig, Banjo Style
Langtry Polka
Kershaw Waltz
Lonti Polka
Shenipsit Galop
Red Rose Rag
The Wandering Minstrel
Pansy & Violets
Barbiere's Quickstep
Rainbow Schottisch
Royal Flush - A Rag
Le Souviner
Stephanie Gavotte
That Tired Rag
All Night Reel
Stop Jig
Barbe Bleue Polka

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$4.00 - Paypal or Credit-Card

Instruction Books

For those who of you who would like to learn to read guitar music notation, or for any who might want to increase their skill, we offer the following 4 publications.

Companion For The Guitar - 1855
by Robert Kelley

From the Preface:
"The object of this work is to offer the principles of the art of playing the Guitar in the least possible space."
"Instead of dry exercises, which I think detrimental to the study of all beginners, I have, after the preliminary exercises, included pleasing Airs of every description of style, with the various characters of expression, glides, harmonics etc., as they occur in illustration. In this manner I have taught my own pupils, and by a gradual and almost imperceptible progression, from the beginning to the end, have generally, within a short time, found my efforts rewarded with complete success. My aim has been to make it instructive and companionable"
"Many have been deterred from learning this beautiful instrument, from the erroneous idea that it is difficult. This work is intended in undeceive those who may entertain such an opinion."

Guitar Without A Master - (26 page instruction book) - by "A German Student" - 1873
Method For Spanish Guitar (24 pages) - Francis Weiland - 1855(?)
The Guitar At Sight - Author unknown - 1883

Download the Instruction Books

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$4.50 - Paypal or Credit-Card

American Irish Songs

A collection of 15 songs for guitar and voice published in 19th Century America with Irish themes. Scans of the original sheet music prepared for easy printing, in a PDF file.

Come Back To Erin
Kate Conner
Erin Weeps Forsaken
Ever Be Happy!
Katy Darling's Farewell To Dermot
The Fairy Boy
Erin Is My Home
Souvenir D' Ireland (guitar solo march)
Katy Darling
The Kerry Dance
Killarney
Kity Neil
Patrick's Day Parade
Rose of Tralee
Woods of Green Erin


After your credit card or Paypal payment is processed, you will quickly be sent a download link.

Price - $6.00

Songs With Guitar
Songs arranged for guitar and voice by various
19th Century American guitarists

A PDF file with scans of the original sheet music prepared for
easy printing on standard size paper.

James Bland - Traveling Back To Alabama
E. Blessner - Annie Lawrie - A Scotch Ballad
Henry Chadwick - Tu Sandunga (What Enchantment)
H. Chadwick - Kitty Neil
H. Chadwick - The Old Pine Tree
W. L. Hayden - Come Back To Erin
Louis Trip - Beautiful Isle
W. M. Dressler - Forgive But Don't Forget
Steven Foster - My Old Kentucky Home - Good Night
G. J. Hubert Sanders - My Native Hills
Francis Weiland - Songs Of Love
Sep. Winner - Spring! Gentle Spring!
Max Zorer - The May Breezes

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Price - $3.50

8 pieces of music published in 19th Century America arranged for solo voice, chorus and solo guitar.

Interesting music arrangements for small choirs and small churches as well as larger organizations.
Scans of the original sheet music, prepared as a PDF file for easy printing on standard size paper.

Angels Wait Beside The Door
Come Holy Spirit
Cross & Crown
Father Pray With Me
God Bless Our Home
Little Church Around The Corner
Remember You In My Prayers
Talk About Your Moses

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Price - $3.00

Charles Converse

(October 7, 1832 – October 18, 1918) was an American attorney who also worked as a composer and arranger of various music, including many pieces and collections for guitar.

Golden Plume - Harmonic Polka - The Old Fifer - Songs Of The Pyrenees 1 - Songs Of The Pyrenees 2 - Four Seasons - Serenade Quickstep - Spanish Galopade - Arrangements from the music of Donizetti

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$3.00 - Paypal or Credit-Card

C. J. Dorn

Charles James Dorn, born in Boston, October 29, 1839, died there about 1910. He had traveled with his parents to their native land when he was fourteen years of age, and in Carlsbad he received lessons on the guitar from his uncle James, the court musician. So so proficient did he become on the guitar that in a short time he appeared in public as a soloist, and upon his return to America was regarded as one of the finest performers in the United States. He also became a respected composer, arranger and guitar teacher.

Moonlight Reverie - Moorish Dance - On The River - Norwegian Melody - Rustling Leaves


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Walter Jacobs
(All we know about Walter Jacobs is that he appears to have been a music publisher, guitarist and composer in Boston. Any further information would be greatly appreciated.)

Chansonette
In The Gloaming - Morning Song
La Paloma

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of Walter Jacobs

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$2.50 - Paypal or Credit-Card

Not sheet music but...
An interesting book for
amateur and professional luthiers...

Violins And Other Stringed
Instruments (including guitars)
And How to Make Them

A 1907 publication with instructions, numerous engravings and drawings, about how to make many stringed instruments, including guitars.Scan of the original book, prepared as a PDF file for easy printing on standard size paper.

From the table of contents:

Materials and Tools for Violin Making
Making Violin Moulds
Violin Making .
Varnishing and Finishing Violins
Double Bass Violin, and a. Violoncello
Japanese One-String Violins
Mandolin Making
Guitar Making
Banjo Making
Dulcimer Making

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Price - $3.50