Complete Classical Guitar Notation Guide

Master classical guitar notation — string and finger indications (p,i,m,a), position markings (Roman numerals), barre notation, harmonics, and rasgueado.

Classical Guitar Notation Is Different

Classical guitar music uses standard treble-clef notation (guitar sounds an octave lower than written), plus a rich system of technical markings that tell the player which string, which left-hand finger, and which right-hand finger to use. Understanding these markings unlocks the entire classical repertoire.

Right-Hand Fingers: p-i-m-a

Classical guitar uses Spanish abbreviations for right-hand fingers: p (pulgar = thumb), i (indice = index), m (medio = middle), a (anular = ring). These letters appear above or below the staff, indicating which finger plucks each note. The thumb (p) typically plays the bass strings (E, A, D); i, m, and a play the treble strings (G, B, E).

Left-Hand Finger Numbers and String Indications

Left-hand fingers: 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky (same as other instruments). String indications: a circled number (1-6) tells you which string to play the note on. ① = high E string, ⑥ = low E string. String indications are essential for classical guitar because the same note exists on multiple strings — the circled number removes ambiguity.

Barre Notation

A barre (or bar) means pressing a finger flat across multiple strings simultaneously. Notated with 'C' (cejilla = barre) followed by a Roman numeral indicating the fret. 'CIII' = barre at fret 3. A partial barre is marked '1/2C' or with a dashed line.

Special Techniques

Harmonics: diamond-shaped note heads at the pitch where the harmonic sounds. Rasgueado: a strumming technique notated with arrows (↑↓) showing direction. Pizzicato: mute the strings with the right hand near the bridge for a staccato effect.

Frequently Asked Questions