Week 4

Attention all tonebuddies! Are you ready to embark on a journey of musical creativity and exploration? Join our Arrangement & Transcription Challenge and discover the joy of reimagining music for the classical guitar!

Over the next four weeks, we’ll celebrate the art of transforming works from other instruments, ensembles, or even genres into stunning guitar performances. From Albéniz and Granados to Piazzolla, Bach, Scarlatti, or even your own favorite songs — everything goes!

🎯 Whether you choose to:

  • Work on a well-known transcription (Albéniz’s Asturias, Granados’s Danza Española, Piazzolla’s Libertango)

  • Create your own arrangement from scratch

  • Compare different versions and share your insights

…this is your chance to dive deep into the creative process and share your journey with the tonebase community.

This challenge is open to all levels — from curious beginners discovering their first transcription to experienced players refining their own arrangements. Let’s celebrate the versatility and expressive power of the guitar together!


📅 Challenge Dates

Start: November 11
End: December 11
👉 Join anytime by introducing your project in the comments below!


💡 How to Participate

  1. Pick your piece – Choose an arrangement or transcription that excites you.

  2. Share your goal – Are you learning, arranging, or refining?

  3. Post your progress – Upload short clips, notes, or reflections as you go.

  4. Engage – Encourage others, ask questions, and exchange arranging tips!


🎥 Watch Party Reminder

The Watch Party on December 11 will feature recorded submissions from this challenge!
So make sure to submit your final performance videos and showcase your creative work!

107 replies

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    • Derek
    • Yesterday
    • Reported - view

    I was hoping (as usual) to record a video but life seems too hectic to get anything complete these days so instead of trying to record something and trying to get the 'perfect take' I've attached a video of a live performance that I did at our local guitar club last week.

     

    The piece is a traditional Scottish tune 'The Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond' arranged by David Russell. There are a couple of hesitations and mistakes but never mind

     

    For some reason Youtube uploaded it as a 'short;

      • Barney
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Very nice Derek!  It's wonderful experience and fun to perform (under some pressure) for each other at the Club.

      David Russell obviously enjoys these tunes and making the arrangements.

      Thanks for sharing this !!

      • Derek
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Thanks Barney

    • Reinhard
    • 16 hrs ago
    • Reported - view

    just in time before the challenge ends, here's my final submission of Rachmaninov's Prelude. I am still not happy with the result but I did learn a lot in the last 3 weeks. I really enjoyed arranging/transcribing because it gave me a lot of freedom.

    I play the agitato section too slow in comparison to the many version out there but too fast regarding my technique. In the last section I demand a lot from my guitar but it refuses to become a bösendorfer :-)

    Disclaimer: the final audio has 6 cuts, it was put together from 3 different takes.

      • Barney
      • 5 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       This is your best version, Reinhard.  Sounds great!  You are starting to change my mind about playing Rachmaninov on the guitar.  Thanks for submitting it before the challenge ends.

      • Steve_Price
      • 3 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       This is very cool, Reinhard. I repeat my sentiment that this really could be worked into a showpiece. If I could give one recommendation purely as a listener, it would be to lower the overall range of dynamics. I think you already hinted at it, but I'm not sure how well fortissimo sounds on the guitar, unless it's in the context of rasqueado or the occasional Bartok pizzicato. Just a thought. Again, excellent work on this and congratulations. 

      • Barney
      • 1 hr ago
      • Reported - view

        Have you seen the Stanley Yates version?  I believe he transposed it to D minor.  Wondering if that arrangement is any good...  Thanks!

Content aside

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