IMSLP: The Best Online Source for Free Guitar Scores

If you’ve moved beyond tabs and are looking for a reliable source for classical guitar scores, I highly recommend IMSLP Petrucci Music Library.

IMSLP offers more than 5,000 scores for guitar, including the most well-known suites and compositions from famous composers.

However, their search feature and filtering method is kind of confusing. Navigating to the composer’s name, then having to filter only for arrangements featuring the guitar can also be time consuming.

Finally, I created links to the IMSLP pages of my favorite guitar composers with the music arrangements filtered for guitar!

Simply scroll down to see the list of composers, and learn how the completely free download process works.

artistic classical sheet music notation

You can link to the complete list of guitar scores category here.

Click on one of the composer’s names below to view their guitar arrangements on IMSLP:

How to Download a Score on IMSLP

You can download sheet music directly on the IMSLP website.

For some pieces, IMSLP may offer several versions of the score. Make sure to check the ratings and reviews for each, and most importantly- play through some of the piece to determine if you personally like the fingering and notation style!

Step 1: Click on the name of a piece

Once you click on the name of a piece, you will be taken to a page that has a breakdown of information about the piece that looks like this:

Example of a score webpage on IMSLP free sheet music website

Then, you click on the “Complete Score” link, you will be taken to an intermediary page with a prompt to donate to IMSLP.

Note: You may also need to click the “Arrangements and Transcriptions” tab to access the guitar score if it has been notated for various instruments.

Step 2: Wait for the timer to countdown

Next, you just have to wait approximately 15 seconds to continue to your download OR you can skip the wait time by offering a donation to IMSLP.

Sometimes the countdown timer can be blocked by pop-up ads, so make sure to look carefully.

Here is what the waiting screens looks like:

Download screen for the free music score website IMSLP
Wait for up to 15 seconds OR preferably donate to IMSLP
Continue to your download screen IMSLP website free guitar scores
The “Click here to continue your download” button link appears after the timer runs out

Step 3: View or Download the Score

After that, your browser should open the PDF directly in a browser tab. From there, you can view, download, or print the score.

And that’s all there is to it!

Keep in mind these scores are for your own use, and should comply with the IMSLP Creative Commons Attribution License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). If you would like to contribute to IMSLP, you can find out more information on their website.

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Published by Jonathan Richter

Classical guitarist, teacher and ethnomusicologist based in Atlanta, GA

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