Derek Hasted's News...
June 2025
Looking for inspiration?
I've added a new page of videos to my shop.
If you're looking for an idea for a new piece of music to try, have a listen to these 3-minute videos (each has samples from about 10 arrangements).
Every piece is labelled and has a sample of full score (to help you assess the complexity). But you won't know what's in each video till you click and watch it - you can enjoy the same sense of surprise as an audience at a concert.
If something leaps out as a must-have, you can easily find it in my shop where you can buy and download your chosen music in just a few seconds.
At the time of writing this news item, there are 7 videos totalling over 20 minutes of music to inspire. More coming soon!
Visit the page here
New duet showreel
It's hard to get seen in the world of music, and it's hard to know whether to make a new arrangement or to advertise some existing ones...
I decided it was time to make another showreel, this time of some guitar duets I arranged not so long ago.
More showreels to come soon!
May 2025
New Arrangement - Angels (Robbie Williams)
Whether it's for a concert or a wedding, this makes a great duet. With two versions for guitar duet in the same edition, one player can take then tune and the other the accompaniment; alternatively both players share the tune, making it full of interest for the duo and their audiences alike. The rhythm is tricky. but it's also amenable to rubato so a secure performance is easy to achieve.
- Read more about Angels here...
- I've also arranged a version for Flute & Guitar
- And a version for Oboe & Guitar with a gloriously haunting sound
Angels
Robbie Williams
Angels
Robbie Williams
$4.99 Intermediate level
See also other versions
New Arrangement - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
With its distinctive chords and free-flowing melody, this makes a great duet. Both players share the tune, making it full of interest for the duo and their audiences alike. The rhythm is tricky. but it's also amenable to rubato so a secure performance is easy to achieve.
- Read more about Against All Odds here...
- I've also arranged a version for Flute & Guitar
Against All Odds
Phil Collins
Against All Odds
(Take A Look At Me Now)
$4.99 Intermediate level
See also version for Flute & Guitar
New Arrangements - From A Distance (Bette Midler)
This gloriously uplifting melody is just right for a concert item, and I'm pretty sure the audience will be humming it all the way home!
Set for 4 guitars (or a larger ensemble) this piece is at the intermediate level with plenty of fun sections in all the parts.
- Read more about From A Distance here...
- I've also arranged this piece for String Quartet here...
From A Distance
Bette Middler
From A Distance
Inspiring & uplifting melody!
$4.99 Intermediate level
See also version for String Quartet
April 2025
New Arrangement - Dangerfield TV Theme (Nigel Hess)
Most people are unfamiliar with this superb piece of music. Click the blue "See / hear / buy" button to listen to 30 seconds of this charming TV theme!
- Read more about Dangerfield here...
Dangerfield
TV Theme
Dangerfield TV Theme
Nigel Hess
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buy
Search my music
I've added a new index to my shop.
You've always been able to list my arrangements by "number of instruments" and by title, but now you can also list them by the Composer or Artist, so you can see at a glance how many Abba arrangements are here, for example.
New Arrangement - Golden Slumbers (The Beatles)
Like all good music, there are some great covers of this piece that stand shoulder to shoulder with the Lennon & McCartney original. My arrangement mixes some of the original with the sublime version by Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warne, to create the perfect, gentle, concert encore.
- Read more about Golden Slumbers here...
Golden Slumbers
Lennon & McCartney
Golden Slumbers
The Beatles
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buyMarch 2025
2 New Arrangements - Vivaldi Concerto for 2 Mandolins
I've arranged the whole of Vivaldi's Concerto (RV532) for 4 guitars, and given the two accompanying guitars the same stereo effect that the two soloists enjoy. It makes for a great piece for audiences and players alike. It requires a skilled ensemble to bring the speed up in the first and third movements.
- Read more about Vivaldi's Concerto here...
- I've also arranged the easy Slow Movement for Guitar Trio
Concerto for 2 Mandolins
Vivaldi RV532
Concerto for 2 Mandolins
Vivaldi
$9.99 Advanced Intermediate level
Buy just the easy slow movement here
New Arrangement - John Adson's Royal Wind Music
This majestic piece is straighforward to play and has a real "period feel" in its chords and textures.
- Read more about Royal s Music here...
Royal Wind Music
John Adson 17th Century
Royal Wind Music
Majestic and fun!
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buyWebsite crash
Apologies that my website has been marked as "Domain name not available" - there have been repeated issues since my websites were moved to a new provider and sundry wheels have fallen off. I believe it's finally all sorted now....
New Arrangement - Try A Little Tenderness
The Hampshire Guitar Orchestra used to play this charming piece and I've recently re-worked it to suit 4 guitars (or a larger ensemble). Plenty of interest for all the sections, and it's not hard either!
- Read more about Try A Little Tenderness here...
Try A Little Tenderness
Campbell & Connolly
Try A Little Tenderness
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buyNews about Mr Blue Sky
Mr Blue Sky has become one of my best-selling arrangements.
In response to an enquiry, I've now added a second Guitar 4 part, which is identical except that it's set in bass clef.
Either Guitar 4 part can be played in a quartet, and in a larger ensemble, you can have any mix of the Guitar 4 parts.
If you've already purchased this arrangement from Sheet Music Plus, you should be able to go to your library and download the new version free of charge!
February 2025
New Arrangement - Up Where We Belong
An accessible arrangement of this fantastic power ballad.
Set in the original keys, with a haunting key-change before the final choruses, this will suit a quartet (but a larger ensemble will be able to make the piece build even more!)
- Read more about Up Where We Belong here...
Up Where We Belong
Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
Up Where We Belong
From "An Officer And A Gentleman"
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buyNew Arrangement - Time To Say Goodbye
An accessible arrangement of this fantastic piece!
Perfect for the final item in a concert, and the powerful melody will leave the audience humming it all the way home.
- Read more about Time To Say Goodbye here...
Time To Say Goodbye
Bocelli & Brightman
Time To Say Goodbye
Perfect Concert Encore!
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buyNew Arrangement - Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)
I've used a little bit of cunning in my arrangement to make a big wall of sound that's easy to play. The complexity is somewhere between easy intermediate and intermediate - not hard, but it needs a little bit of neck knowledge.
- Read more about Chasing Cars for 4 guitars here...
Chasing Cars
Snow Patrol
Chasing Cars
Snow Patrol
$4.99 Easy Intermediate level
Optional Bass Guitar part included
January 2025
New Arrangement - Perhaps Love (John Denver)
I've used a little bit of cunning in my arrangement to make a big wall of sound that's easy to play. My arrangement is styled on the John Denver/Placido Domingo duet, with the two singers's parts shared between Guitar 1 and Guitar 2 to make a piece that's rewarding to play and enjoyable for the audience too...
- Read more about Perhaps Love for 4 guitars here...
Perhaps Love
John Denver
Perhaps Love
John Denver/Placido Domingo
$4.99 Intermediate level
Guitars 1 and 2 use Capos
Happy New Year!
A belated Happy New Year to you. May 2025 be all that you hope it will be.
Apologies for the late arrival of my message - I have been in the throes of moving my websites to a new Hosting provider.
Apart from a small window (about an hour) when my email system was off-line, everything else has (fingers crossed) gone seamlessly and without a break.
December 2024
Christmas Wishes
Thank you to all the many people who've bought one of my guitar ensemble or guitar+woodwind arrangements in 2024 - it's certainly been my busiest year - sales are up over 30% on last year.
Compliments of the Season to all my visitors from across the globe. May you have a peaceful time ahead and may 2025 bring you everything you wish for!
Photo : The RHS Bridgewater Glow - 14th December 2024
New Arrangement - Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles)
This joyful piece will suit an intermediate quartet (or a larger ensemble) and has instant appeal for audiences of all ages.
And just to top it off, I arranged this piece on the Winter Solstice, when a sunny Summer starts to get closer day by day.
- Read more about Here Comes The Sun for 4 guitars here...
Here Comes The Sun
George Harrison
Here Comes The Sun
The Beatles
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buyHaving posted the sentence below, just yesterday, I discovered this video today!
Sales of my Christmas Guitar Ensembles this year are the highest they've ever been - let's hope we can see some performances on YouTube soon!
November 2024
New Arrangement - Chiquitita (Abba)
Running for almost 5 minutes, this is a perfect concert item for 4 guitars (or a larger ensemble).
Set for an intermediate ensemble, my arrangement uses the full range of the guitar neck for a big, big, sound, and is a real foot-tapper for players and audience alike.
- Read more about Chiquitita for 4 guitars here...
Chiquitita
Abba
Chiquitita
Abba
$4.99 Intermediate level
See / hear / buy