Derek Hasted's News...

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...

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Revised Arrangement - Gymnopédies 1-3 (Erik Satie)

I've had Satie's famous Gymnopédie No 1 on sale for some time, with an arrangement that's a little more under the fingers than some of the rather literal transcriptions.

My publisher has brought in new minimum prices, and weirdly, solo guitar music is currently more expensive than ensemble music. I felt the least I could do was to mitigate the rise by adding Gymnopédies 2 and 3 to the download so that you get all 3 pieces for a very reasonable price.

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New Arrangement - Ebb Tide (Righteous Brothers and Naked Gun 2 1/2)

I've made 3 different arrangements of this moving piece, which also featured in a ludicrous Love Scene in Naked Gun 2 1/2

The version for two guitars is in the key of D, and both guitars are tuned to 6=D to give a rich sound. The roles of tuned and accompaniment change over as the piece progresses.

I've also arranged the piece for woodwind and guitar, and here the guitar has the accompaniment all the time. In order to make the very best sound with playability for both instrumentalists, each is in a different key, but the guitar simply fits a Capo on either fret 1 or fret 3.

• Read more about Ebb Tide for Flute & Guitar here...
• Read more about Ebb Tide for Bb Clarinet & Guitar here...

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New Arrangement - Blue Moon - Guitar Quartet

My arrangement of this "Standard" takes a romantic stance with some lush chords and countermelodies. Taking its inspiration from Laurindo Almeida's sughtly jazzy arrangement, I've expanded on the inner voices of his arrangement and added a deeper bass line. I've changed the key to make this accessible to a wide range of quartets and abilities.

Guitar 4 can be played on either a treble clef or bass clef (or both).

• Read more about Blue Moon for 4 guitars here...

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New Arrangement - Viva La Vida (6 guitars and optional bass)

My arrangement for Coldplay's Viva La Vida (4 guitars/large ensemble) has always been a best seller. By request I've now made a second arrangement. Exactly the same notes, but the lower parts have their workload spread amongst more players, so that it suits a mixed ability group from early intermediate up to almost advanced intermediate. Guitar 6 can be played on either a treble clef or bass clef (or both).

• Read more about Viva La Vida for 6 guitars and optional bass here...
• Read more about Viva La Vida for 4 guitars here...

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New Arrangement - Feliz Navidad ("Merry Christmas")

Following on from the massive interest in my Guitar Quartet version of Feliz Navidad, I've added a version for Flute & Guitar duet and a version for Bb Clarinet & Guitar which I know will be popular too.

• Read more about Feliz Navidad for Flute & Guitar here...
• Read more about Feliz Navidad for Bb Clarinet & Guitar here...

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New Arrangement - Feliz Navidad ("Merry Christmas")

Us teachers like to prepare for Christmas well in advance, and the majority of my music sales right now are, indeed, Christmas pieces.

And here's one more!

This is a modern day Christmas Classic - easy on the ear, uplifting, joyful and fun to play. What's not to like?

• Read more about Feliz Navidad for 4 guitars/large ensemble here...

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New Arrangement - Succession (TV theme)

There's something about this piece that makes it a real ear worm - perfect for the final item before the concert interval!

This arrangement is intermediate, though reaching the speed of the original needs good technique. But played slightly slower, the lush sound of two guitars still makes this a compelling piece!

• Read more about Succession here...
• I've also made a (slightly easier) arrangement of Succession for four guitars here...

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New Arrangement - Let It Be

My arrangement suits an intermediate quartet or a larger ensemble. Guitar 4 is in two formats - treble clef (6=D) and also in bass clef (normal tuning) - either or both can be used in a large ensemble.

• Read more about Let It Be here...

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New Arrangement - Perfect Day

My arrangement suits an intermediate quartet or a larger ensemble. Guitar 4 is in two formats - treble clef (6=D) and also in bass clef (normal tuning) - either or both can be used in a large ensemble.

• Read more about Perfect Day here...

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New Arrangement - The Fool On The Hill

I wanted to make this arrangement accessible to the largest number of guitar groups that I could - it's a really straightforward but pleasing arrangement for 4 guitars (or a larger ensemble), and guitar 4 is presented in both treble and bass clefs.

• Read more about The Fool On The Hill here

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New Arrangements - The Lonely Shepherd from "Kill Bill"

If there's one interesting fact about Quentin Tarantino, it's that he chooses excellent music for his film soundtracks.

The Lonely Shepherd (composed by James Last) is a charming and haunting melody set above a bubbling accompaniment.

I've arranged this as a guitar quartet (two parts are intermediate and two are easier - the bass line is supplied in both treble and bass clefs), and also as a trio for 3 intermediate players)

• Read about The Lonely Shepherd quartet arrangement here
• Read about The Lonely Shepherd trio arrangement here

Both arrangements also work well with a large ensemble!

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New Arrangement - Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire - 4+ guitars

Set for 4 guitars, this will also work well in a larger ensemble.

You might not know this piece of music, but it's a gorgeous little melody from a film that defied the critics and was a box-office success.

Weirdly, the little tiny road half way down the cul-de-sac where I live is also St. Elmo's ...

Read more about the Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire here ...

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New Arrangement - Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) - 3+ guitars

Set for 3 guitars, this will also work well in a larger ensemble, making the dynamic changes all the more impressive.

This is the full 6-minute piece, in the same key as the original. Guitars 1 & 3 are intermediate. Guitar 2 (the electric guitar in the original) is a little bit harder and has page turns (each page turn is preceded by a bar of open strings and a bar of rests, so they're not stressy to do!)

Read more about Nothing Else Matters here ...

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New Arrangement - Barnacle Bill (the Blue Peter TV Theme) - 4+ guitars

Virtually everyone in the UK will know this piece, so it's a perfect concert piece!

It's fast, but the smooth sound of guitars means that it actually works better if you don't rush it.

Perfect for an intermediate ensemble, though Guitar 1 will require a more proficient player if you want to really crank the speed up!

Read more about Barnacle Bill here...

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New Arrangement - Love Story by Taylor Swift - 4+ guitars

When I looked at the date this track was released, I realised it was further back in time than I thought possible - 2008!
My arrangement for 4 guitars is in the same keys are the original and runs for over 4 minutes. A larger ensemble would make the crescendi even more dramatic.

Perfect for a mixed ability group with lines varying between intermediate and a little bit easier.

Read more about Love Story here...

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New Arrangement - God Only Knows by The Beach Boys

I was asked to arrange this piece and I have to say that exploring it was quite an education - all sorts of semi-sophisticated chords in a piece that most people think is a four-chord wonder.... Oh and some lovely interplay at the end too, just like the original.

Read more about God Only Knows here...

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New Arrangement - Africa by Toto

I've wanted to arrange this piece for some time, and I particularly wanted to create an arrangement that made the piece accessible to the largenest number of guitar ensembles I could... So with a tiny key change, here's an arrangement to suit ensembles of intermediate standard...

Read more about Africa here...

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New Arrangement - The Taskmaster Theme

This is what happens when you go to see Alex Horne and The Horne Section at the start of their latest UK tour - you end up arranging perhaps their most famous (and also perhaps their shortest) piece of music - the theme to the award-winning UK TV series "Taskmaster"

Read more about The Taskmaster Theme here...

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New Arrangements - Fantasia Upon A Cabbage

I think this needs more than a bit of explanation, so please click the "read more" to find out what on earth is going on here!

Read more about Fantasia Upon A Cabbage here...

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New Arrangement - Foot Tapper (The Shadows)

The title is absolutely spot on - it's a foot tapper for any audience, and it was The Shadows' last number one hit, way, way back!

My arrangement will suit an early intermediate trio or a large ensemble, and guitar 3 is suitable for treble or bass clef instruments.

If you listen to Radio 2 in the UK, you may know this piece - it was the opening and closing music to Brian Matthew's "Sounds of the 60s" for over 30 years!

Read more about Foot Tapper here...

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New Arrangement - The Glory Of Love (Peter Cetera)

Just a little harder than many of my arrangements, this is still accessible to quartets and large ensembles and the strong intermediate level.

This is a long piece with an absolutely massive sound - the full range of the guitars, with double stopping and chords to lift the volume still higher.

Famous as the theme music to Karate Kid II (if you are keep on Karate films), and famous as a crowd-pleasing chart song (if you're not).

Read more about The Glory Of Love here...

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New Arrangement - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (Chicago)

This power ballad fits guitar like a glove and it's such fun to play!

My arrangement (read more here) will suit a mixed ability ensemble at an intermediate standard. The bass part is supplied in both treble and bass clefs, and in a large ensemble, either or both can be played.

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New Arrangement - Follow You, Follow Me (Genesis)

This has become an absolute classic.

My arrangement (read more here) has been conceived to work with a variety of different guitar groups.

This will suit a mixed ability ensemble from early intermediate to intermediate, with an optional arpeggio part to suit an advanced intermediate player.

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New Arrangement - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

I'd always regarded anything by The Smiths as guaranteed to lower my spirits instead of raising them. But just under 2 weeks ago, BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing featured a slightly abbreviated arrangement of this piece as an upbeat Viennese Waltz, danced by Annabelle Croft and Johannes Radebe. My goodness, what a change to the piece - simple yet delightful, cheery and elegant.

So this is my arrangement, styled on the BBC version, in the same key. Guitar 2 is tuned to 6=D which means that a large number of full barré chords melt away into half barrés. As well as a concert item, this would make a lovely student/teacher duet.

• I have also arranged this piece for flute and guitar duo...

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New Arrangement - In My Life (The Beatles)

My very accessible guitar quartet arrangement of this lesser-known Beatles song fits classical guitar perfectly. A rippling accompaniment supports a beautiful melody, and underneath, a rich bass line (supplied in both treble and bass clefs) provides a solid foundation under a charming piece that would grace any concert.

I have also arranged this piece for woodwind and guitar duos...

• Read more about all my arrangements of In My Life here...

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New Arrangement - Ghostbusters

Who ya gonna call?

This is a fun and quirky piece that goes really nicely on 4 guitars (or a large ensemble). The top line is advanced intermediate when taken at tempo, but the piece sounds really good played just a little slower.

It comes complete with some eerie effects too....

• Read more about my quartet arrangement of One Last Wish here...

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New Arrangements - True Colors

This is a lovely melody and every audience will know this piece. It makes for a charming and accessible concert item!

• Read more about my guitar quartet arrangement of True Colors here...
• I've also arranged this piece for guitar and woodwind

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New Arrangements - One Last Wish from Casper

This is a charming melody interspersed with lush chromatic harmonies, making a delightful concert piece, whether one has seen the film or not.

I have a number of arrangements - the most straightforward is for 3 guitars, giving a big sound for not too much effort.

• Read more about my trio arrangement of One Last Wish here...
• I've also arranged this piece for 2 guitars (a little tougher) and
• for flute & guitar

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New Arrangement - John Dunbar's Theme from Dances With Wolves

Before I started this arrangement, I was unsure whether guitars could ever create the same feeling as the long, sustained notes of the strings in the original film soundtrack.
Have a listen to the 30-second soundclip and I hope you like what you hear...

• Read more about my arrangement of John Dunbar's Theme here...

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New Arrangement - Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer

Here's an easy and fun piece. What happens when not everyone wants to play this piece?

• Read more about my arrangement of Rudolph here...

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New Arrangement - Variations on "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

Lasting almost 4 minutes, this piece presents four variations on the famous Christmas Carol, in four different styles (including Tango), with a nod to some famous music on the way too.

• Read more about my arrangement of God Rest Ye here...

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New Arrangement - White Christmas

This evocative classic (first made famous by Bing Crosby, and followed by dozens more versions) makes its appearance here as a very playable arrangement for 4 early intermediate guitars, with guitar 4 in treble and bass clef. It works well as a large ensemble too.

Unlike many arrangements, the less-well-known introduction is also included, though this can be omitted if desired.

• Read more about my arrangement of White Christmas here...

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New Arrangements - Two Little Fugues

Many guitarists ar familiar with Domenico Zipoli's "Little Fugue" which is deceptively awkward if it's to sound relaxed. As a duet it's much more fun, and my edition also includes Zipoli's Fughetta.

Both pieces are re-working into a shared key - one in A Major and one in A minor, so that they can be played in sequence in either order.

• Read more about my arrangement of Two Little Fugues here...

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New Arrangement - Love Of My Life

This absolute classic by Freddie Mercury and Queen makes a wonderful, intimate and charming piece of music for guitar.

My arrangement is based on Queen's official video, and keeps the same key and all of the verses.

It's of intermediate standard. There are two versions - one which is tune and accompaniment (ideal for a duo of mixed abilities) and one where each player takes the tune and accompaniment in turn - equal challenges and a wonderful crowd-pleaser as a result.

• Read more about my arrangement of Love Of My Life here...

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New Arrangement - Saman

Maybe this amazingly gentle, haunting piece has passed you by - well, click on the link and have a listen to the 30-second soundclip ... although there are arrangements of this piece (originally for piano) for solo guitar they are hard to make sound relaxed. But it works wonderfully as a duet, and with a key-change to bring it into the sweet spot of the guitar's range.

• Read more about my arrangement of Saman here...

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New Arrangement - Jamaica Farewell

One of the cornerstones of my arranging work is to write music that's not too demanding, simply because most amateur ensembles have limited time to meet together.

Here's an accessible arrangement of the well-known "Jamaica Farewell", made famous by Harry Belafonte - some are surprised that this isn't a public-domain folk song, but actually it's quite a recent work by Irving Burgie, and still in copyright. My arrangement has copyright clearance and royalties are paid to the copyright owner, so download and you're good to go.

• Read more about my arrangement of Jamaica Farewell here...

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New Arrangement - Lay All Your Love On Me (Abba)

Following on from the success of my arrangements of Mamma Mia and The Winner Takes It All, I'm delighted to tell you that I've arranged another crowd pleaser - a full-length version of the Abba song "Lay All Your Love On Me"
It's perfect for intermediate players, and there's plenty of interest for everyone, with a very up-beat disco/funk feel.

• Read more about my arrangement of Lay All Your Love On Me here...

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New arrangements - Feed The Birds (from Mary Poppins)

This charmingly simple but haunting melody is one that concert audiences will be humming all the way home!

I've arranged this music for guitars and for guitar + flute or Bb clarinet - all the verses are present, plus the instrumental break that's in the original film score too.

These arrangements are at intermediate standard.

• Read more about my arrangements of Feed The Birds here...

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New Arrangement - The Winner Takes It All

Following on from the success of my arrangement of Mamma Mia, I'm delighted to tell you that I've arranged another crowd pleaser - a full-length version of the Abba classic "The Winner Takes It All"
It's perfect for intermediate players, and there's plenty of interest for everyone!

• Read more about my arrangement of The Winner Takes It All here...

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New arrangement - The Sussex Carol

No, this isn't a commission from Harrry and Meghan, it''s my take on the traditional English Carol collected by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Suitable for early intermediate players, there's plenty of interest for everyone!

• Read more about my arrangement of The Sussex Carol here...

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New arrangement - Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Inspired by a simple arrangement I made, this one is for players with a little more experience, and has three verses each with a different orchestration.

• Read more about my arrangement of Bring a Torch here...

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New arrangement - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon and McCartney)

Here's a very straight-forward crowd-pleaser that will get toes tapping in all age groups! Ideal for School concerts or for a fun item in an Adult concert.

• Read more about my arrangement of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da here...

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New arrangements - Mark Knopfler's "Wild Theme"

Sometimes rightly described as the most beautiful melody, this is an astonishingly lovely and substantial Concert item that players and audience will enjoy in equal measure - confortable under the fingers and with a wonderful sound that really suits classical guitar well.

I've arranged this music for guitars and for guitar + a variety of other melody instruments.

These arrangements are at either intermediate standard or advanced intermediate - something for everyone who wants to play this spectacular piece of music.

• Read more about my arrangements of Local Hero - Wild Theme here...

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