This edition includes sixty representative studies of the leading guitarists of the 19th century: the Spaniards Fernando Sor and Dionisio Aguado, the Frenchman Napoléon Coste, and the Italians Mauro Giuliani and Ferdinando Carulli.

Of course, when I made this selection from the plethora of studies that the above composers have written for guitar, I considered it appropriate to distinguish those that were melodic and pleasant but at the same time suitable for exercising the student's fingers and improving their technique.

Thus, by placing special care on the fingers of the left and right hands and suggesting the appropriate rhythmic guidance of the metronome, I provided - as far as possible - a progressive series to the studies, hoping that the student will gradually solve many of the technical, rhythmic, and musical problems that often arise.

I hope this book will be a positive contribution to the progress of the guitar student and a real aid in their development. Summer of 1993 Evangelos Assimakopoulos