Although Spanish guitar is not as popular as other variants of the instrument, it is still responsible for some amazing tracks that have been played live and released by some of the world’s best loved artists.

We’ve looked at some of the best Spanish guitar songs there are; once you’ve read our list be sure to head across to iTunes or YouTube to check them out!

Cancion del Mariachi

This is widely considered to be one of the best guitar songs there has ever been, written by Los Lobos and performed by the band alongside Antonio Banderas. From the movie Desperado, it has become a global classic since release in 1995 and is a challenging track for advanced Spanish guitar players to try and play, particularly as there are so many guitars and different instruments in the song.

Great to relax when listening to, and to have fun with when playing yourself.

Malaguena Salarosa

Malaguena Salarosa – often simply called Malaguena – is a famous Spanish guitar song that has been heard on numerous movie soundtracks down the years, including Kill Bill Vol. 1 in the not too distant past.

Definitely not a track anyone can pick up a Spanish guitar and play, there is something incredible about the song that means you never tire of hearing it, while it also fits a variety of situations brilliantly, hence its popularity among filmmakers.

This song is often not included in Spanish guitar countdowns as it is actually a Cuban piece of music.

It isn’t just songs that “sound” Spanish or Latin that sound great either; many famous and popular mainstream tracks have Spanish guitar versions that sound equally as good.

Sultans of Swing

One of Dire Straits’ signature tracks, Mark Knopfler often plays a Spanish guitar version of the track while touring solo, and there’s also a recording of the whole group playing it, led by the instrument, back in the 1980s.

American Pie

The song made famous by Don McLean and later re-recorded by Madonna – that talks about the death of Buddy Holly in 1959 – is known for being one of the saddest and most emotional songs of all time. Hearing the Spanish guitar version increases these feelings greatly, while for Spanish guitar beginners it’s quite an easy song to pick up and start learning.

Whether it’s a traditional Spanish guitar track or a reworking of a mainstream classic, many songs use the instrument and stand out as unique as a result.

Image Author: Fujur