It Started With a Bourrée: How “Classico” Took Over My Socials
- Nick Cutroneo
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
It started on March 21st, 2022
With this video:
📹 TikTok
The comment section exploded with Jack Black tags, lyric quotes, and shoutouts to Classico.
Later that same day, a friend of mine made a meme about it — and the rest was history...
Well, not quite.
It actually took over two months for me to build up the nerve.
But on June 1st, 2022, I posted this: TikTok – Day 1 of Classico
From Joke to Obsession
What started as a dare between friends turned into over 380 videos (and counting) of me playing Classico.
And somewhere along the way, it stopped being a bit — and became a serious project.
At first, I was just playing the opening of Bach’s Bourrée in E minor, but the comments kept coming. People were asking for more. So I started testing: how far could I actually take this? By Day 5, I was teasing parts of my own transcription.
By Day 14… I had the full thing.
If I was going to do this, I had one goal: Make it a true, fully fleshed-out solo arrangement — not just the guitar part.
The Source Material Was the Easy Part — Sort Of
Classico starts with the first four bars of the Bourrée from Bach’s Suite for Lute in E minor, BWV 996 — a piece I actually performed in full for my senior recital at The Hartt School in 2007. So yeah, that part was familiar.
Then came the tough stuff:
Measures 5–19 pull from Für Elise by Beethoven — a classic already arranged countless times for classical guitar. But Tenacious D’s version is in a different key and way faster. I wanted my arrangement to feel like a weird hybrid between Beethoven’s original and what we hear in Classico.
Measures 22–42 were the biggest challenge: it’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart — transposed from G to B major. To make it work on one guitar, I had to blend the original string ensemble lines, the vocal melody, and the D’s unique phrasing into something that felt natural and playable.
My solution came from studying the originals, listening to Tenacious D’s version on repeat, and thinking like both an arranger and a performer.
And Then I Had to Actually Play It
Look — I joke a lot.
But I’m serious when I say: this arrangement is a workout.
There’s tremolo in the middle.
There’s a bassline that mimics metal chugs.
And there are fast, nimble scalar passages that test your accuracy and tone under pressure.
If you want to see the full build, you can watch all 14 days below ⬇️
Three Versions, Choose Your Path
From the start, I knew I’d release this. And I wanted to make sure anyone interested could learn it in a way that suits how they play and study.
Here are the three official versions:
Notation Only
Great for sight readers. Includes full right- and left-hand fingerings.
Notation + Tablature (Recommended)
Includes all fingerings — best of both worlds.
Tablature Only:
If you just want to jump in and start shredding, this version gets you there.
Each one is $9.99, sold separately.
Want to see all three together? Browse All Classico Transcriptions
Why This Is a Paid, Published Work
This transcription has been one of the most requested things I’ve ever made. But I didn’t just throw this together. It’s a fully notated, professional-level solo arrangement of a copyrighted piece — and that matters.
Here’s the thing:
Jack Black and Kyle Gass (Tenacious D) didn’t just quote classical works. They restructured them, wrote original lyrics, and made Classico into a new, copyrighted composition. That means it’s not public domain — and it’s not just a medley.
Releasing this transcription the right way — officially published and paid — ensures that:
They get properly credited and compensated
The transcription exists with legal permission
Everyone’s work is respected — mine and theirs
As a professional musician, I believe that if I’m not valuing the art… who will?
So What's Next?
This is one part of the Classico Project we can mark “done.”
But where should I take it from here?
🎥 Tutorial video series?
🎵 Downloadable single or streaming release?
Let me know — hit reply or comment.
Your Turn: Learn It + Share It
Once you’ve learned the piece, I want to see your take.
Post a clip, tag me @nickcutroneo, and show me what you've got.
Can’t wait to hear your versions.
— Nick
@nickcutroneo everywhere
(except Twitch – twitch.tv/guitarshreda)
Practice Makes Progress
P.S. Not on the Classico Project email list yet?
More Classico content is in the pipeline — tutorials, behind-the-scenes, maybe even a digital single. 👉 Click here to stay in the loop.
Comentarios