Sor is remembered as a performer and composer of guitar music, and his work forms a large part of the classical guitar repertory. He was also an influential teacher, and composed a number of pedagogical works for his students. Among these works are the Twelve Etudes for Guitar, Op. 6, composed between 1815 - 1817 and dedicated to Sor's pupils. These studies first appeared in print with neither prefatory comments from the composer nor fingerings included in the score. As with any studies, they address a wide variety of techniques—including slurs, arpeggios, and octaves—in a number of different keys and tempos. They are melodic, short, not terribly difficult, and somewhat repetitive. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this collection is that one of the studies contains a chromatic setting of "God Save the King," a miniature tribute to England, where Sor was living when he composed the Etudes.

Op. 6 is one of two sets of 12 studies composed by Sor; the other is Op. 29. The two sets were intended as a group, as the numbering of Op. 29 confirms: it begins with "No. 13," and is obviously meant to follow the last piece in the Op. 6 collection. Sor later followed these Etudes with more pedagogical pieces: three sets of "lessons" and a collection called Introduction to the Study of the Guitar.

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