09.06.05
Posted in Book Reviews at 11:00 pm by Administrator
Guitar for Dummies (For Dummies S.)
Author: Mark Phillips
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Excellent way to learn to playAt last a book that really helps. I bought this book wondering if it was as hyped as all the other “best way to learn to play guitar” type books. Instead I found a book that helps in every way possible to come to terms with learning to play. From what the parts are called to what to look for in buying your first guitar, as well as step by step simple instructuions in developing playing skills.
A very useful book as it gives you the chance to become interested in all areas, including reading music, but without having to if you don’t want to.
The writing style can sometimes be very “corny” with many somewhat child like asides, but it cannot detract from the real learning value this book provides
It is a book you can use as you wish during the learning process. Want to practice chords? go ahead, want to practice some TAB’s the choices are there, want to study some theory of playing or music structure? it’s available.
A complete reference for the beginner and a pleasure to own. A book you will return to time and time again as you start your guitar playing adventure.
A concise and fun way to learn all the guitar stuff you need
As with all the “Dummies” books, this one is simple and clear, giving detailed how-to information in plain-speak, with a large dash of humour. I hadn’t picked up a guitar in anger in over twenty years, and this book instantly enabled me to get to grips with the essentials quickly once again. The suggested songs for playing practice, whilst corny in the extreme at first (Kumbaya??) give technique skills valuable exercise, without being too complicated for the absolute beginner.
The added bonus of the audio CD was most welcome, all the songs in the book being played correctly is a major boost to the learning curve, and the tuning track is a welcome relief.
Overall, you want to learn guitar but can’t afford all those lessons? Buy this book.
Another “…For Dummies” Triumph!
If you know nothing about guitars other than that you want to play one then this is the book for you.
Sure, it covers the usual ground of learning to play guitar that every guitar book out there does, but it does so in style that’s so friendly it makes using other guitar books seem positively painful.
Plus, as well as those essentials it also tells you everything else you’ll need to know, such as how to choose and buy a guitar, how to restring it, how to keep it in tune - all the basic stuff and some great tips that other books should tell you but suspciously never do.
It’s designed so that you can easily “dip in” to sections, but because it’s written in that wonderfully entertaining and humorous (and corny) …For Dummies style you’ll probably want to read the whole book anyway. Seriously!
I can’t recommend it enough.
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Posted in Book Reviews at 11:00 pm by Administrator
Fretboard Roadmaps: The Essential Guitar Patterns That All the Pros Know and Use
Author: Fred Sokolow
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Vital reading. Surprisingly good…I was sceptical but this would be a great 2nd or 3rd book for a beginner (David Mead’s is another). This will stand you in good stead for the rest of your playing career. As an intermediate player I recognised the first pattern & recommend learning them — and I found plenty of useful new info. too. This really is guitar playing in a nutshell. It could have fancier graphics and layout, but it is resfeshingly clear and concise and inexpensive. Great value.
what a bargain
This book is cheaper than one issue of any popular guitar magazine and less than half the cost of a guitar lesson,
so you would have no right to expect the quality of guidance contained in its pages.
And yet this is the only book I have seen (yet) which gave me any practical hook into learning my way around the fretboard, rather than a cold slab of notation on a diagram (the typical presentation from what I have seen).
Guaranteed it won’t be the only book you’ll want or need, but to get you off the ground I couldn’t recommend this book highly enough for its practicality.
Review of Fretboard Roadmaps
I purchased this book mainly as the result of curiousity because it appeared to offer a new way of learning to play the guitar. Thirty years ago when I first learned to play the acoustic guitar the standard approach was to learn all the notes on the the fretboard and to mimic the chord shapes found in tutorial instruction guides until a sufficient repertoire had been built up to enable a variety of popular music to be played with reasonable proficiency. Part of the learning process included labelling the fretboard to make it easier for the notes to be found and remembered. This approach was a common practice three decades ago.
What was lacking at the time was a standard reference that explained the particular tuning of the guitar; why there are six strings and why the frets are placed in the particular locations along the neck. I felt that this knowledge would aid in the understanding of the instrument itself and make learning easier and quicker.
Earlier this year whilst browsing the Internet for information concerning electric guitars - I had just purchased an American Stratocaster - I discovered that several books had indeed been written in the late 90s that provided the information I was looking for. ‘Fretboard Roadmaps’ was one of these books, the other was ‘Fretboard Logic’. These books and their derivatives are supplemented by CDs, DVDs and VHS tape training material.
I purchased these books (and the DVD of Fretboard Roadmaps) because they were endorsed by some well known and highly respected musicians whose guitar skills far exceed my own. They commented that the information contained within these slim books can seriously shorten the time it takes to learn the guitar. The same principles equally apply to learning the bass.
These books contain relatively few pages but that is because they are jam-packed (no pun intended) with information that provides and alternative view to learning the guitar/bass. They key is in understanding the fretboard and how intonation works. There are many shortcuts to learning and these books list them in simple, easy-to-understand terms.
Thoroughly recommended.
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Posted in Book Reviews at 11:00 pm by Administrator
The “First Stage” Guitar Book - Learn How to Play Guitar Easily & Quickly!
Author: Chris Lopez
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A Great Book For BeginnersA great book for beginners though I found the combination of the book and lessons most helpful, I think the book is clear enough that you could use it to teach yourself guitar. The “First Stage” Guitar Chord Chart offers a nice addition.
This is a great book!
I have learned more from this book in a far shorter amount of time than I have learned from a guitar teacher I am taking lessons with. I tried other books and this one blows them away. There’s not alot of technical talk or theory in this book, just good solid hands on instruction. This book is very similar to the Author’s other titles: ” The Pre-Stage”… & “The First Stage”… I highly recommend any of Chris Lopezs’ books ! GET THIS BOOK !
Woo Hoo!
If you want clear, well thought out instruction thats also not going to break the bank, buy this book! Its that simple! This is by far and away the most effective guitar tuition book I’ve found. Both books are superb and the chord chart is really handy too! I will be buying more of Chris’s books as soon as he gets round to finishing them… hint hint…. 
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