Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method: Grade 1 (Grade 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a professional guitar teacher for over 10 years.In that time, I have had more than 100 guitar students, many of whom came to me with no former playing experience.At the onset of my own career as a guitar student, I never had a single method book that I studied from, but instead learned from various instructors who gave me exercises they created.As a result, when I started teaching, I had no idea which method book to use.In the course of ten years, I have seen and tried many method books, and none has ever been more useful than MelBay's Gutiar Method Books.
These books are laid out exactly the way I think the guitar should be taught.Too often, method books want to introduce the student to a couple of notes on the first two or three strings, and then delve right into chords, by-passing much of the needed understanding of where notes are located on the neck.
However, MelBay's books do the opposite.They begin by teaching meter and note identification, providing the student with a comprehensive overview of all notes on all 6 strings in 1st position.By the time the student is introduced to even a single chord, he/she should have a strong understanding of how to count and read music on the treble clef, as well as a better than average vocabulary of many guitar and music terms.
The book teaches the strings one at a time, and as each string is introduced, exercises are given that focus on the new string as well as those already learned.Familiar songs, such as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," "Michael Row the Boat Ashore","When the Saints Go Marching In", "Aura Lee" (Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley) and many others give the student a means of measuring their individual success by giving them amterial that is recognizable, even to the casual listener.
As the student masters each string, chords are introduced, and, like the development of exercises for each string, one building on the next, chords are taught the same way, focusing on playing rhythem guitar and lead guitar at the same time.Many songs are written in a "classical" style, and require the student to play melody and chords at the same time, integrating the two parts of the book together, and allowing the student to have a decent knowledge of how to use the chords when playing any song.
As this is the first book in a series, the student, upon completion, will still have a great deal to learn-but-by the time he/she finishes, they will have the ability to play with a level of competence far greater than peers who have finished the first level of a method book in any other series.They will graduate with a strong knowledge of notes-both counting and reading, the ability to play a variety of chords: C, G7, G, A, D, Emin, B7, Dmin, Amin, F, E7, and will be able to play rythem and some basic lead guitar.
With instruction, the book should take 6 months to a year to complete, and somewhat longer if the student wishes to go about it without the aid of an instructor.The book is designed to be self-teaching-that is, anybody wanting to learn can teach themselves with the aid of this book.
I recommend it highly for anyone aspiring to begin playing.I have seen many method books over the years, and I keep coming back to this one for its concise approach to playing the guitar.
NOTE: This book does not teach TAB.For students looking to learn tablature style playing, this book is not for you.However, for anyone who is serious about playing, learning to read music will serve you in far better stead than relying solely on tab.
Scott Kolecki

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Product Description:
The world's premier method for learning modern plectrum style guitar, time-tested and proven successful in building the theoretic and technical foundation needed to play in any style. All seven grades of this method are written in standard notation only to encourage better sight reading. In Grade 1, the student guitarist will learn to play solos, duets, scales, and chords in the keys of C, A minor, G and E minor. Even in Grade 1, the student is already exposed to the chord/melody concept of guitar performance. A supplementary study book entitled Grade 1 Studies, two different play-along CD recordings (pop and traditional), and a VHS or DVD video are available. The companion recordings feature Tommy Flint and William Bay playing in split-track format, with the solo parts performed on the right channel, and the accompaniment or second duet parts played on the left. The student can play along with the full recording, or tune out either channel and play the missing part.

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