New Acoustic Guitar: Book/6-CD Pack (Homespun Tapes) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is cool for a couple reasons. The book has musical notation, capo position info and chord indicator for capoed position and without. The CD is narrated by Tony Rice and at times he is a hoot. He does the songs at a slower pace that we mere mortals can appreciate and then at his blinding speed as well. He even includes the rhythm parts to practice with (slower versions of course). Who would have thought anyone could be accompanied by Tony Rice! After practicing a few of the songs in this book, I found myself more at ease taking breaks to songs I was playing for the first time at jams. It is probably due more to the practice, but I am for whatever motivates you to pick it up and play. Enjoy!

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Here's the whole gamut of the fabulous Tony Rice guitar style, from bluegrass basics to his own "new acoustic" compositions. Tony teaches and demonstrates licks, runs, tunes, advanced rhythm parts and the complex, improvisational solos that ha

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Bluegrass Guitar Solos That Every Parking Lot Picker Should Know (Series 1) 6 CD (Homespun Learning Discs) Review

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(More customer reviews)The product description doesn't do this justice.This is a terrific resource if you want to flatpick fiddle/bluegrass/OT tunes.There are 20 standard tunes.Each has the following 4 parts laid out in notation and tab

1.A beginner's version;
2.An intermediate version;
3.An advanced "hotrod" version worthy of a contest;
4.An ending that can probably also be used to end any other tune in the same key, so it's very versatile.

It's recommended you work through all the beginner versions before going onto the intermediate; it'll take you several months do that.

The CDs walk you through each tune, though I'm not big on CD instruction.Nevertheless, the CDs also have a full speed version of each tune where Steve plays through all three versions (and then repeats the beginner version).I found that putting all 20 fullspeed versions on a CD makes its own great CD and is a good way to "get the songs in your head."

Here are the songs on Vol. 1:Ragtime Annie; Bill Cheatham; Gold Rush; Flop-Eared Mule; Forked Deer; Old Joe Clark; Soldier's Joy; Nothing To It; Red-Haired Boy; Salt Creek; Big Sandy River; Billy In The Low Ground; Under The Double Eagle; Fisher's Hornpipe; Blackberry Blossom; Turkey In The Straw; St. Anne's Reel; Arkansas Traveler; Sweet Georgia Brown; Whiskey Before Breakfast

All that's just to give a worthy description.As for my take on it all -- terrific.I was a beginner flatpicker and at first it took some time to get a song under my belt.As I've progressed it takes less time and it's just plain fun to learn good arrangements to standard tunes.And I've still got the intermediate and advanced versions to learn!Just a terrific resource for great tunes.I'm through the beginner versions and am half way through Volume 2 (same set up; same quality).

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Product Description:
Bluegrass Guitar Solos (That Every Parking Lot Picker Should Know) features 20 great bluegrass tunes in standard notation and guitar tab and al so contains six 1 hour CD's for play-along with the rhythm track for a low price of $69.95.

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Play Bluegrass Banjo By Ear Review

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(More customer reviews)If one wishes to learn the banjo, start with this DVD. Several scales are shown in detail and with those scales are thousands of songs. Basic ideas and concepts are covered; including the fretboard and how to understand the fretboard in addition to the banjo, of course. If you wish to learn to play while hearing songs on a bluegrass/folk album, this is the DVD to buy!

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This unique lesson in basic music theory will help you find melody and harmony notes and understand the banjo fingerboard in a way that will open up vast possibilities. Combining this knowledge with basic rolls, harmonized scales, pentatonic runs and licks, and more will allow you to develop powerful and creative bluegrass solos.

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Sam Bush Teaches Mandolin Repertoire and Technique (Listen & Learn) Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow, Sam Bush is a super-star!This stuff is hard, but well worth playing!There's a diversity of things in it, from traditional style bluegrass mandolin to fiddle tunes and even this crazy russian ragtimesong!It's worth it just to have to the CD for listening pleasure.

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One of the most versatile and powerful musicians playing today teaches 8 great repertoire tunes that will help mandolin players develop their style and technique. This lesson covers traditional bluegrass tunes as well as jazz-flavored "new-grass" originals: Cotton Patch Rag ¥ Tom & Jerry ¥ Leather Britches ¥ Lime Rock ¥ Banjalin ¥ Diadem ¥ Norman and Nancy ¥ and Russian Rag.
INCLUDES 40-PAGE MUSIC & TAB BOOK ¥ LEVEL 4

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Alternative Strings - The New Curriculum Book/CD (Softcover) (Amadeus) Review

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(More customer reviews)Written by expert music teacher Julie Lyonn Lieberman, whose programs have aired on National Public Radio, Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum is a resource book especially for stringed instrument music teachers that emphasizes learning to play popular contemporary music as well as the great classics. Chapters address the nuances of fiddle, blues, jazz, pop, and world styles for strings, and an accompanying audio CD demonstrates the work of a wide variety of string players and clinicians. An excellent supplement to the music instruction or even self-instruction of any string player.

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Product Description:
Let's keep our string programs vital, contemporary, and thriving! Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum is the first resource book in the world to offer a comprehensive guide to string educators wishing to step into twenty-first-century inclusive string pedagogy. The "Dear Abby" for string players, Julie Lyonn Lieberman offers detailed descriptions of over two dozen fiddle, blues, jazz, pop, and world styles; bountiful support materials; a massive discography; musical examples; photographs; and audio from master players and clinicians, far exceeding the scope of other books in the field.
About the Audio CDSome of todayÂ's top alternative string players and clinicians demonstrate rock, jazz, and fiddle styles, present innovative ideas for teaching new generations of string players, and more:
1. Howard Armstrong: My first fiddle2. Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry: Zydeco Rock3. Daryl Silberman: Through Contemporary to Classical and Back4. Ed Caner: Rock Basics5. Anthony Barnett: Stuff Smith plays "Body and Soul"6. Mark Wood: Evolution, Rock, and Musicianship7. Jesus Florido: Latin and Beyond8. Randy Sabien: Jazz Strings: A Life Inspiration9. Leanne Darling: Arabic Strings10. Bob Phillips: Fiddling in the Schools11. Julianna Waller: Developing Diversity12. Martin Norgaard: Jazz String Pedagogy13. Richard Greene: Moving Forward14. Martha Mooke: Breaking the Sound Barrier15. Claude Williams: Reminiscences 16. Julie Lyonn Lieberman: "Fiddle, Sing," excerpt from Mixing America

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Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Dobro Review

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(More customer reviews)I play the guitar and mandolin and wanted to try the dobro.
All the music has dobro tabs and standard notation which is a great way to learn music and it will allow me to use the music I have to apply it to the dobro. The book also shows which fingers should be picking the notes to help you get good timing and speed. The cd is very useful for practice and see how the music and exercises should sound. One of the best starter books for learing the basics of music that I have seen. Great Job.

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Created for beginners with no prior musical training, this book with CD starts out by explaining the parts of the instrument, its history, how it works, and how it's tuned. It continues by teaching alternate picking, rolls, and other right-hand techniques, along with slide techniques including bar slants, palm harmonics and cascade harmonics. Lots of classic tunes in authentic Dobro styles are included as well as step-by-step instructions and illustrations. Examples are provided in both standard music notation and TAB.

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Flatpicking Guitar Masterpieces Book/CD (String Letter Publishing) (Acoustic Guitar) (Acoustic Guitar (String Letter)) Review

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(More customer reviews)A keyboard player I use to play with had an expression.Every time we'd comment about how difficult the music we were trying to play was he'd say "Yeah, but when you can finaly play it, think how good you'll be!"That's how this book will make you feel.

The material here is all advanced.It's amazing to me that a Leo Kottke tune is the easiest one in the book.You'll need to spend some serious practice time on this book, but once you do you'll open up your technique to a lot of new areas.This really is a good thing, there's tons of books out there for beginning players, but not nearly as many for the advanced musician.It's nice to see high quality materials at the upper end of the skill levels as well.

The CD is excellent and is worth listening to on it's own.The 12 songs on the CD are the actual recordings off of the artist's original album.I like to let the CD play while I drive so I can get the feel of the tune memorized before I start to learn it.

The tunes themselves tend towards the bluegrass end of things, although Tony Rice's tune has very much a jazz feel to it (it is, in fact, a Wes Montgomery song) and Russ Barenburg's song is more "Adult Contemporary".Everything else is pretty much foot stompin' bluegrass.Any one of those songs would be a great choice in a guitar contest at a bluegrass festival.Even if you don't learn teh entire song you'll still pick up a lot of cool riffs that you can add to your own solos.

If you're looking for a challenge and you're ready to work then you'll get a lot out of this book.And once you can play one or two of these songs, "Think how good you'll be."

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Product Description:
Learn groundbreaking techniques from the best players in this genre! Features note-for-note transcriptions in notes & tab, detailed performance notes with tips from the artists, and a full-length companion CD with the original artist recordings. Songs & artists include: Doc Watson (Black Mountain Rag) Â¥ Norman Blake (Fiddlers Dram/Whiskey Before Breakfast) Â¥ Dan Crary (DurangÃ-s Hornpipe) Â¥ Tony Rice (Four on Six) Â¥ Mark OÃ-Connor (Dixie Breakdown) Â¥ David Grier (Smith Chapel) Â¥ and more!

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Steve Kaufman's Four-Hour Bluegrass Workout (Homespun Tapes) Review

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(More customer reviews)Steve Kaufman's Four Hour Bluegrass workout introduces 50 fiddle-type tunes.For each tune, the CDs contain a slowed down version, which I found a great way to learn the melody.Then the band kicks it up a notch to full speed. Some are fairly easy to follow along with and some are blazingly fast...a workout indeed.The melody of the entire tune is played once, then the accompaniment is played twice.I found that playing the chords the first time and then the melody the following two time was an excellent way to learn both parts.
Many standard fiddle tunes are included, with straightforward arrangements, often in the style that is common at jam sessions. Learning these tunes provides a great basis for jumping into jams with other players.
Beginners may find even the chords difficult at times, while advanced players are likely to know many of the tunes.I highly recommend this product to intermediate players looking to learn new tunes and to build speed and technique.

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HereÕs a great way to improve your picking, build up speed and stamina, and get those licks and solos working - no matter what instrument you play! Whether you are a professional or a "parking lot" player, these fabulous sessions will get your fingers in shape - fast! On the four CDs, you have a dedicated bluegrass band on the right speaker to give you solid back-up to 49 great tunes, both slowed-down and up-to-speed. The lead part can be heard in the left channel.

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How To Play Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)I first used this book as a student in 1976.Since that time, I have taught more than 100 students Bluegrass banjo using this book with 100% success.The book allows me to teach a basic style of strumming and lefthand technique, preparatory to learning standard roles and licks associatedwith three finger style.By the time my students reach the introduction toScruggs Style, they have already mastered or are on their way to masteringhammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides; not to mention several cords.Thisevolution allows me to concentrate on right hand technique (rolls).Whenall is said and done, the student emerges from the book with at least twostyles of banjo playing.I have found the techniques related to clawhammer banjo, as presented in the first section of this book, an invaluableaddition to my repertoire.In fact, I primarily use claw hammer as a meansof playing accompaniment.In conclusion, anyone serious about effectivebanjo instruction should seriously consider this book for his or herstudents.

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Product Description:
Containing a broad range of styles, the book uses open-G tuning and teaches up-picking, picking out a melody, chords, rhythms, accompaniment styles, frailing, and has a special section on bluegrass.

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Mandolin Chord Book Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is exactly what the beginning mandolinist needs - a quick reference to every chord formation on mandolin with several different options for each chord.This book is also useful for the experiencedplayer, if only just as a quick reference.Good investment.

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The most useful chord book yet developed for the mandolin player is always handy with clear readable chord diagrams grouped by key for easy, speedy reference.

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Mandolin Pickers Fakebook Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this and returned it.I can't read mandolin tab.If you're like me and need standard notation for your mandolin music, buy the fiddler's fakebook.Same songs, similar introductory material, and it's in standard notation.That's where I'm going now, to order the fiddle book.But if you read tab, this book will suit you fine.

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Product Description:
Contains over 250 jigs, reels, rags, hornpipes, and breakdowns from all the major traditional instrumental styles. Special introductory materials on regional styles, interpretation, and ornamentation. Includes an extensive discography.

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Teach Yourself Bluegrass Banjo W/cd Review

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(More customer reviews)This tutorial seemed to be written well enough, but as a complete banjo newbie I found it frustrating. It's didn't seem to offer enough variety of learning exercises at each new skill, so that I felt stuck trying to learn the same example over and over. I gave up on this book and bought "A Manual on How to Play the 5-String Bango for the Complete Ignoramus" by Wayne Erbsen (...) and I'm now having a great time learning clawhammer style as well as the slides, etc. that seemed so frustrating in Tony's book. Maybe it's better if you have more banjo experience to start with.

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Teach yourself authentic bluegrass, with clear instructions from a professional. Covers the basics, bowing and left-handed techniques an dsolo backup. A section also includes personal advice on performance. Plus a complete section of the best bluegrass songs and tunes to learn from. B/w photos.

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The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Vocal Harmony Workshop - Singing Bluegrass and Gospel Songs Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an awsome video. If you love good bluegrass music this is for you, & the teaching is great too.

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The Nashville Bluegrass Band has astonished audiences with their powerful vocals and precision musicianship since 1984. Here they break down and analyze their renowned harmony singing techniques for all aspiring group vocalists. The NBB guides singers through their arrangements, from basic duets to stirring three-, four- and five-part harmonies, for these old-time country, bluegrass and gospel songs: "My Native Home," "Back Tracking," "Who's That Knockin'?," "To Be His Child," "Prodigal Son," "Two Wings," "I've Got A Newborn Soul." The NBB's mentors, The Fairfield Four, join them for a rousing harmony session at the close of this fabulous DVD.

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Watson Doc Songs Of (Music Sales America) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a wonderful book of Doc's songs. Like any book its not gonna give you note for note transcriptions, thats ridiculous. It lays out the basics for you to dive right in and start playing along. If you need detailed note for note transcriptions look elsewhere, thats not the point of any music book. What makes this book exceptional is that Doc tells you a bit about every song and who taught it to him, like a little bio and it is so special to hear his words. Plenty of absolutely GREAT black and white pictures with every song, a very nice feature. Overall a great book by a great artist. There aint too many like him left people so take notice.

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A superlative collection, reflecting the same wide variety of songs that youÂ'd hear at any Doc Watson concert. In addition to words, melody, and chord names, more than half the book is filled with guitar transcriptions and standard notation.

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The Mandolin of Bill Monroe, Vol. 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Watching Bill Monroe up close in a one on one conversation with John Hartford is a pleasure and a lesson that will not be forgotten.It is not a typical instruction film, to be sure.But, the lessons learned here are most certain to be more lasting.

John Hartford does a great job of staying out of the way and allowing Bill Monroe to show his technique without interruption or opinion.You can see John just wanting to push further and get a more descriptive lesson, but he is also wise enough to understand that Bill Monroe is a great talent, but not a teacher.Let him play and see what you can learn is the best approach.It's interesting to see John ask Bill to "play that section a little slower" and Bill graciously plays the section over - at the pace he just played it. Funny, but very telling.

There are some very poignant monents as well.When Mr. Monroe talks about going back home to an empty house while discussing one of his compositions will bring tears to your eyes.And, when he addresses "Last Days on Earth" one cannot help but be moved by the sincerity and emotion in his playing and his demeanor.It touches your soul.

Personally, I learned much more from this Volume One than I did from Sam Bush's more instructional Volume 2 of the same title.While Sam's is more nuts and bolts, just watching Bill was much more earthy and sticking than Volume 2.It may be best to get both, but if you have to choose, I would highly recommend Volume One as, by far, the best.

Thank you Bill for leaving this for us.Lessons I will never forget.

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Product Description:
On this instructional and entertaining session, the "father of bluegrass" discusses and demonstrates the instrumental techniques which have changed the course of American music.
Bill Monroe plays twenty-seven great tunes (some recorded here for the first time), including favorites such as "Rawhide," "Wheel Hoss," "Tennessee Blues," "Dusty Miller," "Roanoke," "Pike Country Breakdown," "Blue Grass Stomp,"Get Up John," "Katie Hill" and "Rocky Road Blues."
The camera's eye reveals, up close and in detail, Bill's incredible facility and inventiveness on the mandolin. He plays and sings both solo and backed up by the Blue Grass Boys.
In an intimate conversation with fellow musician John Hartford, Bill discusses a wide variety of topics: His musical development, ideas about performing and song writing, memories of childhood, early touring days, his years on the Grand Ole Opry and much more.
As a special bonus, we have added previously unseen footage of a performance for President Jimmy Carter at the White House in 1980, including rare duets between Bill Monroe and Doc Watson.

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Banjo Pickers Fake Book Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is 216 pages of banjo tunes arranged for three-finger and clawhammer players. It includes a cross-reference of alternate titles and a 24 page general discography, as well as a discussion of the types of tunesincluded.There is also a short discussion of technical topics such asmodes (very appropriate for traditional music) and how to readtablature.
This book is a lot like a Grainger's collection of fiddletunes for flatpickers.Unlike Grainger's, which only provides enoughtablature to spell out the melody for the A part and the B part, The BanjoPicker's Fakebook takes you through one whole iteration of each tunecomplete with first and second endings. Also like Grainger's, this is notan instruction book.It leaves both the right and left hand fingeringsentirely up to the reader.For example, if you are a strictly a bluegrassplayer, the clawhammer arrangements will not be useful to you.
Although the discography could be used to collect aural examples of thetunes, a CD or a set of tapes would have been a welcome addition.Music isan aural art, and it is impossible to convey the full musical sense intablature or in standard musical notation alone.
If you are looking for alot of tunes, thoughtfully arranged in a single volume, I highly recommendThe Banjo Picker's Fakebook. If the tune can't be found in this book,chances are no one eles knows it either, so you could go ahead and playanything that fit.

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Product Description:
This ultimate sourcebook for the banjo player contains over 230 jigs, reels, rags, hornpipes, and breakdowns from all major traditional instrumental styles. Includes special introductory materials on regional styles, interpretation, and bluegrass techniques. Discography.

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Hot Licks for Bluegrass Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)Just wanted to give my 2 cents here. The book has some great licks for the banjo. They will definitely get you picking an jumping all around. The problem with the book is that if you have used a lot of other instructional books that have tablature where the notes are on the line, then this book will through you off. All of the tablature in the book is between the lines which is a little tricky on the eye if you are trained otherwise. This may not be a big deal at all to those that are very skilled, but to a few of us beginners, it kind of throws us off. That's it. Besides that a great book.

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Over 650 bluegrass, blues, and jazz licks in Scruggs, single-string, and melodic styles. Learn to use licks to create solos, play back-up, expand your musical knowledge and understanding of the fingerboard.

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