Christmas Songs for Beginning Guitar: Learn to Play 15 Complete Holiday Classics (Acoustic Guitar's Private Lessons) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a novice guitar player. WIth these songs, I'll be able to play Christmas songs.

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Add to your repertoire with this collection of traditional, easy-to-play holiday classics. You'll practice and reinforce the techniques you've learned in The Acoustic Guitar Method, Book One. Bring these beautiful melodies to life by listening to the recordings on the companion CD and then using the transcriptions to practice single-note melodies in open position, basic downstroke strums, and simple chords. Songs: Jingle Bells * Joy to the World * Deck the Halls * Silent Night * The First Noel * Away in a Manger * O Christmas Tree * O Come All Ye Faithful * Hark! The Herald Angels Sing * It Came upon a Midnight Clear * What Child Is This? * We Three Kings of Orient Are * God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen * Angels We Have Heard on High * We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Includes tab, lyrics, and notes on the song origins and arrangements.

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Fingerstyle Guitar Review

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(More customer reviews)Ken Perlman packs a gig bag-full of fingerstyle guitar into this book.While it definitely targets novice fingerstyle players, it is not a book for those just beginning to play the guitar.Although Perlman introduces tablature, he assumes the player can read standard notation and already has a good knowledge of the fingerboard.Also, because much of fingerstyle is based on movable chord positions, the student should have some facility negotiating between chords.
That said, the book begins by introducing the style of alternating bass and builds increasingly complex melodies and techniques over this basic pattern.The student will learn all the standard left hand techniques (hammer-on and pull-off notes, slides, graced notes, etc.) as well as some development of the right hand.Perlman's approach is to use individual songs to introduce each concept which keeps the learning process musical without being overly didactic.In my view, there are several points that elevate Fingerstyle Guitar above most other instructional books.First, Perlman selects great acoustic guitar music.If you like the simple yet wonderful style of Mississippi John Hurt, it's there within the first few pages.With about 40 songs in all, the blues, roots and Celtic tunes are great fun to play, and much of the credit goes to Perlman's arranging and writing abilities.I also like the way Perlman sets each song up, giving the student some context in regard to the composer, or the song's history.And finally, following each piece, Perlman focuses on specific measures in the song that may be problematic, such as fingering patterns in chord transitions or tricky syncopations.
While Fingerstyle Guitar starts from a very basic level, the pace of skill development is brisk.For example, open tunings are introduced barely half-way through the book.The tunes near the end of the book, such as Joplin's "The Entertainer", are definitely for the capable intermediate guitarist.Therefore, I would also recommend the book to anyone who has previous exposure to fingerstyle.
For the intermediate-to-advance level player, Perlman's Advanced Fingerstyle Guitar is an excellent companion book which follows the same basic format set-out in Fingerstyle Guitar.Centerstream Publications has done a good job in the clear presentation of text and notation for both books.I particularly like the use of archival photographs of musicians that begin each chapter.
Overall, you won't be disappointed with Perlman's approach to Fingerstyle Guitar.

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Teaches beginning or advanced guitarists how to master the basic musical skills of fingerpicking techniques needed to play folk, blues, fiddle tunes or ragtime on guitar. Contents: All the Good Times * Along the Rocky Road to Dublin * Barrow Street Rag * The Beaumont Rag * Behind the Bush in the Garden * Campbell's Farewell to Red Gap * Candy Man * Candy Man Blues * The Cherokee Shuffle * Cranberry Highway * Cripple Creek * Eighth of January * The Entertainer * Fishing Blues * Freight Train * (There'll Be) a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight * Lark in the Morning * The Lazy Afternoon Blues * Little Sadie * The Liverpool Hornpipe * Lord Inchiquin * Louis Collins * Make Me a Pallet on the Floor * Man of Constant Sorrow * The Manchester Angel * The Mineola Rag * The Morning Blues * Pack up Your Sorrows * Paddy on the Railroad * Payday * Rain Don't Fall on Me No More * Shady Grove * The Sligo River Blues * Spike Driver Blues * Stealin', Stealin' * The Temptation Rag * The Trip to Sligo * Turkey in the Straw * The Year of Jubilo (Kingdom Coming).

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The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking: How to Play the Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Style (Bk & CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)Mark Hanson is considered to be amongst the top instructors today in the fingerstyle domain. He regularly holds fingerstyle workshops and has authored over 30 books and videos, all on the same subject - fingerstyle guitar. He has also interviewed several fingerstyle authorities such as Leo Kottke and James Taylor.

This book is considered by many as the leading fingerstyle instruction book. There are several very good reasons for the high number of votes Mark's books receive; and WHY you should buy this book.

1.Travis picking (alternate bass with melody) is the foundation of fingerstyle guitar. Nearly every fingerstyle guitarist from Rev. Gary Davis to Muddy Waters to Robert Johnson to Leo Kottke and Chet Atkins has used the Travis picking method. This book is the bible of Travis picking.

2.The book requires no knowledge of the instrument. I couldn't switch chords comfortably when I received this book. In fact I only knew the C and G chords. With some patience and determination I learnt more than 30 chords by the time I was at the end of the book, and obviously I also learnt to switch between them effortlessly.

3.Mark lays out very logical examples throughout the book to ensure you are progressing the right way. There is a practice song after every chapter to make certain you are comfortable maintaining the rhythm and will face no difficulty if you encounter a similar pattern in any other song outside of the book. The instruction is very clear and there is absolutely no ambiguity even for a novice. It's almost like the author is holding your hand throughout. I am no dazzling guitarist (read no natural flair) and had no teachers while I was using this book. I waded through it without any major hold-ups. There is also a CD included where Mark plays the pieces at both half and full speeds. If you have heard `Dust in the Wind' by Kansas; after only a week with this book you'll be able to play that song, albeit not at performance speed.

4.The book has a sequel; the Art of Solo Fingerpicking. The sequel is for intermediate/advanced fingerpickers only. The sequel ensures you get to learn the most complex fingerpicking techniques, including breaking out of pattern playing (i.e. Travis Picking). Once you have mastered both the books playing fingerstyle guitar in any genre (blues, jazz, classical, country, folk etc.) will be unchallenging. Of course this is not easy and will take time; but the results will leave you fulfilled.

5.Mark is a wonderful person. I had a query regarding the use of thumbpicks and fingernails and shot him a mail. He immediately replied back and addressed the query in detail. It's nice to know you can repose faith in the author/instructor and he is there to tackle any issues you have. Further, he runs a website accentonmusic.com which carries articles on fingernails, amplification of acoustic guitars, contemporary music, newsletters, etc. all of which are really useful. There are tons of resources on the web, but only so few are reliable. Also, it's tough to judge an author by a single book. Every book of Mark is really enjoyable and he has a truckload of material to offer. I was a big zero with music theory and Mark has promised to write a book on that (he's graduated in Music). Can't wait to get hold of it.

6.I own as many as 8 other `bestselling' fingerstyle books for beginners and intermediates and a few videos too. Only one book comes anywhere close - Beginning Fingerstyle Blues - by Arnie Berle. Even that one does not specify how many fingers to use, right hand position, thumbpicks or not etc. You will certainly require answers to these once you take the plunge. Fortunately Mark's book takes good care of the reader here. His passion for fingerstyle is contagious.

When you buy an instruction book, the most important investment you make is your time. You don't want to follow an instruction book devotedly for 6 months only to realise there is a better book out there; it leaves you in self-doubt and may hinder your progress. You will never be in a quandary with this book. Very few books have information pouring out of every page. Such books are priceless and will stand the test of time. The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking is one such book. Written in 1986, it works wonders even today - nearly 20 years later.

If fingerstyle guitar eludes you, buy or borrow this book. I promise you will be grinning ear to ear after carrying out the instructions. It's easy, many have done it, and so can you!

Very highly recommended!

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By mastering all techniques described in the book, you will be on your way to elevating the Travis pick from a basic chordal accompaniment to a complex solo style!

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Fingerpicking Styles For Guitar (Music Sales America) Review

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(More customer reviews)Happy Traum is probably my favorite guitar instruction author.He's clear, he always starts with the basics and builds up gradually, and his books always include an interesting and appropriate repertoire.This one is no exception.
In addition to learning fingerpicking guitar technique and a collection of classic songs including (but not limited to) Make Me a Pallet, John Henry, Spike Driver's Blues, Nine Pound Hammer and Sitting on Top of the World, the reader is treated to paragraph length thumbnail sketches (including photograph) of interesting and influential folk guitar players of the twentieth century, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Sam Chatmon, Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, and more. These sketches are like crumbs on the forest floor that the reader can follow to a better appreciation of folk music generally and fingerpicking in particular.
The only thing that would improve this book would be an accompanying CD.

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Step-by-step instruction in American guitar picking, from simple patterns through the more complicated styles of noted folk and blues guitarists like Etta Baker, Sam McGee, Pete Seeger, Merle Travis, Dave Van Ronk, and many others.

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Acoustic Masters Series: Mark Hanson's Fingerstyle Wizard -- ^The Wizard of Oz} for Solo Guitar Review

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(More customer reviews)Mark Hanson has done a fine job of arranging the original orchestrations for fingerstyle guitar.Some of it is approachable by the advanced beginner; intermediate guitarists should find their efforts rewarded with a fun little repetoire which offers room for musical expression.(There are some fairly tricky harmonics.)The more advanced guitaristcan develop a suite with much charm and a great deal of humor.
Mark's study notes anticipate most technical problems the student will encounter.It would have been helpful if they were printed with each piece instead of in their own section.As usual, the CD is a great study aid.CDs with music books are the greatest thing since the pull tab. Oh, and I wish they'd printed Yip Harburg's wonderful lyrics somewhere.In TAB and standard notation.

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Mark Hanson captures the magic and joy of Oz in contemporary acoustic guitar settings. The arrangements are based directly on the actual movie score and feature all of the subtle and intricate details of the film's music. The 13 titles include: Over the Rainbow * Come Out, Come Out * Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead * The Coroner's Song * Lullaby League * Lollypop Guild * We Welcome You to Munchkinland * We're Off to See the Wizard * If I Only Had a Brain * Optimistic Voices and more.

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