Ed Gerhard: The Guitar Songbook (Book & CD) (Acoustic Masterclass) Review

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(More customer reviews)I learned Gerhard's version of "The Water is Wide" from an old Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine article, and was thrilled to discover this book.But here's what I found out when it arrived:(a) The CD that accompanies the book has almost no music on it.It is mostly a tutorial to help you with certain snarky technical issues in the individual pieces.Nothing wrong with that, but not helpful if you haven't heard the pieces and would like to know what you're working on in advance.(b) A couple of the pieces are written for use with a slide.(c) Most of the pieces require an unusual tuning.Dropped D tuning is not a big deal, but most of the others are more complicated than that. I wanted this music for performance purposes, and having to stop and tune extensively between pieces makes their use extremely inconvenient, unless you have two equivalent guitars and somebody to tune for you in between. If you know all this and still want the book, it's easy to read and contains both tablature and music notation.Gerhard's work is terrific.But if I had it to do over, I would have passed, based on the above limitations.

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Product Description:
Arranged for guitar with CD. Ten of Ed Gerhard's most beautiful solo guitar pieces transcribed in full notation and tablature.On the accompanying masterclass-style CD, Ed carefully describes and demonstrates all the key passages for each song. Titles are: Blue Highway * Crow * Duet * Farther Along * Homage * Promised Land * Shallow Brown * Si Bhig, Si Mhor * The Water Is Wide * Wild Mountain Thyme.

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Complete Acoustic Guitar Method: Beginning Acoustic Guitar Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great teaching book with a lot of theory.I wish that I had gotten the one with a CD or DVD but it is still very helpful.I highly recommend it.Amazon makes it so easy to buy something.Thanks!

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Product Description:
Being unplugged doesn't mean you're without power. Develop the agility and strength that will give your performances power by making them appear effortless. All music in each 96-page book is shown in TAB and standard notation and recorded on the accompanying CD and/or DVD for demonstration and playing along.

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Johnny A: Sometime Tuesday Morning Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are a fan of great guitar then you will be a fan of Johnny A. This book contains every note of the songs listed and the explanation in the back of the book helps you squeeze out those notes with the same aplomb as the remarkable Johnny A. I would like to have seen more biographical information and perhaps an interview.

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Product Description:
From the brilliant roots/rockabilly guitarist on Steve Via's Favored Nations label. Titles are: Sometime Tuesday Morning * Oh Yeah * Wichita Lineman * Two Wheel Horse * In the Wind * Yes It Is * You Don't Love Me * Up in the Attic * Walk Don't Run * Tex Critter * Walkin' West Ave. * Lullabye for Nicole. Includes full-color interior artwork.

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Bebo Norman - Try (Songbooks and Folios) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good reference for Bebo's work on this album. It would be better if it was the actual guitar tab, however the chords and tunings are the most important aspect of this book. The chords are fairly accurate, but alot is left to the imagination. I give it 4 stars, because what is there is... useful.

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The latest release from this singer-songwriter features: Borrow Mine * Drifting * Finding You * Nothing Without You * Other Side of Day * Soldier * Standing in Your Silence * and more.

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Kenny Sultan: Guitar Blues (includes cd) Review

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(More customer reviews)Kenny has done it again.Acoustic fingerstyle blues students have once again received some truly golden learning opportunities.

I don't know just how much credit I can claim, but I emailed Kenny a few years back and practically begged him to release a book that contained not just the framework of songs, but whole songs, including different chord voicings, fills and runs and turnarounds and essentially everything a student would need to know to play a song, instead of playing a basic 12-bar several times.

That's exactly what Kenny has delivered in this book.It's his top-drawer, grade-A material that he's sharing here.Not many performing artists would be willing to do that, I think.So I feel like we students owe him a debt of gratitude.

The material ranges from Lightnin' Hopkins-style blues to very tappy-toe ragtime, and it's all just a ton of fun to listen to, and to play.It's all in standard tuning, no slide involved.There are certain points where Kenny does something really difficult--a quick turnaround with 9th chords, for instance--where he provides reasonable alternatives (using 7th chords instead).Nice touch.He moves at a faster pace in this book than his previous books, but he's covering a lot more material, too.

I must say that I was a tad disappointed--irritated, even--when I discovered that the CD that comes with the book does not by any means contain all of the music in the book.Mostly, the CD covers the main themes in the songs.To hear everything, you have to order not one, but two of Kenny's other CD's, i.e., not instructional CD's, but his commercial releases.

But then I realized that it would take a lot to cover all of the material in the songs.Not to mention that there are probably copyright issues on reproducing entire songs, even if they are from Kenny's own CD's.And beyond that, if you add up the price of this book, and the two other CD's, and then you consider what a goldmine of terrific material you're getting, this is the bargain of the millennium.Excuse my hyperbole, but I've already picked up so many new things from this book, as I have from his other books, that I find it hard to speak calmly about Kenny's work.

Beginner students should be advised that this material is probably beyond them.There are always exceptions, of course.Some beginners are fiercely determined (not to mention more talented than I), and can tackle more challenging material.When I was starting to learn fingerstyle, this stuff would have simply killed me, and made me feel helpless.So in general, I think beginners are better off with Kenny's first two books.(The first is no longer in print, I think, but "Acoustic Blues Guitar" is, and it's excellent for beginners.)

In a way, working through this book has made me a little sad.I've come to realize that my own playing, and my own musical knowledge, have reached a point where soon I won't need books or ideas any more.Even as I started working on the first song, I immediately had alternate ideas that I started throwing in (many of which I learned from Kenny's earlier books).I've reached the point where I hear a run in my head that's different from Kenny's, and I can figure it out and work it into the song in place of something Kenny offers.So although I've never met Kenny, I feel nevertheless like this is almost the end of a personal relationship, because I've (nearly) outgrown the need for help with my playing.

I've bought maybe 200 guitar books over the years, a sizeable number of which are devoted to acoustic fingerstyle blues.Kenny's are not the only books that have helped me.But his outweigh all the others by a large margin.I can honestly say that, if it weren't for his book, "Acoustic Blues Guitar," I might have--probably would have--given up for good on fingerstyle.Now, five years later, I've reached the point where I'm ready to play open mics, and I can improvise at will on ragtime themes.(You just can't imagine what that means to your own soul until you actually do it for the first time.)I don't discount the importance of my own hard work and dedication in making that happen, but Kenny's help was also of fundamental importance.

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Product Description:
Arranged for Intermediate-Advanced Guitar.Kenny Sultan's solo blues pieces are a virtual encyclopedia of vital blues licks and patterns. The licks and patterns covered in these pieces form the backbone of all solo blues guitar work.Titles are: Cascade Rag * Funky Butt * Honky Tonk * If the Shoe Fits * Lightenin' Strikes * Read 'Em and Weep * Sick Boogie * Slippin' and Drippin' * Suspicious Strut.

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Easy Pop Rhythms Book only Hal Leonard Guitar Method Supplement 2nd edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I was looking for a book to use solo, not with an instructor. Unfortunately, this isn't it. While they do include a number of strum patterns at the end of the book, they do not show strum patterns for each song -- you're left to figure it out on your own.

I'd hope that the CD would make that easier but the other instruments sometimes make it hard to hear the guitar part. They didn't do what's sometimes done and separate the guitar on one side and the backing parts on the other side so you can't isolate the guitar.

The chords are the easy part. All the songs are transposed into simple 3-finger chords (C, G7, G, D7, Em, D, A7).

Overall, I'm disappointed.

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Product Description:
Strum along with your favorite hits from The Beatles, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and others! These songs are presented in order of difficulty, beginning with simple 3- and 4-note chords and ending with songs that contain many chords, including 7th chords and barre chords. 20 songs, including: Closer to Free * Hurts So Good * Iris * Jambalaya (On the Bayou) * Let Her Cry * Surfin' U.S.A. * That'll Be the Day * Twist and Shout * Wonderful Tonight * and more.

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DVD - Learning To Flatpick Review

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(More customer reviews)I've used several of Steve Kaufman's videos and what really sets them apart is his superb way of organizing the material and presenting it on screen. Unlike the "look at me play fast" that seems to be the norm he goes thru things at just the right pace for a beginner. You should have some basics and know your chords in first position before moving into this video, but even if you dont and have the desire then just plunge in. Listening to this guy play will keep you motivated. Excellent choice for anyone who llikes this tyle.

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Product Description:
Steve Kaufman's comprehensive three-DVD course in bluegrass flatpicking takes you from "Picking 101" through advanced techniques that will enable you to hold your own in any band or jam session.
On DVD #1, "From the Beginning," you'll learn a variety of essential flatpicking skills: proper pick grip, down-up strokes, rhythmic strumming and song accompaniment. Only a few minutes into the first lesson you'll be starting to pick easy versions of well-known fiddle tunes.
By DVD #2, " Building Bluegrass Technique," you'll have built a "runs vocabulary" and learned to cross pick, move up the neck, play bass runs and construct hot bluegrass solos.
DVD #3, "Developing Speed and Style," covers the finer points of style, using slides, arpeggios, bends, accents, intros and endings, and that most challenging of subjects, building up speed.
A patient and encouraging instructor, Steve pushes you forward while allowing you to advance at your own pace. He helps you develop a solid repertoire of classic tunes, including "Liberty," "Salt Creek," "Blackberry Blossom," "Ragtime Annie," "Clarinet Polka," "Home Sweet Home," "Cripple Creek," "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane," "Wildwood Flower," "Wayfaring Stranger," "Eighth of January" and "Bully of the Town."

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Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia - Friday Night in San Francisco (Piano-Guitar Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for a good musical transcription of Friday night in San Francisco concert played by Al di Meola, Paco de Lucia and John Mclaughlin this is the book for you. In general I think that it is a great book,specially for those who are really into that music. Although most of theguitarist might be disapointed because there are not any guitar tablatureswritten, so it is sometimes really hard to read the notes, specialy those32'nd ones. The transcription is very thorough, has a three seperate partsfor every player and also contains chord progressions (rythem accompinent).In the book you will find everything you need to play all the five songs aslong you are able to.

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Product Description:
Artist Transcriptions 21st Century Publications This famous trio of acoustic guitarists is captured live in this matching folio to the Grammy Award-winning album from a live concert in San Francisco. The book contains full transcriptions of every tune including: Short Tales of the Black Forest * Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho * Fantasia Suite * and more.

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Sight Reading for the Classical Guitar, Level IV-V" Review

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(More customer reviews)I teach classical guitar and have found this book to be one of those "rare jewels" I sometimes am fortunate to come upon.This has to be one of the best books for understanding how to read classical guitar music notation, learning how to play up the neck in higher positions, phrasing, familiar and less frequently used tempo terms such as "Placidamente" (peacefully), and "Giocoso" (playfully). It also contains some excellent rhythm exercises and much, much more.It does not begin at the beginner's level but starts off on the very first page with intervals of a tenth, chord reading, and rhythmic reading in two voices.Every page is absolutely loaded with useful information and exercises that will make you slow down and really think about what you are doing and why.I cannot say enough good things about this book and it holds a very cherished place among my many other music books.I use it frequently to the point that many of the pages are now a bit worn-looking, but if you want to really become not just a good guitarist, but a great one, this book will definitely help you advance to those higher levels of musicality most guitarists never go.

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Daily sight reading material with emphasis on interpratation, phrasing, form, etc.

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DVD-The Guitar of David Wilcox-Secrets of Open Tunings and Song Accompaniment Review

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(More customer reviews)If you enjoy David Wilcox music and you are an intermediate guitar player yourself, you will get a lot out of this dvd.It is filmed like a personal session with David Wilcox showing you how to tune and finger a few of his songs.I enjoyed it very much just watching it the first time.Now I am in the process of learning some of the fingerings for some of my favorite songs.

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Product Description:
One of the most popular and evocative performers on the scene today helps you unlock your creativity and develop rich, ringing guitar voicings in a variety of open tunings.
Working primarily in open C, G, D and DADGAD, and utilizing both pick and finger style, David Wilcox reveals the techniques that shape his distinctive guitar sound. His unusual practice of playing in "cross keys" and his use of string damping, rhythms, open chord harmonies, moving bass lines, partial capos other devices will open new doors and transform the way you approach your instrument.
Dave's invaluable advice on how to practice, re-tune by "feel," transpose mid-song, hear new sounds, experiment with a variety of fingerings and tunings and develop ideas for using the guitar as a writing tool will inspire you to invent your own fingerings and tunings and discover untold musical possibilities.
Songs: Eye of The Hurricane, Rusty Old American Dream, Show the Way, New World, Language of the Heart, Time Between the Lightning and the Thunder, Distant Water, Spin, Prayer, Show Me The Key.

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The Guitar of Jorma Kaukonen: Detailed Analysis of 8 Classic Songs and Instrumentals (Guitar Listen & Learn : Homespun Music Instruction) Review

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(More customer reviews)For those of you who aren't familiar with the vast body of work of Jorma Kaukonen and his contributions to Rock, Blues and Folk styles, this book can act both as an instructional aid and an introduction to his work. Published by homespun tapes, as with all of their instructional materialsthis is first rate from and instructional standpoint.Jorma's ability toteach guitarists of varied levels of accomplishemnt shines through.Don'tmiss adding this one to your collection.

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The renowned guitarist for Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna teaches eight of his classic songs and instrumentals. He performs each piece, then breaks them down in detail for the benefit of learning guitarists. Jorma has an avid following, and this product will create great excitement among his many fans! Songs: Embryonic Journey ¥ Trial by Fire ¥ Watch the North Wind Rise ¥ I See the Light ¥ Been So Long ¥ MannÕs Fate ¥ Genesis ¥ Water Song. INCLUDES 64-PAGE MUSIC TAB BOOK ¥ LEVEL 4

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Guitar at Sight Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered the text hoping that it would be a graded set of sight-reading studies for an advanced guitarist which isn't the case. While I was initally let down, as a teacher I realized it's value. The text is perfect for the beginning guitarist that has learned to read the first position and wants to move on into other positions. The book begins with a chromatic review of the open position and is full of examples and small exercises on fingering, notes, and even theory. The text takes the same course throughout working its way up to the 16th position. The examples and exercises also review reading thirds, chords, and various scale types. The book is not a sight reading exercise it is more or less a increadably good note speller for early guitarists. If you are looking for a good sight reading method (especially with a melodic focus)try Bruce Arnold's New York Method;Ensemble book.

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Product Description:
Provides a thorough, musical understanding of the entire fingerboard through focused self-teaching. It can be used profitably by any guitarist (classical, acoustic, jazz, etc.) who seriously wishes to improve his/her music reading and fingerboard.

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Bob Dylan: The 6 Chord Songbook, Easy Guitar Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Advanced players stay away, but this is as good a beginning guitar book to learn to play and strum that there is. The chords are simple, so spending time with this book will really teach you to comfortably play G and C chord songs.

Many of the songs are "dumbed down" or have had the key moved. Purists will be unhappy, as the songs lose a lot of that Bob Dylan funk, but, nonetheless, virtually every song in the book sounds good when played and is recognizable. Plus, for beginners, almost every song can be played with either a Carter-Style strum or a simple 1 2 3+ 4+ strum pattern.

Within weeks, you'll be able to play Dylan songs recognizably and, if you have even been playing for 6 months, you'll be able to play many of these songs on the first run-through.

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Product Description:
The Bob Dylan 6 Chord Songbook allows even the beginning guitarist to play and enjoy the magic of Dylan's music. By learning 6 simple chords you will soon master 20 of his best songs.
The Bob Dylan 6 Chord Songbook does not use musical notation. All you need to learn is 6 chords and their symbols. The chord boxes are printed on each page to remind you, and the chord changes are shown above the lyrics. If you find the pitch of a song outside your vocal range, simply place your capo behind a suitable fret and use the same chord shapes! The strum rhythm or picking pattern most suited to the song is left for you to decide. The Bob Dylan 6 Chord Songbook guarantees hours of enjoyment for guitarists of all levels, as well as providing a fine basis for building a strong repertoire. When you have mastered the first 6 chords, you will want to progress to six more chords with these lessons. These are described within the text and illustrated in a comprehensive Chord Glossary at the back of the book.

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