Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, Method Book, Bk 2 (Book & CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)I use this method book in my studio to teach students of all ages. Level 2 is for students who have mastered the basic chords and notes to the fifth fret.It offers a lot of music theory though I would like to see more applications for the theory, especially using intervals.
This book also comes with a CD (which isn't always offered on this site) which is very helpful.Like the first book, it covers a huge range of musical styles for guitar including classical, rock, country, folk, bluegrass, metal and introduces different modes and beginning improvization.The teacher's book has supplemental material as well as worksheets, tests (and does come with a CD) which would aid any student so it's not for teachers only.Read my review on the teacher's book.

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Product Description:
Well-respected educator and best-selling author Jerry Snyder has put together the most versatile guitar method available. This comprehensive method for classroom or individual study comes in two sections: the first section teaches chords and accompaniment, while the second teaches note reading. This flexible method allows you to start with either section or use both sections simultaneously.The Teacher's Guide helps the instructor develop and organize a guitar class curriculum and provides background on the guitar class, teaching tips, elements of music and how to address the National Standards for Arts Education.The Teacher's Guide also includes 48 pages of reproducible worksheets. The ensemble book offers graded duets, trios and quartets as well as optional parts for bass.

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Playin' the Blues: Guitar TAB (Book & CD) (Alfred's Artist Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)this book is very good it goes hand in hand with the video good for all levels.

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Robben lays out all the basics -- the scales, chords, licks and phrases that are the foundation of modern blues guitar style. He discusses his fingering technique, vibrato and string bending, and also shows his favorite chord forms and comping patterns. Includes a ""lick"" section and several complete solos. In notation and tab.

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Beginning Jazz Guitar: The Complete Jazz Guitar Method: Beginning-intermediate-mastering Chord/Melody-mastering Improvisation Review

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(More customer reviews)I've played guitar for more than thirty years and have focused on straight ahead jazz for the last 15 or so.All that time I've absorbed bits and pieces of musical knowledge from method books, lick guides and transcriptions as well as from the experience gained playing with others. No resource that I've encountered offers the degree of fundamental understanding that one can gain from this series of books.

Unlike most other method books, "Beginning Jazz Guitar" starts from chapter 1 with a dual track instruction mode of chord and scale studies mixed with a moderate dose of musical theory AND the author wisely limits the first volume to just the major scale.Too many other finepublications insist on bedeviling the student with a bewildering array of scales and modes in rapid fire succession.This volume shines when it comes to supplying answers to real world questions as the student might actually encounter them.Additionally, Jody Fisher presents scales in a format that encourages horizontal rather than vertical playing (one of the most important and most overlooked aspect of improvisation).As a matter of fact, more experienced players may have to relearn scale positions to work through the etudes and excercises in this book since they are fundamentally different than those normally found in most instructional texts.

Likewise, for a beginning book, the text does a credible job in presenting harmony and chord progressions with just enough theory to understand how progressions are structured and how to extend and alter chords. Most books present chordal theory in the first part of the book and then take up lead playing in the second half as if they bore no relationship with one another.Again, the author scores with the dual track approach.

Finally, the information contained in the "Coda" at the end of the book is worth the price alone.One could spend half a lifetime studying jazz guitar and not stumble over some these gems of info.

As a companion to this book I might also recommend "All Solos & Grooves for Jazz Guitar" by Jim Ferguson (Mel Bay) which serves up major scale studies along with more advanced solos utilizing similar techniques.As a matter of fact all of Ferguson's books would fit in nicely with this series.

All in all, an excellent resource for the determined student.

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Product Description:
Anyone with a knowledge of basic chords and guitar scale fingerings can dig right in and start learning to play jazz right away.Spanning from the major scale and basic triad theory all the way up to extended chords and the modes, this book features a full-length etude or song to go with every new concept introduced.Beginning Jazz Guitar breaks the age-old tradition of dry, intimidating and confusing jazz books, and provides an actual step-by-step and enjoyable method for learning to play in this style.

Clearly organized into easily mastered segments, each chapter is divided into separate lessons on harmony or improvisation.All music is shown in standard notation and TAB, and the CD demonstrates the examples in the book. 96 pages.

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21ST CENTURY GUITAR METHOD - Level 2 - Book Only (Warner Bros. Publications 21st Century Guitar Course) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is the follow up to Method 1 and has some interesting fingering, chord, and strum techniques. The tablatures and notations are clearly printed and the exercises are fun. I would definitely recommend this to any beginning and / or novice player.

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Product Description:
Book 2 includes music theory, the keys of C, G and D, exploring the neck, second position, syncopation, rhythm and lead guitar techniques, cut time, solo guitar style, and pop and classical songs like: Fur Elise * Margaritaville * Romanza * Classical Gas. Method Book available in three levels, as is the Theory, Song Trax, Rock Shop, and Guitar Ensemble books. Teacher's editions also available. Level One of the Method, Rock Shop, and Theory books are available in English and Spanish. Video available for Method and Rock Shop.

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Guitar Chord Encyclopedia (Ultimate Guitarist's Reference) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have bought so many chord books out there and this is the only one that i have ever needed and that`s a fact. I do alot of chord melody so i`m allways looking for that chord that has the right note in the top of thechord. No looking anymore..With Guitar Chord Encyclopedia you have everychord you`ll ever need. I`m talking about 36 chords in EVERY KEY! And Chordprogressions and every thing about Chord Theory,intervals,chordstructure,bulding chords,cicle of fifths and even explains Tablature. Ifthere`s one thing i got to say about this book is ...Thanks Steve Hall forevery chord i`ll need!

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Chords are listed alphabetically and chromatically for easy reference with 36 different chords listed for each key. With chapters on chord theory, intervals, chord construction and use of chords and rhythms in various styles of music, your chord vocabulary will be forever expanding. Over 310 pages!

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Guitar Note Speller (Shearer series) Review

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(More customer reviews)This note speller does an extremely good job of teaching the student to read music on the treble staff, and the position of the notes on the first position of the guitar (the first four frets). The book is meant to be used in conjunction with Shearer's "Classic Guitar Technique" series, so if you are looking to learn higher positions on the fingerboard then you will find that information in volume 2.

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The purpose of this book is to simplify the process of learning the positions of the notes in music and on the guitar fingerboard.

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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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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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21st Century Guitar Method 1 (Warner Bros. Publications 21st Century Guitar Course) Review

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(More customer reviews)I really grooved on this book and the CD that came along with it.The lessons were easy to understand even for a total beginner like I was.Lots of practice and going over the lessons again and again will teach the beginner a TON and help improve the skills of an existing player.

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This innovative, best-selling guitar method by Aaron Stang contains all styles of music including rock, pop, folk and classical. Tablature is used as an aid in learning new material, and suggested accompaniment parts enable the teacher and student to play together. The unique Rock Workshop sections teach rock rhythm and lead guitar styles and are correlated to the Guitar Rock Shop books. Available with or without a play-along recording. Book 1 includes reading music in first position, all basic chords, strumming, eighth note rhythms, power chords, the blues form, basic rock rhythm, guitar techniques, and pop songs such as: Surfin' Safari * Old Time Rock and Roll * and more! Method available in three levels, as is the Theory, Song Trax, Rock Shop, and Guitar Ensemble books. Teacher's editions also available. Level One of the Method, Rock Shop, and theory books are available in English and Spanish. Video available for Method and Rock Shop.

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Rhythm Guitar Encyclopedia Review

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(More customer reviews)I made a mistake when I bought this book:
- there was no cds with it, so I can't use it.
But it may be good for someone else!

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Product Description:
Includes over 450 rhythms in every musical style including rock, blues, jazz, folk, alternative, country and more. Examples are shown in an easy-to-read rhythmic notation, standard music notation and TAB. Fingerstyle accompaniment patterns are included.The CDs offer performances of examples.

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Rock Guitar 6x9 Bk/CD Hal Leonard Guitar Method (Hal Leonard Guitar Method (Songbooks)) Review

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(More customer reviews)Has many popular licks with tab and such. The backing tracks are good. The CD ONLY has the backing tracks on it, ie does not have the individual licks and examples.

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Learn to play rhythm and lead rock guitar with the step-by-step lessons and 70 great rock songs in this book/CD pack! The Hal Leonard Rock Guitar Method is your complete guide to learning rock guitar. This book uses real rock songs - no corny nursery rhymes here! - to teach you the basics in the style of Eric Clapton, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and many other top artists. Lessons include power chords, riffs, scales, licks, string bending, vibrato, hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, to name but a few topics covered. Each chapter ends with a jam session that enables you to play along to such rock classics as "Wild Thing," "Crossroads," and "Takin' Care of Business." The accompanying CD includes 9 full-band tracks to make learning easier.

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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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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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21st Century Guitar Method 1: Complete Edition (Warner Bros. Publications 21st Century Guitar Course) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a beginner guitarist and I do feel this book is very clear. I like it and would love to have more by Aaron Stang.

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This edition combines the complete 21st Century Guitar Method 1 with its correlated workbook, Guitar Theory 1, and 5 complete songs from Guitar SongTrax 1. A CD containing all the music examples and complete instruction isincluded.

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Guitar Chord Guru: The Chord Book, Your Guide for Success! (Creative Concepts Publishing) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have played guitar for a few years now but I never had a lesson. Basically, I learned everything by ear and by reading guitar tab on the internet. I have read a few books on guitar chords but this one by far is the best! Despite it's plain design, this is the best guitar chord book I have read so far and it has helped me learn more about the guitar then I thought I ever would. In addition, if you buy this book do yourself a favor and also purchase the Guitar Guru Scale book...you will not regret it!

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Product Description:
Perfect for teachers and students, this book covers critical chord concepts, theory and applications, all in a logical and easy-to-use way. Includes information on basic open string chords, barre chords, jazz chords, chord substitutions, and much more, with lots of clear drawings and charts.

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Scales and Modes for Guitar (Handy Guide) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have used this book, primarily when I am in a hurry to find a scale to blow over some changes, and have found that the suggestions are accurate, usable, and some are interesting.I think that this book is verycomprehensive and will take your playing to the next level if you spendsome time with it.

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This Handy Guide is a fast and fun way to learn how to use scales and modes from day one and will provide a strong foundation from which to build upon. This Handy Guide contains: 14 essential scales and modes Guitar TAB, neck position and standard music notation.

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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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Play Guitar Today! - Level 1: Play Today Plus Pack (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method) Review

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(More customer reviews)Taught myself guitar in no time.Get the CD out of the book, play along with the songs, learn them (don't cheat by moving on until you have mastered the song just like the CD plays it), and soon enough you'll have mastered strings.Chords take a bit of practice, but once you get those, you feel pretty good about playing guitar.Then its off to level 2.A most efficient "self teaching" method I must say.Addicting almost.

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This ultimate self-teaching method teaches: chords and riffs; picking and strumming; playing tips and techniques; standard notation and tablature; and much more! Includes lots of examples on CD, and 5 fantastic songs: Brown Eyed Girl * Every Breath You Take * Let It Be * Time Is on My Side * Wild Thing.

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Arpeggios for Guitar (The Progressive Guitarist Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book's title undersells it: it shows not only arpeggios but the corresponding scales and chord forms as well.It does not actually name each chord, but gives chord-scale-arpeggios in fretboard diagrams for each chord type, for example, major, minor, 6ths, 7ths -- on through the various altered forms.As the editorial review says, five positions for each are given.All of this is on one page for each chord type. So for example, you can find five scales, five chord forms, and five arpeggios for Dm7 (assuming you already know where to find "D") all laid out logically in fretboard diagrams that correspond to one another by position-- all on one page!
You'll need enough guitar knowledge to figure out the root of the chord or scale you're actually playing.Also, this does not show you chord progressions.Those could be viewed as shortcomings, but if you just accept you'll have to learn those topics elsewhere, this book becomes extremely useful.In order to actually name each chord the book would be extremely lengthy and repetitive (I have another arpeggio book like that).As it is, it packs a wealth of information into a readily accessible format.One page gives you all the musical possibilities for each chord.This is a great tool for improvising, creating new licks, and composing on the guitar.Its should prove useful for the fairly new guitarist to the more advanced, as it covers simple major and minor chords through advanced jazz chords(-scales-arpeggios).This is a true "fretboard roadmap" all in one book that I expect will give me more material to work on than I can probably master in one lifetime!Its a very simple, logical approach to the guitar that I wish I had found a long time ago.
I use this both as an exercise book -- playing each scale/arp/chord up and down the neck -- and as a reference for particular situations: coming up with ideas for soloing over, say, a maj 7 chord - or creating musical ideas for a composition.I play both pick and fingerstyle and the book is opening my eyes to all sorts of new creativity and technical growth in both styles.
Other books of this genre force you to turn pages -- or go to another book altogether -- to get from scales to chords to arpeggios. Having it all "at a glance" on one page is invaluable.I've had this book for a year or so, and am only now beginning to realize what a gold mine it is!Obviously not the only book you'll ever need, but if I were marooned on the proverbial desert island (with my guitar of course!) this is the book I'd want.

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Shows each arpeggio in five positions in a simple diagram format. For every arpeggio the corresponding chord form and scale pattern are also shown. Covers all forms of the major, minor, and dominant 7th type chords.

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