5 comments about Blues You Can Use (Blues You Can Use).

1. I have been very impressed with this book. I am a novice guitarist, but with 30 years experience as a pianist and a degree in music education, I am not your average beginner. So I can tell you this isn't a book for beginners, but you don't have to be very far along to benefit from it.
   My teacher, a friend from music school, was teaching me to play blues guitar, and I bought this book just to check it out. He was thrilled to find a book that uses the same method he has been teaching the blues for 20 years, but with the added benefit of some good songs to play. We immediately incorporated it into my lessons.
   The structure of the book includes short lessons including scales and chord progressions, followed by some nifty little blues numbers you can play to illustrate those concepts. The book takes you through each skill and concept step by step, and is really fun to play. If I had one suggestion to make, it would be to include backing tracks in addition to the demo tracks for all of the songs on the CD, so that you could play them by yourself instead of just with the recorded version. Otherwise, this is a terrific method and a lot of fun.
   I will defintely buy more of the books in this series.



2. This book is not really a beginner's book. Some of the licks require a dexterity level beyond what a beginner would be expected to do. This is one of the few books with a method presented in a logical format as opposed to a caffeteria style approach leaving you asking questions. For the most benefit, you should do the following:
   
   1. Get this book as well as the "more Blues You Can Use".
   2. Also get "Complete Rhythm Guitar Guide for Blues Bands" by Larry McCabe.
   3. Listen to the Rolling Stones' Beggar's Banquet and Exile on Main Street CDs.
   4. Listen to Kenny Burell's "Midnight Blue" CD over and over.



3. This is a nice introduction to blues guitar. With a good combination of theory and practice, each lesson builds on the previous material. The one confusing thing I've found so far is the fact that the author will introduce some chord forms for a given lesson, then in the practice exercise, a completely unknown chord form will appear. It isn't that the "new" chord is wrong - it just hasn't been covered in the lesson. Guess that keeps you on your toes, tho. The CD has some really nice "studies" that you can play along with. Bottom line - after about 4 weeks, I've gotten through the first four lessons and I'm having more fun with my guitar than ever. Your mileage may vary.



4. I found this book to be great for learning general techniques for playing the Blues. The book starts out with some simple riffs and graduates into more challenging routines while introducing new concepts used by the Blues masters such as progressions, bending, use of the Blues pentatonic scale, etc.



5. I am 61 years old and finally I can play lead (any key) over entire neck after going thru this book and taking time on each lesson to fully understand it. I have taken private Jazz lessons for a year before but something was missing. This book made it clear,I now see lead patterns when i hit a chord and can jump anyplace on neck and still be playing lead in the right key.

5 comments about The Ultimate Scale Book.

1. A lot of interesting, and useful info in a small booklet, well worth the price !.



2. This book is better than a guitar teacher. It shows you the scales, but more importantly it illustrates how they fit together. If you're a guitar player wondering how some players can shred up and down the neck, its because they understand how scales work, exactly what this book teaches you. This book has made it possible for me to improvise solos. If you don't understand how the positions of scales fit together, and major and minor relativity, this book is for you. I have a scale and arpeggio book, the Yngwie Malmsteen DVD, Rock Discipline with (John Petrucci), and this book has been most beneficial to my playing.



3. This book is a must have for novice guitarists like me. It contains all the scales and modes you need to know in order to improve knowledge of the fretboard but also helps you build the scales for any note in any mode. This book definitely worth every cent.



4. This is a decent booklet on scales. I believe that it is worth the money. Its concise, though for a rank beginner, it may be a bit confusing.



5. When I started playing, I couldn't be any more confused. But I've since learned so much from this book. Everything's so clearly outlined and explained and not to mention that it's travel case sized. This book is almost too convenient!!

5 comments about The "First Stage" Guitar Chord Chart - Learn How To Play The Most Commonly Played Guitar Chords.

1. This is a great tool for the very beginning guitar learner.
   When I have more time to devote to guitar playing I will use this product a great deal.



2. This booklet (only 8 pages long) is ok for giving you some starting chords to play simple tunes with. In fact, there are only 3 pages of chords and 5 pages of information about guitar tuning, guitar fret notes, common chord combo's, and basic guitar positioning.
   
   You can easily get this info on the internet. I'd suggest getting a more comprehensive book on chords or a guitar method book.



3. I was very disappointed with this product. It has VERY FEW chords listed; and for the price, I expected at least a book of chords. I would hardly call this a booklet!



4. Just started using it and so far it is helping my daughter and I learn basic guitar



5. This pamphlet is very well written and a bit fun learning to use! It arrived in a very thoughtful bubble wrap envelope that made sure it arrived to me in a flat and unbent condition. I used right out of the package. Yep after I learn all these chords the ladies are gonna be lining up to talk to PeNName!

5 comments about A Modern Method for Guitar - Volume 1: Book/DVD-ROM Pack (Method (Berklee Press)).

1. Really makes you work, but you'll learn very quickly with this book. It's well laid out and not so difficult that you'll get frustrated and give up.



2. This product was exceptional in helping me become proficient reading standard notation for my guitar. This book is still not designed for people who have not played at all, simply because of the pace of the book. However, if you are a tab player and at least know how to read the notes of the staff; this book will help you solidify your sight reading skills on guitar. As a side note I have only had this book for three weeks, but the material is laid out so well, that I haven't felt the need to even look at the DVD yet!



3. THis book is for anyone who wants to take their playing to the next level. It takes you from the beginning to very upper imtermediate and helps you hone your reading skills. If you are not a music reader this book can be the catalyst to knowing just what it takes to be a master. I recommend this book to anyone reguardless of what level of playing.



4. Levitt's 'Modern Method' has been the foundation stone upon which many great guitarists have built their careers and reputations. It's pretty much beyond criticism for many players, but it's worth noting some observations:
   
   1) It's not recommended if all you want is to learn how to strum a few chords
   
   2) If you simply want to read TAB and chord charts, this is not the book for you
   
   3) This will not help you perfect your string bending, hammer ons, pull offs, fingerpicking or even sweep picking
   
   So, why the five stars? Because it's essentially boot camp for guitar. Spend a year with the book (and the accompanying DVD) and you will come away with a good basic understanding of how music works and how to apply that understanding to the guitar. You'll also be on the way to be able to sight-reading 'the dots'. Plus, in the process you will improve; playing slowly, carefully and methodically to the unstinting beat of a metronome can reveal many weaknesses in technique.
   
   The DVD is hugely useful, too. Not only does it demonstrate the exercises well, but Larry Baione adds a human touch that the text is sometimes missing.
   
   In short, if you want to take guitar seriously, there's no better starting place than William Levitt's books.



5. The Berklee guitar books could very well be the best comprehensive method out there. This is the first of three books. The DVD is a big help because it lets the student hear and see the exercises along with reading them. Anyone who takes the time and exercises the discipline to give the Berklee method adequate attention will emerge an accomplished legitimate guitarist.
   
   The Berklee books are geared to the serious student. Those who are looking for a few hot licks to amaze the garage band or the folks at the club should probably look elsewhere.

5 comments about Kid's Guitar Course, Book 1 (Book and Enhanced CD) (Kid's Courses!) (Kid's Courses!).

1. My daughter loves learning from the book, very easy to follow and great instructional CD. We also bought the first book and it was so easy for her to learn from. Great buy for beginners!



2. I've been teaching guitar for the past two years, and with my young students (5 to 11 yrs old) this is a highly effective series. I recently got the flash cards to use as a teaching aid, and the results were immediate even with my most challenging students. The Kids Guitar series has a clear focus on both music theory and guitar technique. It is fun and engaging for the students, and builds gradually through a series of exercises until the student is comfortable playing all six strings in the first position using standard music notation (not tabs). My only wish is that they had a book three.



3. After reading the positive reviews on this book, I ordered it to help me get my kids (8 and 11) started on guitar. They are learning on a steel string acoustic, so they are both still working on properly fretting, but this method is a great way to get kids started. I had never before seen the three-string chords presented, and these are great. Three of the most commonly used chords can be played by fretting only one string! Once the kids learn a few of these, there are many songs they can play along with, even outside this book, and that kind of positive result will keep them interested. Drawbacks? This book teaches chords before playing any individual notes, which is like a cart before a horse. I'm jumping around in the book to introduce some single notes first. Also, I wish the songs for them to strum chords to also showed a melody, to allow me to play along and also give them more basic melodies to play. The CD, however, does play along with them, so that part isn't too bad. I'd buy again for any student under about 10-12.



4. This is one of THE BEST methods out there for the young guitar student learning to play pick style guitar. The book and enhanced C.D. are excellent instructional tools. I've used this book for a few years in private instruction and just started using it in my young beginners group guitar class with great success in both areas.
   
   The text starts with three-string chords and progresses through various rhythmic combinations (though never using eighth notes) with the C,G,G7, and D7 chords. Along the way the student will play some original and folk songs (i.e. three blind mice, etc). The melodies are provided on the accompanying C.D. and are quite easy to pick out.
   
   The second half of the book focuses on learning to read standard notation. (NOTE: there is not TAB) The text covers notes through the first three strings. As with the chord section the child will play various original melodies as well as famous classical and folk melodies (i.e. Ode to Joy, Jingle Bells, etc). In this section the student will play the chords they have learned previously along with the notes they are learning.
   
   If you are using this book in private or group lessons you may want to introduce standard note reading alongside the introduction of chords, instead of moving sequentially through the book. As stated earlier there is NO TAB in this book which may turn some teachers off. After completing this book the student would understand the material roughly through the first half of Book 1 of either the Hal Leonard or Mel Bay Guitar Methods.
   
   If you are looking for a method for classical guitar for the young this is NOT for you! I would highly recommend getting Classical Guitar for the Young by Jay Traylor. An even better book though difficult to get in the U.S. is The Guitarist's Way by British guitarists Peter Nuttall & John Whitworth.



5. I don't think this book is quite as great as some other reviews have made it out to be, but it has been better for my couple of younger students than the Mel Bay book. The smaller, easier 3 string chord forms are good for young kids that don't have hands big or strong enough to play full 5 and 6 string chords. Towards the end there is a good mixture of single notes and chords which is nice. The variety of songs do a decent job of teaching about different rhythms and rests. However, I'm not crazy about the lyrical element, they have not helped at all, especially since the written melody for guitar doesn't usually match up with the traditional melody that would go with the lyrics used from well known kids songs. Still glad I chose to get a couple copies of this.

5 comments about Bass Guitar for Dummies.

1. This is a great book for finger exercises and getting your hands in shape to play. In addition, I found that the discussions on theory really helped me to understand how bass player created their riffs. The only weak spot is there are not alot of songs to play with, but you can find those everywhere.
   
   I highly recommend this book.



2. BOOK AND CD ARE A GREAT LEARNING TOOL BOTH WERE VERY GOOD.I RECOMEND IT FOR ANYONE JUST STARTING OUT LEARNING BASS GUITAR.



3. I simply love the "For Dummies" book series. So, as a beginner in playing the bass, I had to purchase this book immediately and I found out that it's exactly as I expected: an introduction to the world of bass guitar, written in a funny manner, without the usual boring details that a "normal" guide would provide.



4. I'm a new bass player and this book is great -- I actually sleep with it, hoping to absorb even more through osmosis. I love Patrick's straight-forward approach and sense of humor. While I haven't looked at many other bass guitar books, I like how this one uses music, tabulature and the grid to show what to play. The initial/basic exercises are great for a beginner like myself, and make of lot of sense in the learning process. The CD is helpful, but it keeps playing straight through from one example/track to the next. I might need to change the settings on my computer or CD player, but I think it would be better if it stopped after each track so I could manually play the tracks, one-by-one, and look at the book at the same time to see exactly what is being played. Hopefully, when I become a great bass player, after using this book and practicing a lot, I will be quoted on the cover :) right up there with Adam Clayton.



5. Usually I have nothing but praise for the "For Dummies" guides. Not this time. I suspect the fatal flaw here centers on the "Bonus Audio CD!"--conjuring up associations with a prize in a Cracker Jack box. About halfway through the book it dawns why the material is flying over my head.
   
   The CD is not incidental to the book. It's essential. "Bass Guitar" seems built around the CD. Kick out the CD prop and you'd have no book. I'm afraid the author assumed that a shiny piece of plastic would so dazzle that readers wouldn't notice the indifferent writing. It's a slight-of-hand that simply does not work.

5 comments about The Guitar Player Repair Guide - 3rd.

1. I waited for the most recent edition to come out, and I'm glad I did. This is THE repair guide to have for guitar. Covers just about everything (or at least points you in the right direction).



2. A great guide to guitar repair! Highly recommended to those who wish to learn more about the whys and whats of guitars and how to do your own modifications. If not doing your own modificiations, at least to know more
   about how they are done, what to look for and feel more confident when
   dealing with your guitar tech as you will be better educated and more informed with respect to the guitar and its components after reading this book.



3. You will not find a more comprehensive guide to guitar repair nor will you find a more knowledgable or experienced guide then Dan. You will not be disappointed.



4. It is an "alright" book but there are a couple of procedures that I wouldn't do the author's way. I string differently than his method and find it just fine. There are other things he advises in his book that I was taught never to do by a luthier that I trust.



5. This has to be the best book of it's kind. Guitar set-up procedures are for individual Guitars, and are taken from the various manufacturers. The author goes into great detail in his explanation of the various procedures of everything from repairs to modifications. I refer to the book almost on a daily basis. He also gives his opinion on different bridges, and other Guitar parts. It's a "Must have" book for every Guitarist.

5 comments about Hal Leonard Bass Method - Complete Edition: Books 1, 2 and 3 Bound Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume!.

1. This book is the best I have seen for someone wanting to learn the Bass. With this book anyone can teach themselves to play and read music. The knowledge contained within the pages AND the CD's you'll be playing in no time at all, GREAT BOOK.



2. This book includes 143 jam-packed pages and two CD's into a great package for the self-taught and beginning-to-intermediate players taking lessons. The book takes a well-rounded approach to bass playing, giving attention to essential scales, triads, ergonomic issues, and several styles. The book also touches on specialized techniques such as hammer ons and pop-and-snap.
   
   Using this method at a slow and studied pace will equip the muscially-inclined bass player to hold their own in most pop-music settings. If you want to be the next Jaco Pastorius, however, the journey only begins here.



3. This is a very good book if you already have the basics of reading music. Gives more emphasis to playing than practicing hand/fingering technics. Not realy for a first time player.



4. This course is the best for bass guitar that I could find. One would still need assistance from a bass player but this will definitely get you started.



5. I started out with another book, All About Bass. Big mistake. Then I found this book, Ed Friedland's bass method on Amazon and am very happy with it. I especially like that it progresses slowly, with each string, and includes short CD songs right from the beginning lesson. This nailed it as far as getting me to want to practice on a regular basis. The reward of sounding good early sure helps. I took my time through Book One because I wanted to stress the basics. I'm still working through Books Two & Three, and playing along with the accompanying series Easy/More Easy Bass Lines, etc. A nice collection from Hal Leonard for sure.

5 comments about A Modern Method for Guitar - Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete.

1. This is a great method for every guitar player; beginner or pro. It is teaching both the technique and the theory; easy to understand and proceed.



2. Best text for technique for modern jazz and a lot more.
   Nice to have them all in 1 place.
   I've been using and recommending this series for years, great stuff.
   But it gets old lending out your copies of the individual books and never getting them back.
   This way you have yours, and if someone needs one, you can tell them to get their own, and justify it by telling them they can pay less to get just the one they need.



3. This 3 in 1 volume of the Berklee series by William Leavitt is the most comprehenisive and definitive method for guitar ever written. Primarily a jazz oriented method, this Berklee series by Leavitt is used as the basic text for guitar at the Berklee School of Music.
   
   Its all here -- theory, rhythm, chords, scales/modes, melody, harmony, chord/scale relationship, chord voicings, appreggios,speed and reading exercises,etc. All the music written in this book is original and you will be playing interesting pieces of music right from the get-go (very cool). This method is for serious study and demands discipline and hard work;if you are looking for "fun", forget it. But immense enjoyment and satisfaction await!2
   
   This method might not be the immediate choice for learning rock/metal styles. I would recommend the Troy Stetina method books for rock/metal stylistic specifics. (Although if neoclassical/shred/prog. metal styles are your thing, you definitely should have this method book!) However, this method is for serious study of the guitar regardless of style and should be in the library of any serious guitarist.
   
   This comprehensive guitar method is an investment for a lifetime of learning and playing the guitar. A Modern Method for Guitar is a method book you will go back to again and again even after you work through all three volumes. You don't master it. It IS the master. Unless you're Al Dimeola (who, by the way,went to Berklee). Highly recommended.



4. I would never have bought this book if my guitar teacher hadn't insisted. It is way to complex for someone trying to learn how to read music on their own.
   
   However, it works VERY well with my teacher. He prescribes the many exercises for me to practice as I simultaneously learn to play and read music.
   
   I understand that this method is supposed to be the best.



5. This book is just about the end-all of sight-reading books. Commit yourself and you will learn how to read. Caution: may get stuck into fingering positions. Note: Learn the notenames on the fingerboard!
   P.S.Perfect for college sightreading classes or giving guitar lessons.

No comments about 2009 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide.