3 comments about Classical Guitar Christmas Collection.

1. This book is basically the "Fingerstyle Guitar Christmas" book from Hal Leonard Corp. with classical notation. I have both books now!! I think the arrangements are nice, not so simple yet not so difficult to play. The songs were arranged by Marcel Robinson. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! is also arranged by Marcel Robinson in the same style. The arrangements are great to play among family and friends but not on stage. If you want to play arrangements that are more technically challenging, look to Mark Hanson and you won't go wrong.



2. The book is great. It was what I expected and it came so soon after ordering.



3. Best selection of classics arranged beautifully for the guitar. I've been annoyi-- er, make that, entertaining my family all month.
   I would suggest widening the selection with more classics.

3 comments about Lute Songs of John Dowland: The Original First and Second Books Including Dowland's Original Lute Tablature.

1. It took me awhile to get used to the traditional lute tab notation as I am coming from a regular guitar background (read standard notation & "modern" tablature). This is a good book if you can find it. If you also like steel-string acoustic guitar playing, check out the recordings and transcriptions by John Renbourne. There is another book that may be hard to find but worth it called "Complete Anthology for Medieval and Renaissance Guitar" that has some great transcriptions using alternate tunings by Renbourne.



2. What a bargain this volume is! French tablature for lute, standard notation for guitar, plus the voice part. All nice and neatly presented. You absolutely can't go wrong with this volume at $10. Thanks, Dover; what a great favor you've done for us lutenists!



3. i'm using dowland on my senior recital for college, this is one of the better books.

3 comments about Mel Bay You Can Teach Yourself Fiddling Book (You Can Teach Yourself) (You Can Teach Yourself).

1. I like this book. It is well-organized and contains all of the material you need (other than the CD or tape) to start fiddling. It discusses each of the scales and gives an illustration of the fingering for each note on each scale. It does help, however, to have some introduction to the violin before you start this book. Also, the book moves very quickly from very basic fiddling to pretty complex techniques. There are 36 lessons and time signatures and pick-up notes appear in Lesson 7, while double stops appear in Lesson 13. Nevertheless, I was able to work through the first part of the book and found it an enjoyable experience.



2. This is a concise, fun way of looking uint fiddling - I had never done any of it before and am now going to play in a talent show jam!



3. I'm a big fan of the "You can teach yourself..." books. This one however moved too fast for someone who has never touched a fiddle. It gives no instruction for the bow, and that's important. I still read it and continue to try.

5 comments about The Art of Bowing Practice/3.3398: The Expressive Bow Technique.

1. After reading and following some exercises, I have improved a lot in my right hand. Now the sound generated from the bow is much better and I'm going to explore more in this book.



2. Bowing, bowing, bowing, sound cleanliness, no scratching, no accidentally touching neihboring strings, soft and loud, etc, etc. The way you handle the bow distinguishes you between making beautiful violin music and 'just making sounds'. Robert Gerle's approach to bowing is well written and has excellent tips for improving your bowing technique. Concise and clear, Mr. Gerle has made a good effort to 'try' to bring a rather semi-scientific approach to 'how the bowing should feel'. The 'marriage' between the semi-scientific' approach and the more artistic angle to bowing, makes this book a must have to both the beginner and more advanced violinist. Trust me, it is not easy to write about something you must 'feel' in order to have good control over it. Bowing is just such a 'thing'. Good job Mr. Gerle.



3. A nice book that is divided into two parts. The first part is about basic bowing
   physics and skills. The second part is about articulation and performance
   based on different bowing techniques. The description is clear, though more
   pictures can be inserted between the lines. It's often hard to visualize the
   positions without a clear understanding of the terms and visualization
   capability. The analysis in the second part of the book is fundamental and
   thorough. This book serves as a nice companion to violin players. Of course,
   the great play comes not after reading a good book, but from extensive practice.



4. ECS in Boston distributes it. A little research will track it down, Amazon's price isn't bad all things considered.
   
   Don't let used-book vendors fool you on this one.



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1 comments about Strictly Strings: A Comprehensive String Method : Violin Book 2.

1. THe book is a very good teaching book. It teaches techniques and is very good at making you a better violin player. It also has different keys and positions in this book.

5 comments about Guitar Aerobics: A 52-Week, One-lick-per-day Workout Program for Developing, Improving and Maintaining Guitar Technique.

1. I've only had this book for a short time, but I really like this book and I'm a beginner. Then again I love a good challenge-when I really push myself is when I learn the most- and this is definitely packed full of lessons to keep you busy for more than a year. It's not a method book, so you already need some knowledge of the guitar. But as far as technique books go, this is top notch and well written by a guy who knows guitar (Troy Nelson was the former editor of Guitar One and now I think he's at Guitar Edge). It's a bummer when you pay good money for a book and you are bored with it in a few weeks. I think I'll be proud when I can see how I've grown as a player from the easy licks to the hard ones (when I finally get there!). No I'm not mastering one a day, but everyone has to go at their own pace. I mean, a year's worth (or more) of lessons and music for under $20?! Right on.



2. I purchased this book at the end of December to give me something to do between songs I'm learning. I've been playing for 20 years and am still able to get some good use out of this book. The lessons actually make sense and build upon previous lessons. Granted I know a lot about playing, I'm still picking up on the little things that are improving my playing still. The key to this book and any other lessons book is that you actually stick to the regimen, otherwise what's the point?



3. The author spotlights 7 important techniques (alternate picking, arpeggios, sweep picking, string skipping, legato, string bending, and rhythm guitar) one for each day of the week, and builds on each every week. So every Monday is alternate picking day, and builds on the lesson of the Monday before. It's a great idea. The author says that an intermediate player can skip to around week 17 and an advanced player can probably go to week 36. I'd say I'm lower intermediate, after some 10 years of playing both steel-string acoustic and electric. I've worked my way through the first 10 weeks of lessons in 4 or 5 days. I find some of the skills like string bending, arpeggios, legato, and rhythm to be very easy, but I've never done sweep picking and found it to be a challenge. And the string skipping is something I've never done much concentrated work on, so it's great. I'm sure that when I get up to week 17 the other skills will get more challenging for me.
   
   JR has a good point that there's not as much guidance on technique as I'd like on a couple of things. I think he was overly critical though. There are short notes on each day's lesson about technique. One was to keep the fretting pinky in place on the G while you shift from a G to an E chord - it helped me to stop fumbling around for the E shape. Another that I have not mastered, is in sweep arpeggios, to mute each note after you play it by slightly releasing the pressure on the fretting finger. That's one that I would like more details on, because I find it hard to do, especially if I'm barring the 1st and second string with my index finger on say the 3rd fret while catching the 3rd string with my middle finger. Do I roll them off, or do I ease up on all strings between each pick?
   
   Anyhow, I like the breakdown into small bite-size daily chunks that I can spend 10 or 15 minutes on a day, as part of my regular practice.



4. This is a great book for building a variety of chops: string skipping, arpeggios, sweep picking, etc. Exercises are very short - each can be done in about 5 mins. and they build from very slow tempos to pretty quick which is a great way to go. Playing to a drum track is more enjoyable to just a click and the exercises are musical in nature, in other words, you're not just playing technical scales and stuff like that. There is also an audio track of each exercise so you know exactly how they should sound. Only reason I give it 4 stars is because I'd like a little more guidance in the intro. For example, if a passage is too hard/fast do I keep at it before I get it before moving on or do the best I can and move on? Just a little more guidance for practice techniques but overall a great book, very well organized, and well worth the cheap price.



5. If you have acoustic, I think you will have some problems. The single star reviewer was correct. Just starting out you need another book. This books (at least to me) should be used in conjunction with other beginner books (I am using Guitar method). I do like that it gives you the tabs as well as the musical notation it corresponds to. So if you know tabs, you could possibly learn to read musical note placement with this. I give it a 3 because if used with other books a beginner can get a rounded practice in and not get to board. Many beginner books have simple songs, yet you want to sound like a rock star, so having your practice remind you that your still a beginner works.
   
   The CD's are nice, but as the title suggest, the music is played on Electric. I don't think I would have bought this book knowing that what I play on my acoustic won't sound the same and with some of the lessons I don't know if you can do that on acoustic.
   thanks

2 comments about Django Reinhardt - The Definitive Collection: Guitar Recorded Versions.

1. This songbook features complete transcriptions, with guitar tablature, for these Django recordings: Ain't Misbehavin', Belleville, Daphne, Dinah, Dinette, Djangology, Honeysuckle Rose, Limehouse Blues, Marie, Melodie Au Crepuscule, Minor Swing, My Serenade, Nuages, Old Folks At Home (Swanee River), Rose Room, Stardust, Swing 42, Swing Guitar, The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise, and Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger).

   This book provides essential challenges for guitarists wishing to try their hands at Django's amazing rhythms and solos.




2. This is an excellent folio of Django's music that contains 20 jazz/swing standards and originals. Additionally, many of the songs feature guitar transcriptions of Stephane Grappelli's violin parts; similar to the recent Hal Leonard score of Charlie Christian's, which features much of Benny Goodman's clarinet and Lionel Hampton's vibe work. And while some may find this a distraction others will say boon. I say boon. And many tunes are transcribed to include the second rhythm guitar part. The entire book is engraved in tab and standard notation.
   
   What I'd like to focus on here though, deals with what album goes with which transcription. For despite the fact that each song states its source recording, there is still much confusion to be found within. Confusion - like which version of the album 'Djangology' did the transcriber rely upon? The score is not so clear, rather only stating 'Djangology'; while omitting the necessary publisher information. Because the title 'Djangology' may refer to any number of different compilations. And the score relies upon the album 'Djangology 49' by RCA Victor or Bluebird, which Bluebird has recently remastered, that now also goes by the title 'Djangology'. And some transcriptions are from 'The Best of Django Reinhardt', of which there are numerous different compilations.
   
   So, I seek to end the confusion here. Additionally, find this site and others contain pertinent music samples, so you can hear the musical journey that you're in for (a site with the letters "jr" and "com" had the most relevant samples).
   
   THE TRANSCRIPTIONS ARE FROM THE FOLLOWING RECORDINGS:
   
   From Recall's 2-CD 'Djangology'
   
   * Belleville
   * Dinah
   * Dinette
   * Djangology
   * Limehouse Blues
   * Minor Swing
   * Nuages
   * Rose Room
   * Swing 42
   * Swing Guitar
   
   From Master Classic's 'The Best of 1934-1939'
   
   * Ain't Misbehaivin'
   * Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)
   * Stardust
   * Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger)
   
   From RCA Victor's 'Djangology 49' or Bluebird's 'Djangology 49/Djangology (Remastered)'
   
   * Marie
   * The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise
   
   From Verve's 'Jazz Masters 38'
   
   * Daphne
   * Melodie a Crepuscule
   
   From Blue Note's 'The Best of Django Reinhardt'
   
   * My Serenade
   
   From Jass's 'Swing Guitar'
   
   * Honeysuckle Rose (see note below)
   
   This last transcription is also found in Hal Leonard's 'Guitar Tab White Pages'. I got mine from the Jass album 'Swing Guitar' (out of print). I've also seen it on a CD called 'Django & Friends' or summat like that. It's out there you just have to dig a bit. Here Django plays with the U.S. Air Transport Command Band during 1945-46.
   
   The thing about Django is that he often recorded the same song numerous times. So finding the correct track for a particular transcription can be a challenge. I've Marcel Dadi's Alain Peirson Publication of Django tab, and in twenty years, I still can't find the source for many of those transcriptions. This Hal Leonard score transcribes recordings that are readily available. And the transcriptions are as accurate as any I've seen.

5 comments about Chord Progressions for Songwriters.

1. I recently purchased the book chord progressions for songwriters. I was hoping to learn popular chord progressions.
   When I read the book, I was a little bit disapointed.
   The book covers indeed chord progressions, but does this on a
   to theoretical manner. I think it's good to use this book as a sort of enceclopedia for songprogressions, but certainly not
   as a way to learn to play popular tunes. Now I've decided to put the book aside and buy the DVD "Piano for life".
   [...]
   I think this will help me more.



2. If you are a songwriter, it is of crucial importance to have as many tools in your toolbelt as possible. This book is an aid to avoid being a one trick pony in terms of songwriting style, structure, or overall tone.
   
   Looking to improve your improvisational skills? This book is a fantastic resource. "Chord Progressions" clearly defines the chord progressions used for various different styles of music. Regardless of whether or not you play jazz, or by the Nashville charts, understanding the lessons of this book are crucial to the art.
   
   Regarding the above reviews, there was no promise that this is any way a fake book or "encyclopedia of chord progressions" as the first reviewer states (if you are looking for a great book that is in that area by this author, try Money Chords, or the website MoneyChords.com, as the second review mentioned). At the same time, I don't agree with the third reviewer either. If I could find a product that could do this, I would certainly be willing to pay more than $30 so I could collect my millions.
   
   I hope this review helps sort out some issues, because this book is an essential tool and resource.
   
   On a personal note, Amazon should disallow reviews from anyone who has not purchased the book directly from the site (especially to curb the effect of editorials not related directly to the work being reviewed).



3. If you play bass like I do, and study chord progressions, this is the best book I can recommend! The author has put together a compendium of chord progressions from dozens and dozens of songs from blues to rock n' roll to jazz to folk & popular music. In fact, there is 500 pages of chord progressions. Anyone who plays an instrument and knows chords will find this book invaluable. This is excellent in both content and technique. I use it together with Mel Bay's Complete Book of Chords by Dana Roth and I have really improved my understanding of music and also my playing. This is a highsierrabassplayer top choice!



4. I found this book to be very good..both in conditon and content.



5. This book is packed with some great info and I find it most useful. I do however find the binding of the book to create a problem. It would be better served in a spiral binding. For instance, the book says 'pick up your guitar...and play these chords' but as soon as you play the chord the book snaps shut. It makes it difficult and frustrating and any type of clip to hold the page just makes more difficulty because I find myself flipping through a lot, therefor having to move the clip. Other than that the book is really useful and informative and I do love it, I would have preferred an online download to print and bind it myself under the circumstances. It really is great, well written, ,etc.

5 comments about Bass Culture: The John Entwistle Guitar Collection.

1. John Entwistle, always the consumate collector and influential bassist of the Who, maintained one of the most enviable bass and guitar collections of all time. This book gives everyone a chance to share in it. Clear, interesting photographs and John's own unique perspective on each instrument make it a nice addition to any music enthusiast's library.



2. The book speaks for itself, a fantastic collection of some of the most fabled basses (and guitars) in rockdom. I confess to wanting some or nearly all of these guitars at one time or another; to see them gave me a severe case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)! The only thing I would've liked more was to see more of the background on the guitars, how Mr. Entwistle happened to acquire them.



3. If you like looking at rare, vintage, and beautiful guitars and basses, you will drool over the photographs in this book. Fans of The Who and Entwistle will enjoy his comments and the peek they get into his unique mind.
   
   My only complaint was that I would have liked a few more words to go with the pictures. Each picture has a comment by Entwistle, but often these are not very descriptive. It would have been nice to learn a little about the history of each instrument and other details.
   
   But all in all I rate this work highly.



4. As a bass player, myself, this book is like walking through a time machine. It is a great portrayal of classic to modern guitars. Anyone who has any interest in the bass or electric guitar will love this. The Ox has one of the most incredible collections and adds his personal touch with the excerpts of where and when. The pictures are amazing and the presentation is fabulous! The collection was very personal to John, and the way this book was put together takes you into his world, so you can see the guitar from his own intimate perspective! Definitely a MUST HAVE!!!!!



5. This is a lovely coffee-table photo book. Entwistle's comments are usually pretty brief, save for a couple detailed descriptions. Too many guitars; I would have preferred basses only! The backgrounds, both interior and exterior, provide a nice glimpse into life on an English country manor. (On one of the instruments shot outdoors, there's a bee sitting on the pickguard.)

4 comments about Intervallic Designs for Jazz Guitar: Ultramodern Sounds for Improvising.

1. This book tries to break the average guitar player out of just playing scales and more towards playing intervals. It shows you how to take something like a minor pentatonic and play it intervallically, which really helps open up your ears to ideas you would never get from just practicing scales up and down. Very good to widen your vocabulary of lines. A++.



2. This one of the most unique guitar books EVER ...
   Whatever style you play this book will teach you something ! it starts with very simple pentatonic intervalic designs and then gradually stretches to the outer limits ! it has a cool section which explains (via examples) how outside sounds are obtained over common chords, rather that just play the licks you'll finally understand how the "outside" sound is produced, with this book you'll also see where frank gambale, scott henderson, jennifer batten and even paul gilbert got a lot of their stuff :) I don't even play jazz but this book has REALLY helped me in many ways, Joe Diorio is a master player and the lines here will also help your technique, they're HARD !



3. The thing about this book that got to me is there's no stinkin metronome, and no stinkin chords, just 99 or so awesome licks. If you've ever wondered how guys like Eric Johnson got as good as they did, you don't have to look too much further than this book. If you can get these lines into your hands, you will improve your lead playing ability regardless of musical bent. It's a visceral book from a guy who's grown beyond convention. Suggested harmonies for the designs are given but the lines are powerful unto themselves. At the end Joe does two takes on a free form blues improvisation in B flat. This dude can play !



4. First off, Joe Diorio is a major, major talent and this book, like all his others, has loads to transmit. I was at a place in my playing where I knew I needed a new approach to soloing; I intuitively felt it'd be a help to start thinking more "intervallically," so when I found this book I thought Perfect! It definitely opened new approaches for me and certainly broadened my understanding of what it means to think in intervals rather than scales, scales, scales. I do think, though, that the sound of these lines aren't at all "ultramodern"; many of them, if used in a jamming situation actually come across sounding like exercises. The idea with this book is to absorb the core concepts and then apply the approach to what you're already using in your soloing. It broadens horizons, but shouldn't be looked upon as a book of soloing ideas as such.