2 comments about 78VN - All For Strings Book 1: Violin.

1. hi there, my teacher is teaching my orchestra with all for strings i have complete book one and two this book rocks! i play viola * no really? * this is a great book it will teach you just what you need! i can't wait to finish book 3!

   */sj




2. If you want to stop throwing your money away on a twirpy little unhelpful, unprofessional, underfed, cocaine addicted swindler of a violin instructor who ruins your entire week in a mere half an hour and ghoulishly helps himself to your hard earned money just to pay for his own sicko addiction then this is the self-help, do-it-yourself manual you've dreamed of. This one book is pretty straight forward and has saved me hundreds of dollars on lessons. I don't even go to lessons anymore, I just teach myself and I've made great progress.
   
   There's some pictures and diagrams as well in here to help you with fingering but be forewarned that the fingering suggested in this book might be a bit difficult for some. It all depends on how skinny (or how fat) your fingers are and how flexible those muscles inside your fingers are. If your fingers aren't that flexible try wrapping a tight rubber band around them and then trying to spread your fingers, sort of like a spider. After a week or two you'll notice a difference.
   
   Also, for me at least it helps to use only my ring finger to play some notes (G on D string and D on A string) whereas this book suggests you use 3 (index, middle and ring). It just depends on what you're comfortable with, everyone is going to be different and some folks might enjoy the method this book gives the most. Just be aware that there are alot of different fingering techniques to use, not just the ones shown here.
   
   Other than that this is definately self-explanitory enough for you to finish yourself without paying good money for an instructor. Good investment for anyone starting the violin.

3 comments about David Cerone Performs Suzuki Violin School (Volume 2).

1. Ordered the Book and CD together, received the book, but now over one month later am still waiting for the CD. It would be nice if could have had the CD with the music book.



2. Part of the Suzuki Method relies on hearing the music about 8000 times before the child graduates the particular "book". If you (and your child) do the method properly, you will have this entire cd memorised and may even be sick of it by then. It is well done, nicely clear for advanced beginners and has a clear piano part.



3. We own this cd and, well, one can hardly comment on the music without 1st having experienced working with the Suzuki method of helping their child learn to play an instrument and read music.
   The cd is most useful and my child learned very quickly by listening to this cd. There are other versions of the Suzuki books on cd and when your child advances you can see and hear the differences of each. The way your child plays, once having worked long enough, can reflect the style in which the artist plays. My son took to playing violin very quickly. And could choose which cd he wanted by book 3.
   He still listens to the old cd,s (he added the music to his ipod, btw) for refreshing his memory and improving his critique of music. He is 16 and loves all music.
   If you are considering this method for someone you love, remember musical literacy is a lifelong treasure and pleasure no matter what your talent level. You can't go wrong even if you just want to listen. Get the book if interested, because even if you want this for yourself you can read along and definitely help your own musical literacy skills.
   It's a whole other language and nothing can beat hearing the language of music.

5 comments about Banjo Case Chord Book (Banjo).

1. Well, if you've been playing banjo for a while, you may not need this. But if you're starting out (like me), you'll find it invaluable. It's a slim line book that will fit in your banjo case behind the neck (yes, its that slim). And its just pages of chord diagrams. The sections of the book are different tuninings (ex: G tunining, C tuning, etc.) So if you've tuned to a different key, you can quickly see how to make any chord. It also covers multiple ways to make the same chord, in case you're up the neck. I'm going through "Earl Scruggs and the five string banjo" to learn to play, and this little book is the perfect accessory to reference.



2. A lot of banjoists won't think they need this chord book. Chords and old time banjo playing especially are not recognized as friends. If you play old time, then you get a lot of non sense from guitar players or even people trained to play tenor or classic banjo about chords.
   
   However, I find this chord book pretty useful for trying to build backup patterns, even if they are done not by strumming chords, but by playing rolls and frailing patterns where I am not actually making the whole chord but playing the notes of the chord.
   
   I played guitar for about 35 years before I played banjo. I developed a repertoire of songs based on chords. Having this chord book helped me to learn some of the chords that might seem normal in a guitar players repertoire that seem distant for old timey banjo players. For example, I did an arrangement of my friend Raeford Starke's song "Roughed" up that has a BM7.
   I could not have figured it out without this book.
   
   You will also find that a practice especially jazz players do with a chord book can be useful by trying to play arpeggios of the notes of a chord. This can get you a lot of notes and how they go together. It can give you a good bunch of ways to harmonice or play leads around tunes.
   
   Just because you play old time banjo, does not mean that you should be ignorant of music!



3. This book really helps in learning chords and very helpful for learning the chords to play in a different chord



4. This is great to refer to when you don't want something too bulky sitting in your banjo case.



5. If you are a BEGINNER who needs a banjo chord list, you have found the right one. This is not only about the banjo chords but about using the capo as well.

4 comments about Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part (Suzuki Violin School Ser.: Vol.4).

1. This book is the fourth in the Suzuki Violin School and should be accompanied by the Volume Four CD. All in all, a great learning tool and fantastic resource for students and teachers.



2. I have been playing the violin for about eleven or so years. When it was time for me to get serious about violin, the Suzuki books really helped me out. My instructor had the other Suzuki books but I feel in love with the 4th volume because I was able to play the Vivaldi piece, my first real piece. The duet at the end (first violin in volume 5) is really good.



3. I grew up learning the Suzuki method and believe in it 100%. Depending on your skill level, this may better be learned with an accomplished teacher. Suzuki method is also a philosophy - look for the book by Suzuki himself explaining this. My violin teacher made all her students' parents read this when we started lessons.
   
   This collection of songs not only is a good collection to learn various techniques on the violin, but I still have fun years later playing them over and over. They sound impressive when performed. Take note that the sixth song is a duet, and the second violin part is the one published in this book. The Violin I part is not in this book.



4. There are four people in my family who play the violin, and we all really like this book. We especially love the Vivaldi peices. There are three of them!

5 comments about Build Your Own Electric Guitar: Complete Instructions and Full-Size Plans.

1. This is the best electric guitar builder's guide that I have ever seen, especially for new builders like me. Very good colour photos.



2. I purchased three recommended books on electric solid body guitar construction. Hiscock's book is more complete and informative but this one came in 2nd. If I wanted to build the guitar described in this book, it gets the job done. It's less complete if you have another design concept in mind.



3. Top rated helping constuction manual and guide, very good colour photos,nice presentation overall and just about 1/6th of a page about guitar finishing (painting e.t.c.).
   Why, why, why?



4. I used this to build my first electric and it made it SO easy! I will never play a production guitar again!



5. I really enjoyed this book However, I wish someone wouldn't assume that we're all electrical engineers who can read schematics. I would have liked to have seen a simple, well illustrated section on pickup and control wiring not in schematic form. Well thought out and illustrated in the wood portions and easy to follow but I still don't know how to wire up the electronics.

5 comments about Bass Grooves: Develop Your Groove and Play Like the Pros in Any Style.

1. This is not a typical book with bunch of licks without explenation. Here everything is explained in detail - how drums (should) work with bass in different styles. Great musical examples although it would be much better if music was split into seperate channels for bass and drums. Great book worth money.



2. After attending Bass at the Beach 2005, I came away knowing how important time and groove is to a bass player. My whole goal was to become a solid groove player once I came back. If you have any questions or difficulties about rhythm or keeping a strong groove than this book is the answer. I have never felt super solid about reading syncopated rhythms even though I have read numerous books and been told countless ways to try and learn them. This book has answered that problem for me. A drum machine is highly recommended as the book dissects the drum parts that should be programmed in to play each bass groove over. This is the first book that I've come across that really explains "feel" from many different angles. I could go on and on about it but the basic gist is that this book has me thinking about rhythm in a whole new way and it is helping my bass playing more than anything else that I've read. This will be my Bass Bible for years to come...Thanks Ed!



3. This book is one of the best books out there for the budding bassist, in my opinion. Ed Friedland, an experienced instructor and seasoned studio bassist, really lays down a solid foundation for understanding the role of the bass and how to fit in with the band.
   Some definate pro's would be Ed's lively writing style and clear descriptions of the examples being played. Instead of pulling random grooves out of nowhere, he really gives solid insights on the music. And the examples are clearly first rate and give good bredth within different genres. He also gives very good ideas simply on becoming comfortable playing the instrument, which I've found is one of the biggest concerns for beginners.
   The book does not go without a few cautionary bits, however. Ed Friedland highly recommends getting a drum machine to jam along with (he even writes out the drum parts). This naturally, is great advice if used, but without a drum machine (or, better yet, a real live drummer!), the book really can't be enjoyed to the same extent. So if you don't have a drum machine and have absolutely no interest in getting one ever, this book might not be the best option. Also, one should note that though this book covers many different genres, it doesn't go into real depth concerning any particular one. So, if, for example you dig motown, heavy metal, or whatever, try getting a book that focuses specifically on that style in addition to this book. Concerning just pure insight and ecclectic examples, this book rocks, but this shouldn't be the only book in your bass library if you are interested in diving deep into a specific genre.



4. This book will give you the basic facts and insight required to build a solid groove. It provides some technical stuff, that's for sure. But the main thing is, you can develop a feeling of the groove in yourself (not your guitar only) and start to understand what it really means "to groove".
   
   However, advanced / pro players trusting their groove may consider alternative books.



5. If you are a soon-to-be-famous rock star with your own group playing just your own music, this book is going to broaden your musical horizon and give you lots of new ideas for your own bass lines. But if you want to be a serious bass player, versatile stylistically and firm in many different musical situations, this book is IT! And if you like to gain some deeper knowlegde and understanding, get Ed Friedland's "The Working Bassist's Tool Kit" as well.

5 comments about The Mandolin Chord Book (Mandolin).

1. As the others have said this is a good book to keep handy for your practice sessions. The only gripe I have is that if I want to learn how to play an Am7b5 I want to look in the key of A section. But that chord is the 7th chord in a harmonized B scale so it's in the "Key of B" section. If I want to find a G anything chord I expect it to be in a section on G chords, not in G for some chords and C for others and in A minor for others. This means that quite often you have to search the book to find the one you're looking for.

   Lots of good chords here. They're just organized oddly.




2. As you've most likely read in other reviews on this product, chords in this book are organized by key and not alphabetically. I really hated the organization of the chords at first. However, after some amount of initial frustration the more I used the book, the more I appreciated it. I would never have thought to order a chord reference in this fashion. It's turned out to be quite a useful reference tool.



3. Simple and good for a beginner like me. A good tool.



4. The booklet is very handy and the way the chords are arranged (by key) is good.



5. "Get you a chord book," said the crusty old guy who restrung my mandolin. As a beginner, this book is top-notch, presenting the chords in their keys.

5 comments about Teach Yourself to Play Mandolin.

1. I purchased this book on ratings and found it to be very in depth. This is a good book if you have a good background in music, but if you do not it may be over your head. I use this book very little as I have found much better in depth books available.
   Bill
   N.C.



2. This is an excellent book for learning mandolin except it does not come with a CD. At first I was discouraged but then used another mandolin book that included a CD and then went back to learn from this one, which worked out great. Great excercises for learning the fret board.



3. My husband has played guitar for many years & just bought a mandolin. He was unsure how to tune it and this book showed him how to tune it, the notes, etc. He was very pleased with the book and told me it taught him everything he needed.



4. It's been 20 years since I read sheet music; this book has a terrific introduction to reading music and some fun practice songs to play. I highly recommend it.



5. This is a good general introduction to the mandolin, suitable for those with no background in string instruments.
   
   A previous reviewer stated that the book included standard notation and tablature. That is incorrect. There is no tablature for the musical selections in this book.

5 comments about Beginning Fingerstyle Blues Guitar (Book and Audio CD) (Guitar Books).

1. I have tried MANY self-teach finger picking books - this one is amongst the best. Clear explanations, deliberately staged lessons, a useful CD and, perhaps most important of all, a tone of respect for the old flat picker who wants to learn how to use his fingers. In a couple of hours, I was on my way to being able play the way I have wanted to for many years.



2. There are many styles of acoustic blues. If you are going to invest the time needed to learn to play, you must find the style that most touches your soul. For me, this set of book and cd isn't the one.
   Try Happy Traum's 2 dvd set "Easy Steps to Acoustic Blues Guitar", way better in my opinion, and more soulful blues. The 2nd dvd by Traum in this set is a masterfull teaching of fingerpicking, whereas the first is more on strumming patterns and learning the basic form. I recommend both, but if it is only fingerpicking you want, get #2 by itself.
   Happy Traum is a great teacher...the best I've encountered for home study.
   Also try his dvd "The Blues Bag" for 11 blues songs in varied styles.



3. After buying a number of fingerstyle guitar books, I must say that this is one of the few books I will recommend to my friends to buy.
   
   What I liked about this book is that it is easy to follow and with practice, you would be able to play blues songs on the guitar. The pieces given are both in tab and music score and caters to newbies as well as those who are intermediate level in their playing skills.
   
   This book not only teaches you how to play blues but it includes many fingerstyle techniques as well. It has almost all that you need to learn about fingerstyle and customised to blues music. However, you can use the same techniques for other styles after you have mastered the basiscs.
   
   The CD could have been better and I agree with the comments on the ramblings. Can be quite distracting. It would have been better if they had scripted the comments properly rather than ad-lib along the way. The music pieces on the CD are great and you would like to have them in your repertoire.
   
   I give this book a 5 star nevertheless.



4. I may be in the running for the world's lowest quotient of native guitar playing talent. I took lessons for a couple of years and practiced regularly and was always frustrated. I pretty much gave up for the last 5 years. Then about 6 months ago I bought Beginning Fingerstyle Blues Guitar and am now enjoying the guitar the way I origionaly thought I would. I still have a screwy connection between my mind an fingers but at least I can finger pick enough blues to have a good time, if not let anybody else listen.
   
   The book is nicely paced, well written and the CD, if a bit unevenly produced is a helpful addition. And most of all it has restored my enjoyment of the guitar.



5. This is not well organized and the CD is not much help. His playing of the songs at the end of the book is more about him showing off how fast he can play than about teaching the material. I wouldn't listen to a set by this guy in a bar. He can play the notes fast but lacks the feel of the music.
   
   There are much better introductions to fingerstyle blues, especially Kenny Sultan's series.

5 comments about Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method: Grade 1 (Grade 1).

1. I got this book after having previously purchased Ralph Denyer's Guitar Handbook. This book is most certainly not about the modern guitar you might be thinking about if you're learning to play The Beatles, Metallica, U2, Aerosmith, or any rock or hard rock bands from the last fifty plus years.
   
   This book's version of "modern" guitar seems to be talking about the semi-classical/folk tunes that a young guitar player might be interested if they were growing up around 1920 or 1930.
   
   This isn't to say that the book has nothing positive to offer. It is very well laid out and does introduce concepts about scales and chords in a way that is not too quick for the beginner. It is a good book, but it may be a little old, and therefore, not what you're looking for.



2. I am a "self-taught" guitarist of over 30 years. Last year I decided to get serious about guitar and put some order around all the stuff I've picked up over the years. I can't count the number of instructional "stuff" I've purchased over the years. I wish I would have found this text earlier. I would have saved myself lots of money and frustration! If you want to know how music theory relates to your fretboard and *really* be able to play any kind of music, this is the book for you. If you want a quick answer or a formula for playing rifts to impress your friends, you probably won't like it. This book is for someone who sincerely wants to work toward mastering the instrument. The course is not a destination, but rather the beginning of a journey that will bring you hours of enjoyment as you discover how music theory is related to the fretboard. For best results, find a good instructor with a sense of humor to help you; it's a good investment.



3. I disagree with some reviewers who feel this is just old fashioned - well it is old fashioned as it was first written in 1946 - but for what it does, teach you to play music on guitar, it's OK. There's very few other books that do that well. But these Mel Bay books are so cheap, they are worth it just for the music reading practice. It's not a book for starting to play guitar, it's a book to help you read music on guitar. I'll give it 5 as it's such good value for money and forcing you to learn music - something you need to do sometime before you get real good - or risk looking a moron in front of other musicians who've taken the time out to learn standard notation.
   
   Why read? Well it's a bit like being able to speak a language but not be able to read and write it. TAB is specific for guitarists and bass players - if you'll ever need to communicate your musical ideas to any other players you'll need standard notation. And if you want to be a pro, we shouldn't even be having this discussion - it isn't an option.
   
   There's also Mel Bay's newer, William Bay written series of 5 books based on these called Mastering the Guitar. These have a newer feel. But they are very similar.



4. The instructor asked me to return it because he didnt want me to use that book, therefore I never opened it and cannot give a review.



5. There are many complaints about this book. The first two I read said the book was outdated, or not modern. I agree-both of those statements are true.
   
   Another complaint is that this book is boring. Tenting Tonight might not be your cup of tea, along with many others.
   
   Before you listen to any of these reviews, take another look at the cover. I don't think people are paying any attention to the big number one on there. This is book one of seven.
   
   Have you ever looked at the material in book seven? Go to a music store and leaf through a copy. I guarantee you that most guitarists you run into will not be sight reading that material.
   
   If you go into learning the material with the view that it is not modern or boring, you are not going to learn anything. Have you ever wondered why this series of books has been around for so long? You will learn, if you put in some effort.
   
   If you find book one too easy, try book two. Is it the material that is too easy, or the fact that, before long, this series of books will definately show you flaws in your technique that need to be worked on?