Beginning guitar instruction book

dragon1952 · Post by **dragon1952** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:46 pm

This is kind of embarrassing but can anyone recommend a good beginner guitar book? I'm interested in Blues, Jazz and Rock. The Mel Bay book I'm using right now is OK but kind of fuddy-duddy if you know what I mean.

I'm probably ready for a Grade 2 book. Thanks!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:08 am

For goodness' sake don't be embarrassed, Rob!! I have a number of "Complete Learn To Play" books that I am working my way through. They come with CDs and start with the basics and go through to relatively advanced techniques.

See if you can find "Blues", "Rhythm", "Fingerpick" and "Lead". The Hal Leonard range of books are also very good - I have a jazz one.

I've found that even after 30 years off, old 'bad' habits die hard and there are certain basics that must be observed.

For(e) me it's a bit like having golf lessons for the first time in your life after playing for 30 years. "OK buddy - nice swing but............"

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:34 am

Oh... there's nothing embarrassing about it, Rob (IMHO) - in any case, if you can read notes and are not lazy, you certainly have more chance than me...
(BTW, my guitar "book" was a notebook with hand-drawn chord tabs... and my friends who were showing me where to put my fingers on the fretboard, you know... that is what i'd call embarrassing!)

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:41 am

Read notes? What are they?..........

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:41 am

Oh, you know, Aitch, that's those little circles, sometimes plain black, sometimes white in the middle... with different dashes, sitting quietly on their lines, as well as above and below them... i've heard they also mean something...

Okay, kiddin' of course. They are very helpful in fact... i have a Jazz/Ragtime instruction book where there's no tabs, and i cannot tell you how much i wish i could read it! But somehow i never succeed - tried to learn note grammar several times and goodness knows why never managed! A pity indeed... must try again.
On the other hand, i've heard Mark Knopfler learned the note grammar only when he was about 50 or so...

trick_knee · Post by **trick_knee** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:02 am

I've played bass for over 25 years, and began teaching myself guitar this year (damn those New Year's resolutions). I can't remember the name of the book, but I'm having a blast...my housemates might have something else to say about that! If this works out, maybe I'll take up the piano next, there's always New Years 2007!

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:11 am

I might be the king of guitar books. I have tried many of them. The good ones I’ve kept.
I’m on my lunch break at work now so I don’t have the names in front of me. (And tonight I have a band rehearsal.) If you can wait until tomorrow, I can give you a rundown of “Mark’s Top Ten.”

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:23 am

I remember an interview with B.B. King and about a fellow musician asking B.B. what chords he was playing. His reply "I don't know, I don't know no codes."

dragon1952 · Post by **dragon1952** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:35 am

LOL! You guys crack me up. I knew I was funny but I wasn't aware that it was a standard trait of guitarists in general

My brother gave me the Mel Bay book and they are great for learning the basics and how to read music, in fact I bought the one for Bass also, but getting a little tired of playing Shenandoah and Long,Long Ago. In fact the Mel Bay series is what I was using back in the early 60's. My Dad had a million of them, probably '40s and '50s issues. That's probably the main reason I gave up learning. I wanted to play Beatles and Kinks and I got Home on the Range instead

I think my brother said he had one of the Hal Leonard books so maybe I'll check that out as Howard suggested. And thanks Mark, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks all!

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:47 am

"Hang down your head Tom Dooley, hang down your head and cry..."

Look, man, when you can make THAT song rock you'll know you are a guitar player!

dragon1952 · Post by **dragon1952** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:07 am

LOL! Yep, that one too

No way in hell to make Mel Bay songs rock!

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:15 am

Hmmm... why not try, eh?

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:18 am

Yeah, I knew this was coming.
Did B.B. King ever study a guitar book? Probably not. And neither did Robert Johnson, W.C. Handy, Josh White, Mance Linscomb, Muddy Waters, Lightin’ Hopkins or Rev. Gary Davis. But somebody showed them some basics. And their talent took it from there. If I had one-tenth of their genius, I wouldn’t need a book either. But unfortunately I was only graced with great looks and extreme modesty.
Books are only a tool, not an end themselves. One more point about books, CDs, DVDs, etc. They are only really helpful if one USES them and uses them in the right way. I wish instruction books stressed this more. It is not enough to read through, or even to practice through every page. (And I am also very guilty of this.) One should not go on to the next exercise or chapter until the previous one is mastered. This takes TIME and effort. Otherwise the book is just taking up space on the shelf.
Oh, and a big plus, is to have a great local teacher.
OK, lunch break over. Time to get back to work.

dragon1952 · Post by **dragon1952** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:29 am

Yeah, my main goal in using the instruction books is to learn how to read music, which is coming quite easily so far, and develop some coordination and a little speed. I am competent enough to make it through a couple grades by myself. Then I'll get together with my brother and learn some cool stuff. Even though it would probably be to my advantage, I just don't want to waste his time right now on stuff I can learn on my own.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:37 am

Mark: Music books are a fine way to build skills along with watching others and discussing styles with those who love music.

My favourite music book is The Beatles' Complete Scores. Books may not be the whole story but they can certainly wet your appetite for more and get you close to the truth.

My comment about B.B. King is really a reminder to myself that there are many outstanding musicians who have left their mark without claiming to have any formal training in music.

I am most interested to learn of your top ten picks.