The Everything Guitar Book

Filled with clear, step-by-step instructions, finger positioning, diagrams and tons of professional tips, this guide to the guitar will have readers playing like a pro in no time. Illustrations.

Be a star on the bass guitar! The bass guitar is an essential instrument in the "big three" styles of music: rock, jazz, and Latin. If you want to learn to play what's often called the heart of a band, you can do it with The Everything Bass Guitar Book with CD. You'll get an introduction to music theory, learn about common bass lines and patterns, and discover how the bass can be used as a solo instrument. Written by two accomplished musicians, this step-by-step guide outlines the basics of playing this versatile instrument, including: Where to find the right equipment--from a bass to an amp and accessories How to read notation and tablature Hand and finger techniques Improvisational methods and ensemble skills By following the easy-to-understand instructions and special audio lessons on CD, you'll learn how to play the bass in no time at all!

Once guitar players learn the basics, they need to take the next step in their musical education. Scales are the musical grammar they're looking for, and this book is a one-stop shop for every scale guitar lovers could ever imagine! Highlights of this valuable reference book include: Easy-to-follow fret board diagrams (no music reading required); Thousands of scale shapes; Scales for every style of music, including world/ethnic music; The basic theory behind the scales and tips on how to use them; And more! Musicians at all levels will enjoy the new sounds and possibilities these scales provide, and the accompanying audio CD demonstrates how to use the scales in real-life musical situations. This oversized volume contains everything guitarists need to know about scales in a fun, down-to-earth package!

Teaches the fundamentals of playing guitar, from purchasing the right model to learning scales and chords, and includes information on tuning, slide playing, and equipment.

A one-stop resource to the essentials of owning and playing the guitar If you’ve just bought a guitar, or you’ve had one for a while, you probably know it takes some time and effort to learn how to play the popular instrument. There’s so much to know about owning, maintaining, and playing a guitar. Where do you even begin? In Guitar All-in-One For Dummies, a team of expert guitarists and music teachers shows you the essentials you need to know about owning and playing a guitar. From picking your first notes to exploring music theory and composition, maintaining your gear, and diving into the specifics of genres like blues and rock, this book is a comprehensive and practical goldmine of indispensable info. Created for the budding guitarist who wants all their lessons and advice in one place, the book will show you how to: Maintain, tune, and string your guitar, as well as decipher music notation and guitar tablature Understand guitar theory, sounds and techniques to help you learn new songs and add your style to classic tunes Practice several popular genres of guitar music, including blues, rock, and classical Access accompanying online video and audio instructional resources that demonstrate the lessons you find in the book Perfect for guitar players at any skill level, Guitar All-in-One For Dummies is a must-have resource for anyone who wants to get the most out of their own guitar and make great music.

Have you ever dreamed of playing lead guitar like John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Slash, and Eric Clapton? Perhaps you took a few lessons, but became frustrated and gave up. If so, The Everything Rock & Blues Guitar Book is for you. With easy-to-understand instruction, The Everything Rock & Blues Guitar Book provides you with everything you need to play all your favorite songs. You will learn the scales and chords found in all rock and blues songs, and master the unique techniques that define them. The Everything Rock & Blues Guitar Book also includes professional tips on: Inflection and phrasing Chord progression Alternate tuning, harmonics, and slide playing Transcription and ear training Equipment, such as electric guitars, straps, amplifiers, strings, and pedals Written in plain English by longtime professional guitarist and instructor Marc Schonbrun, The Everything Rock & Blues Guitar Book shows you how to play with your head as well as your hands.

"National Guitar Workshop method approved curriculum."

This book is designed to be useful for guitarists at any skill level. Beginners can use it as an introduction to the foundational concepts of the instrument, intermediate players can use it for training and theoretical work, and advanced players can explore the sections on advanced theory, extended technique andthe exhaustive tables of melodic and rhythmic possibilities.It is divided into two parts: pitch and rhythm. Part 1 (pitch) begins with the properties of string, harmonics, and tuning systems. It then moves methodically through pitch information, beginning with locating all versions of a single pitch, building pentatonic, heptatonic, and all possible symmetrical scales. This is followed by a study of intervals, with all possible locations of every two pitches, and a long study that moves through every possible fingering of three pitches, with a series of exercises to master triadic syntax. Part 1 closes with a study of four-pitch structures and complete tables that show all possible pitch sets in circular visual notation.Part 2 (rhythm) begins with a complete course in "Symmetrical Picking," a methodbased on drum rudiments that builds control in the picking hand through an exhaustive variety of movements. The focus of this section is building a strong rhythmic foundation, with a focus on efficiency, accuracy, speed, dynamics, and groove. It is followed by a study of legato playing, working with ornaments and slides. The study of playing with fingers on multiple strings takes up the remainder of the book. This begins with the study of pulse against pulse, playing twosimultaneous tempos. The book concludes with a study of polyrhythm, playingone rhythm against another. Plain English is used as much as possible to describe theoretical concepts, and hundreds of illustrations were made for the book as an aid to those who either don't speak English or prefer to think visually. This approach is designed to beinclusive and to promote creative practice. The main idea of the book is described in this passage (page 154): "Even in this small area there is a lot of material, potentially a lifetime of study. The amount of information can feel overwhelming to students at any level. For this reason, the book is designed for self-directed practice, with an emphasis on what the player "could" do, rather than what the player "should" do. The principle is to develop your own learning process, rather than following someone else?s. The ability to make choices is essential in finding a personal approach to the instrument. Pick and choose the studies that seem interesting - there should be enough variety to accommodate a wide range of personalities. If any particular concept or exercise has been useful as the starting point for a new creative direction, then the book has done its job. Its purpose is not to push any dogma,method, or style, but to open the door to options for guitarists of any background that are looking for new perspectives.