Synopses & Reviews
Let’s face it – in the music world, guitars set the standard for
cool. Since the 1950s, many of the greatest performers in rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and country have played the guitar. Playing electric guitar can put you out in front of a band, where you’re free to roam, sing, and make eye contact with your adoring fans. Playing acoustic guitar can make you the star of the vacation campfire sing-along or allow you to serenade that special someone. And playing any kind of guitar can bring out the music in your soul and become a valued lifetime hobby.
Guitar For Dummies delivers everything the beginning to intermediate guitarist needs. The information has been carefully crafted so that you can find exactly what you want to know about the guitar. This clearly written guide is for anyone who wants to know how to
- Strum basic chords and simple melodies
- Expand your range with advanced techniques
- Play melodies without reading music
- Choose the right guitar
- Tune, change strings, and make simple repairs
Figure out how to play anything from simple chord progressions to smokin’ blues licks. Guitar For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:
- Hand position and posture
- Basic major and minor chords
- Adding spice with basic 7th chords and barre chords
- Playing melodies in position and in double-stops
- Different styles including rock, blues, folk, and classical
- Buying a guitar and accessories
- Taking care of your guitar
Guitar For Dummies also contains a play-along audio CD that contains all 97 songs and exercises from the book. Whether you’re contemplating a career as a heavy metal superstar or you just want to strum a few folk songs for your friends, this friendly book-and-CD package makes it easy to pick up the guitar and start playing.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Review
“…offers everything the beginner to intermediate guitarist needs in an irreverent and accessible format…” (Harborough Mail, 17thNovember 2005)
Review
'“…offers everything the beginner to intermediate guitarist needs in an irreverent and accessible format…” (Harborough Mail, 17thNovember 2005) '
Synopsis
Have you always wanted to play guitar? Who wouldn't? Think of Jimi Hendrix wailing away on his Stratocaster. . . Chuck Berry duck-walking across the stage to "Johnny B. Goode". . .B.B. King making his "Lucille" cry the blues. No doubt about it—guitars are
cool.
Guitar For Dummies2nd Edition tells you everything a beginning or intermediate guitarist needs to know: from buying a guitar to tuning it, playing it, and caring for it, this book has it all—and you don't even need to know how to read music. Full of photo-illustrated exercises and songs you can play to practice the techniques discussed in each section, this step-by-step guide will take you through the basics and beyond before you can say "Eric Clapton." You'll learn how to:
- Match yourself with the guitar and equipment that fits your needs and budget
- Select the right accessories: amps, picks, pedals, capos, cases, and other goodies
- Pick and strum to produce a clean, clear, buzz-free tone
- Know whether you're reallyin tune
- Play melodies without reading music
- Perform basic guitar maintenance and repairs
- Build strength and dexterity while playing
- Play in different styles, including rock, blues, folk, jazz, and classical
- Make your guitar talkwith bends and slides!
Fully revised and updated, with an all new interactive CD that allows readers to listen, learn, tune, and play along, Guitar For Dummies2nd Edition is the perfect introductory guide for any novice acoustic or electric guitar player.
Note:CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Synopsis
Features an all-new, interactive audio CD with MP3 files
The latest tips and techniques for playing beautiful tunes without reading music!
Gearing up to play the guitar? Whether you're a new or seasoned guitarist, this updated guide makes it easy with step-by-step instruction on everything from simple chord progressions to smokin' blues licks. You get expanded coverage of musical styles ranging from rock and jazz to folk and classical.
Discover how to
- Select the right guitar and accessories
- Develop correct hand position and posture
- Strum basic chords and simple melodies
- Tune, change strings, and make simple repairs
- Expand your range with advanced techniques
Synopsis
Play-along audio CD included! The fun and easy way to start playing the guitarCovers rock, blues, folk, and classical styles
Start strumming tunes right away—without reading music
Whether you're contemplating a career as a heavy metal superstar or you just want to strum a few folk songs for your friends, this friendly book-and-CD package makes it easy to pick up the guitar. From simple chord progressions to smokin' blues licks, it delivers just what you need to make beautiful music — and have some fun while you fret!
Discover how to:
- Strum basic chords and simple melodies
- Expand your range with advanced techniques
- Explore rock, blues, folk, and classical fundamentals
- Choose the right guitar
- Tune, change strings, and make simple repairs
All this on the audio CDAll 97 songs and exercises from the book on audio CD
Play along with "Simple Gifts," "Streets of Laredo," a heavy metal power chord progression, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," Chuck Berry-slides, a country riff with palm muting, "Chuck's Duck," blues turnarounds, "Mississippi Mud," a folk thumd-brush-up pattern, "House of the Rising Sun," a contrapuntal classical exercise, and many more
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About the Author
Mark Phillipsis a guitarist, arranger, and editor with more than 30 years in the music publishing field. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music theory from Case Western Reserve University, where he received the Carolyn Neff Award for scholastic excellence, and his master’s degree in music theory from Northwestern University, where he was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda, the most prestigious U.S. honor society for college and university music students. While working toward a doctorate in music theory at Northwestern, Phillips taught classes in theory, ear-training, sight-singing, counterpoint, and guitar.
During the 1970s and early ’80s, Phillips was Director of Popular Music at Warner Bros. Publications, where he edited and arranged the songbooks of such artists as Neil Young, James Taylor, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin. Since the mid-’80s he has served as Director of Music and Director of Publications at Cherry Lane Music, where he has edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica, and has served as Music Editor of the magazines Guitarand Guitar One.
Phillips is the author of several books on musical subjects, including Metallica Riff by Riff, Sight-Sing Any Melody Instantly,and Sight-Read Any Rhythm Instantly.In his non-musical life, Phillips is the author/publisher of a series of “fun” high school English textbooks, including The Wizard of Oz Vocabulary Builder, The Pinocchio Intermediate Vocabulary Builder,and Tarzan and Jane’s Guide to Grammar.For the reference value of his numerous publications, Phillips is profiled in Who’s Who in America.
Jon Chappellis a multistyle guitarist, transcriber, and arranger. He attended Carnegie-Mellon University, where he studied with Carlos Barbosa-Lima, and he then went on to earn his master’s degree in composition from DePaul University, where he also taught theory and ear training. He was formerly Editor-in-Chief of Guitarmagazine, Technical Editor of Guitar Shop Magazine,and Musicologist for Guitarra,a classical magazine. He has played and recorded with Pat Benatar, Judy Collins, Graham Nash, and Gunther Schuller, and he has contributed numerous musical pieces to film and TV. Some of these include Northern Exposure, Walker, Texas Ranger, Guiding Light,and the feature film Bleeding Heartsdirected by actor-dancer Gregory Hines. In 1990, he became Associate Music Director of Cherry Lane Music where he has transcribed, edited, and arranged the music of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Steve Morse, Mike Stern, and Eddie Van Halen, among others. He has more than a dozen method books to his name, and is the author of Rock Guitar For Dummiesand the textbook The Recording Guitarist — A Guide for Home and Studio,published by Hal Leonard.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
Part I: So You Wanna Play Guitar.
Chapter 1: Guitar 101.
Chapter 2: Turn On, Tune In.
Chapter 3: Ready, Set...Not Yet: Developing the Tools and Skills to Play.
Part II: So Start Playing: The Basics.
Chapter 4: The Easiest Way to Play: Basic Major and Minor Chords.
Chapter 5: Playing Melodies without Reading Music!
Chapter 6: Adding Some Spice: Basic 7th Chords
Part III: Beyond the Basics: Starting to Sound Cool.
Chapter 7: Up the Neck: Playing Melodies in Position and in Double-Stops.
Chapter 8: Stretching Out: Barre Chords.
Chapter 9: Special Articulation: Making the Guitar Talk.
Part IV: A Cornucopia of Styles.
Chapter 10: Rock
Chapter 11: Blues.
Chapter 12: Folk.
Chapter 13: Classical.
Part V: Gearing Up: A Buyer's Guide.
Chapter 14: Perfectly Good Guitars.
Chapter 15: Guitar Accessories.
Part VI: Care and Feeding.
Chapter 16: Getting Strung Along: Changing Strings.
Chapter 17: Staying Fit: Basic Maintenance and Repairs.
Part VII: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 18: 10 Guitarists You Should Know.
Chapter 19: 10 Guitars You Should Know.
Appendix A: How to Read Music.
Appendix B: How to Use the CD.
Index.
Book Registration Information.