The Complete Guitar Course: Learn to Play 20 Easy-To-Follow Lessons

by Tom Fleming

Book Overview

"The Complete Guitar Course" is designed to teach a beginner to play guitar in 20 easy-to-follow lessons. Included is basic music theory 101, and classic pieces as well as short inspirational stories... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076210662X
• ISBN13: 9780762106622
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Reader's Digest Association
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 3.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 9.2" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

More than lessons

Great book, stuffed with much, and varied, information including the history of guitar and many guitarists. It will give the novice a good idea of what their likes are and what they might want to pursue in more detail afterwards.

Good Guitar Instruction in Every Chapter

I was skeptical about how "complete" a single guitar book could be, while looking for a starter course for my nephew. I've been playing guitar a while now, and am a decent guitarist with adequate musical theory. So, I was going to be very critical about the books I would be considering. This one is pretty complete for a beginner and an enthusiast. It presented material that was solid and easy to understand. Each chapter/lesson of the twenty had theory and practice that gradually built up a competent and knowledgeable guitarist. Later chapters dealt with various styles of music, so there was ample room to grow, at least sample a musical genre. Overall, it was a very good book, and a pretty good place to start playing a great instrument. It also makes a great refresher, with exercises, songs, and scales to keep an intermediate player's skills honest. Although a bit easier for my level of playing, I enjoyed the exercises and the songs (some of which are popular modern published works, and not those inane, ubiquitous, royalty-free spirituals) included throughout the book. I believe even beginners will find the lessons doable and be happy with the progress they make. It's well written and keeps a proper level of difficulty. Once completed, the new guitarist will be able to perform a variety of songs and styles, and understand a wealth of musical knowledge. Buy this if you're interested in picking up the guitar, or want to play it better with some good musical background theory. Sure, it's easy to knock a book like this (which some reviewers have done), and, admittedly, I caught a few typos (but just by practicing the music, you can figure out what note was off in the sheet music). However, critics of this book tend to forget that there are not many decent guitar books out there. I contend that the courses are as complete as possible without an actual music teacher. It's better than current guitar books out there, and is worth getting.

a good buy

This book is one of the few guitar books I've purchased that actually taught me something. Although I've only played for a year-I have bought alot of books online and have kicked myself in the [...] on most of them. If you are young in your guitar experience check it out-you won't be sorry. It shows the basics of how to change strings all the way to having a chord reference that is really helpful.

Will enable any guitar student

"The Complete Guitar Course" is a single, comprehensive, step-by-step instruction book that will teach the reader all of the basics required for playing the guitar. Comprised of twenty 'user friendly" lessons that are profusely illustrated, easy-to-follow, and progressively skill-building, "The Complete Guitar Course" will help even the most novice aspiring guitarist to select the guitar that is the right kind for them; build chords and master simple melodies on the guitar; choose among rock, blues, folk, and classical guitar music styles; tune, change strings, and otherwise keep a guitar in top shape; achieve special effects on the guitar ranging from 'finger picking' to 'arpeggios'; practice playing the guitar using real songs (with scores of well-known and popular hit tunes); be introduced to inspiring and legendary players in all the guitar music genres from Andres Sergovia's classical acoustic guitar stylings to Clapton's electric guitar masterpieces. Offering the perfect approach to learning to play the guitar and a core addition to personal, music school, and community library Music Instruction reference collections, "The Complete Guitar Course" will enable any guitar student to perform beautiful music, have fun with their chosen instrument, and even embark upon a professional music career.