Guitar for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Great Starting Point
Review: I, too, bought a new Fender and this book. I wanted to sit down and learn some basics and see if I enjoyed playing guitar before going out to lessons. This book was probably the best at getting you playing the guitar as any I have looked at. The authors really zoom in on the important aspects of starting to play the guitar as well as adding some of the theory behind why and how things are done. After using this book for about a month, I was able to play recognizable tunes for people. This book got me to that point so fast, I really fell in love with playing and I have started taking lessons. The book propelled me way past beginner status so the lessons I'm taking are actually "more bang for my buck" and I'm playing real songs after only 2 lessons. I would recommend this book to any beginner who wants to learn the basics at their own pace. This is a must have for anyone starting out.

Rating:
Summary: Guitar for Dummies, Has Lots of Yummies
Review: I'm still learning from this book and enjoy the wonderful knowledge it expounds with humor and ease of teaching. Buy it,you'll love it.

Rating:
Summary: Fret One
Review: Great Book, man! If you just got your first guitar and don't know where to go, get the book! You don't need to know how to read music. It has both TAB and standard notation. It has everything from power chords (a VERY fun metal thing) to classical to folk to blues boxes. AND it's got some rock too. Cool, Man!

Rating:
Summary: My Thoughts
Review: I think that this is a pretty good book if you want to teach yourself guitar. When I picked it up I had had some previous guitar experiance and there are a few spots that could have been comfusing if I knew absoloutly nothing about this instrument. But I would still recommend that you buy this book. The graphics are good and it includes a lot of detail, and also has sections on how to clean your guitar, change strings, and picking out the right guitar to buy. Very informative and interesting. All the chords are clearly illustrated and so are the notes. Plus it doesn't focus on a particular guitar style or type, whatever you play, it has the info you need. A good buy!

Rating:
Summary: Good buy for the novice
Review: This book does just what it says on the cover--provide an overview of guitar playing for those just getting started. For example, if you're not sure whether you want to play classic or jazz, this book will give you helpful info. Good reference material on repairs, buying a guitar, etc. One complaint: their "top ten" guitarists of all time ignor such greats as Charlie Byrd, George van Eps, Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Barnie Kessel, Herb Ellis, Eddie Lang, Django, et al., in favor of some current rockers who will soon pass from memory.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent starting point
Review: I will have to disagree with the negative reviews posted about "Dummies". I started learning guitar with no prior knowledge of anything musical. I could not play any musical instrument, I knew absolutely nothing about the world of music theory, notation, nothing. This book explains concepts very well; the lessons are easy to follow. And, I made it past part 1 chapter 3 just just fine, thanks. You won't get stuck, unless you are illiterate. IF you want to study theory, notation and scales (which I suggest you do after this book) then start here. Dummies will introduce to PLAYING, and that is the central thesis to this book. Not too much too soon, I found too little, I understood the music theory concepts perfectly, and found myself looking to the net for further explanations. Just remember that this book is meant only as an introduction, and a brilliant job it does of it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I had no knowlege at all about how to play the guitar when I bought this book. I thought the book was clear, easy to follow, and very informative. It taught me how to play. However, I did know standard notation from my old piano days, which probably gave me an advantage, but a person can also hear the timing of the songs from the CD. I would recommend this book to anyone who is serious about learning guitar.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Start, But...
Review: I concur with those who found the book useful, but not comprehensive enough. Its strengths lie in teaching how to strum early on, and how to use the basic patterns of different styles right away. I was certainly not bored, and some of the material (especially near the end, with the section on classical playing) is very challening. The CD is definitely a plus, and the ability to block out the accompaniment (by selecting a specific stereo channel) allows you to follow along and build playing strength. However, there is no chart of chords beyond those that are used in the songs, and the attempt at learning music notation is very meager. I used this book in conjunction with another. The other book used notation only, and I found that you can read time much easier with notation than with tablature (the latter being emphasized in this book). In short, the book gave me confidence that I could learn if I applied myself, but other manuals were necessary.

Rating:
Summary: This is a great book...
Review: I had absolutely no guitar playing experience when I bought this book. With only this book and a lot of practice I have become a guitar player. That's the highest recommendation I can give. It is simple enough for most rank beginners, very thorough, and worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: Beginners Need More Than This Book To Start Playing Guitar
Review: This book is certainly not comprehensive enough for someone with no musical background to start playing - beginners WILL get stuck if they only rely on this book (starting from Part 1, Chapter 3). However, I would recommend using this book as a complement to guitar lessons from an instructor.