Rating: 
Summary: Great way to start Guitar
Review: A real gem of a book tape set. It's a small book, but covers the essential basics of guitar playing well. You'll learn strumming, basic fingerpicking, arpeggios, bass runs, and alternating bass strums. This book has a very nice, select repetoire of songs for a beginner to tackle -- over 25 songs including "Wayfaring Stranger", "Wabash Cannonball", "Old Blue", "I Ride an Old Paint", and others. Don't worry if you don't know the tunes -- you'll hear them on the accompanying tapes (which are beautiful to listen to.)
Rating:
Summary: This book will teach what all those music teachers didn't.
Review: I always wanted to learn to play guitar, but managed to put it off for 25 years. I do not read music. It was all "magic" as far as I was concerned. Carol McComb's book got me around the barriers and into playing passable music in a remarkably short time. (Not great, mind you, but passable.) The book is also quite amusing to read by itself. McComb's narrative style makes you part of her conspiracy to create more musicians in the world. And, if nothing else, the book's clever title gives you something to hide behind. Just letting your family and friends see the title is enough to lower their expectations and remove some of the pressure you might feeling. You can go through the book's lessons at your own pace. It's written in plain English with minimal jargon. Necessary nomenclature is thoroughly and amusingly explained. And the accompanying tapes are quite good. If you've always wanted to play but could never quite crack the code of music lessons, you need this book. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for the Beginner
Review: I have tried books galore but this one actually got you to play songs and did not have you just playing chords upon chords and trying to memorize. The book also uses good tunes that are not ancient to help you learn.
Rating:
Summary: Guaranteed: You *will* learn to pay guitar
Review: I knew nothing, repeat, NOTHING when I bought this book. I'm not kidding. I had NEVER PICKED UP A GUITAR IN MY LIFE!! Now I'm jamming like crazy. Even wrote a bunch of songs, and now I'm the star at family get togethers. Amazing results!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A fun, engaging book
Review: I picked up this book after reading some of the reviews on-line, loved it so much that I bought it for a friend too. As a beginning guitarist this book has been the most helpful in that it is engaging and humurous. The level is good for a person just picking up the guitar, though as stated in a few other reviews it won't cover everything that you might want to know (I have yet to find a book that does!) You'll learn some chord structures, basic strumming, drilling techniques, as well as a small repertoire of songs. The accompanying tape is great too!Ironically enough, a few months after buying this book I began taking some group guitar classes at a local guitar shop from a woman named Carol. A few classes in and I said, "Wow, Carol sounds a lot like the woman on my book tape. Hey, wait a minute, Carol. . ." If you're in the Palo Alto, CA area, then come take her classes too, she's a wonderful teacher and a VERY talented musician!
Rating:
Summary: A fun, engaging book
Review: I picked up this book after reading some of the reviews on-line, loved it so much that I bought it for a friend too. As a beginning guitarist this book has been the most helpful in that it is engaging and humurous. The level is good for a person just picking up the guitar, though as stated in a few other reviews it won't cover everything that you might want to know (I have yet to find a book that does!) You'll learn some chord structures, basic strumming, drilling techniques, as well as a small repertoire of songs. The accompanying tape is great too! Ironically enough, a few months after buying this book I began taking some group guitar classes at a local guitar shop from a woman named Carol. A few classes in and I said, "Wow, Carol sounds a lot like the woman on my book tape. Hey, wait a minute, Carol. . ." If you're in the Palo Alto, CA area, then come take her classes too, she's a wonderful teacher and a VERY talented musician!
Rating:
Summary: Musically hopeless in North Carolina!
Review: I recently purchased this book and tapes. I found it was a wonderful way to quickly learn a few tunes. The instruction was simple and easy to understand and the music was great! Just wish Carol would put out a video to go along with the book. That would even be better!
Rating:
Summary: Musically hopeless in North Carolina!
Review: I recently purchased this book and tapes. I found it was a wonderful way to quickly learn a few tunes. The instruction was simple and easy to understand and the music was great! Just wish Carol would put out a video to go along with the book. That would even be better!
Rating:
Summary: This is a great book for any beginner.
Review: I've been trying to learn to play for years, but until a friend (and musician) took pity and gave me this book I was stumped. Carol's easy-going and understanding style took away all of the frustations of the past. The format is well thought out and the audio cassettes let you know immediately if you're playing the songs correctly. The initial introduction of each song at reduced playing speed helps greatly. The basic music theory she presents help clear up many misconceptions, particularly her coverage of using the capo. I highly recommend this to any one looking for a great beginner level instruction book.
Rating:
Summary: Want to learn guitar? Buy this book.
Review: I've never taken a guitar lesson in my life but thought it would be fun to play. I messed around, learned a few chords, then someone lent me this book. In a short amount of time I sounded like I really knew what I was doing. I really enjoy playing my guitar now. I just bought my second copy of this book because I gave mine away. Worth the money just to listen to the tapes.
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