21st Century Guitar Method 1

Rating:
Summary: The place to start for the beginner!
Review: I really grooved on this book and the CD that came along with it. The lessons were easy to understand even for a total beginner like I was. Lots of practice and going over the lessons again and again will teach the beginner a TON and help improve the skills of an existing player.

Rating:
Summary: The place to start for the beginner!
Review: I really grooved on this book and the CD that came along with it. The lessons were easy to understand even for a total beginner like I was. Lots of practice and going over the lessons again and again will teach the beginner a TON and help improve the skills of an existing player.

Rating:
Summary: Not for beginners
Review: This is a silly DVD. It is clearly not intended for a beginner, and does require you to be able to read sheet music.

1) The first section is "How to tune your guitar". Stang asks you to "strum a G Chord" with the camera focused on his right hand, though he gives no indication where your fingers should be placed on the frets. The whole tuning piece is worthless.

2) The first lesson is playing notes on the 1st string. After showing you how to play 3 notes, Stang asks you to play along with a song. Sheet music shows up on the screen for songs you haven't even practiced yet. Same goes for the other lessons.

3) Stang is completely uninteresting and lifeless, and could easily suck-dry your enthusiasm for learning to play.

I'm not as mad at Stang as I am at the Guitar Store who sold me this DVD (for $30, rather than the Amazon price of $12.74) even after I told them I am an absolute beginner with no music background, and that I have no interest in reading music.

I'm hoping that "Learning Guitar for Dummies" is significantly better.