You Can Teach Yourself Guitar

Rating:
Summary: Sweet Home Alaska
Review: I bought this book for my Grandchildren and I hope they like it.

Rating:
Summary: ... Can't think of a title at the moment
Review: This book was fairly good. It shows you many basic chords, the basics of guitar tablature, a couple techniques such as hammering, and some arpegio playing. Overall, I found it to be decent.

My main problem with this book is that it doesn't explain much of the theory behind the chords, and what notes correspond to what frets on the guitar. I have been playing the piano for a while, and, while I know the theory behind the chords used, absolute beginners to music may not.

This book had a nice chord chart towards the back. Unfortunately, it wouldn't make sense for everyone. The author never mentioned minor, diminished, and augmented chords before - they just magically appear in the chart.

Enough ranting. I found this book to be simple and easy to follow, and I definitely learned chords this way. Another book to follow this one up would be the "Hal Leonard Guitar Method." This book teaches more about individual notes and a little bit of theory piece by piece.

If all you want are the basics of guitar, this is a great book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Beginner Course
Review: You may not be playing like a pro after this in depth complete, yet easy course, but you'll be playing with the understanding enough to learn new songs other than those offered here. You'll learn chords and tableature; even how to read music with maybe 30 or so sample songs. On second thought, learn these and you may indeed sound like a pro around the campfire under the full moon...