Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsAlfred's Basic Guitar Method- Book 1
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2010
I had recently been asked to give a few grade school students an overview of the guitar (how to hold a guitar, how to tune a guitar, it's history, how to read music, etc), along with a few basic beginners guitar lessons. I obviously needed a teaching resource, and I decided to use Alfred's Basic Guitar Method- Book 1. After a basic introduction of how to hold and tune a guitar, the textbook begins of course, with the guitar strings. The six guitar strings of E-B-G-D-A and E are introduced, with both finger and string exercises following. Also included are songs covering and pertaining to the appropriate strings. So for instance with the second string B, the songs will cover all six notes on the B and E strings (B,C,D, and E,F, and G). The A note on the E string (5th fret), will be introduced later. These exercises are challenging, but not overwhelming. There is an accompanying CD that can be listened to with the student to review and verify that the exercise is being played correctly. In between introducing the guitar strings, Alfred's Basic Guitar Method- Book 1 also introduces basic beginners music theory. Time signatures, types of notes, chord introduction, tempo signs, pickup notes, and dynamics are all included. Once all the guitar strings have been covered, the textbook moves on to the introduction of bass-chord accompaniment. There are more songs with both single notes and chords to be played. This will continue to teach and reinforce the bass-chord accompaniment method. The more the student practices and uses the method the easier it becomes, and it really serves to bring out the beauty of the melody, as well as build the skill of the solo guitarist. Moving on, the chromatic scale, major scale, and the key signatures of C,G, and F are all introduced. Lastly, the whole point of learning to play the guitar, is to be able to play songs and instrumental pieces. In Alfred's Basic Guitar Method- Book 1 the song selection is a well chosen mix of 18, 19, and 20th Century American Folk songs, guitar adaptations and arrangements of Bach, Johann Pachelbel, Johann Strauss, and a piece from Antonin Dvorak's "New World Symphony", and a piece by Jacques Offenbach. Also included are Mexican, German, and French Canadian Folk songs. These songs and instrumental pieces help to build a strong musical foundation for beginning guitar players. Alfred's Basic Guitar Method- Book 1 is an excellent textbook resource for the beginning guitar player. It is a highly effective, interesting, and a lively introducton to the guitar. Thank You for reading this review, Janet Saccardi-[...].
