NOTE :: Originally a Barnes U Noble University online course I completed Dec. 2001, immediately after the 9-11 tragedy.

Visit today’s: Barnes & Noble.com – B&N Book Clubs

Description

In this 10-lesson course, you’ll discover the basics of playing the electric or acoustic guitar — everything from choosing appropriate equipment to tuning, learning basic chords, using a pick, understanding scales, and playing simple lead parts. Also covered is the history and development of the instrument, as well as the different styles of guitar music and the great guitar masters. Even if you’re a complete novice, you’ll learn enough to play along with most popular chart hits — or start writing your own!

Prerequisites

None. Lesson 3 advises on how to choose equipment. For Lesson 4 and beyond, a guitar (either acoustic or electric) is needed. If electric, then suitable amplification will also be necessary.

Objectives

• Explore the history and evolution of the guitar, its music, and its finest players
• Learn what gear you need, the basics of choosing an instrument, and how to tell the difference between a good and a bad guitar
• Learn several different ways to tune your guitar
• Play the most basic open-string chords and develop the facility for making fast chord changes
• Develop right-hand technique: learn to play with a pick and with the fingers
• Practice major and minor scales as well as simple single-note lead playing
• Start mastering the all-important bar chord

Course Instructor

Terry Burrows is one of the world’s best-selling authors of music self-study guides. He is the author of KISS Guide to Playing Guitar from Dorling Kindersley’s Keep It Simple Series and a number of other titles. His books have been published in 14 different countries and translated into six different languages.

Course Materials

Kiss Guide to Playing Guitar
With the KISS Guide to Playing Guitar you’ll discover more than just an introduction to this popular instrument. Discover a variety of musical styles while learning the basics of acoustic, electric, and bass guitar. Understand simple music theory and get a grip on keys and scales. You’ll also learn maintenance techniques to keep your guitar in excellent condition. Clear advice and simple audio aids will help you to improve your technique and expand your repertoire. Make music with confidence as you build chords, learn tunes, and experiment with special effects. Advance to playing on stage, making a studio recording, and even selling your own CD.

Additional Materials:

The Ultimate Guitar Songbook: The Complete Resource for Every Guitar
The complete resource for every guitar player! This incredible book features 110 songs from all styles of music. It includes a variety of note-for-note transcriptions, riffs, and arrangements for easy guitar, chord melody, fingerstyle, and classical guitar. It’s perfect for students and teachers!
The Guitar Grimoire, Scales and Modes
This is the only book you’ll ever need on scales and modes! An encyclopedia with over 6,000 diagrams, charts and graphs. Harmony and Theory is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Best of all, scales are graphed out for you in all 12 keys so you can start using them immediately while you learn.

Guitar Player Repair Guide
This revised and expanded edition of the Guitar Player Repair Guide is a step-by-step manual to maintaining and repairing electric and acoustic guitars and basses. Players will learn how to set up a guitar and keep it in top form by mastering basic maintenance. The advanced craftsperson will discover an invaluable reference source for complex procedures such as replacing nuts and frets. This second edtition incorporates new techniques and tools, plus detailed repair information for specific model and manufacturers.

The Greatest Rock Guitar Fake Book
This is the ultimate rock guitar collection! It features 200 classic and contemporary hits with melody, lyrics and chord frames, plus authentically transcribed guitar parts in notes and tablature!