• Registered: 2006-12-09
  • Posts: 26

Topic: Unsolicited Advice

I decided to browse the forums while mining chordie for ideas, and saw a lot of posts by beginners looking for various answers.  So I registered to offer my two cents worth.


I started playing in 1968 on what was, even then, an OLD, pre-CBS Telecaster.  Down through the years, I've learned a lot, mostly the hard way, and played most of the guitars out there.  That's thirty-eight plus years of playing guitar, and still going strong.


As a general way to address a lot of the questions I see, I'd like to recommend seven books that are my favorites for people just learning.  Maybe you can use some of that Christmas money to acquire this small library.


I like these about the best of the many, many books I've used.  There's other good ones, but these make a nice beginner's library and are readily available.


The whole list will cost you under $100 if you shop carefully, and if you read and work through them, you'll be amazed at what you'll gain.  And you'll be ready to play about anything, not just the particular styles in the books.  So here's the list:


The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer  $17.13


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-Ralph-Denyer/dp/0679742751/sr=1-1/qid=1165686218/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=bo14.56+oks" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-R … /dp/067974 2751/sr=1-1/qid=1165686218/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie =UTF8&s=bo14.56+oks</a>


Guitar Chords & Scales, An Easy Reference for Acoustic or Electric Guitar from Hal Leonard Publishing  $5.95


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Chords-Scales-Reference-Acoustic/dp/063405273X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686274/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Chords-Sca … ce-Acousti c/dp/063405273X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686274/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200 -3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>


Music Theory, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask by Tom Kolb  $12.21


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guitarists-Everything-Wanted/dp/063406651X/sr=11-1/qid=1165686317/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guit … ything-Wan ted/dp/063406651X/sr=11-1/qid=1165686317/ref=sr_11_1/102-096 1200-3158529</a>


The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking by Mark Hanson  $13.57


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Contemporary-Travis-Picking-Fingerpicking/dp/0936799005/sr=1-1/qid=1165686362/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Contemporary- … ing-Finger picking/dp/0936799005/sr=1-1/qid=1165686362/ref=sr_1_1/102-0 961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>


The Art of Solo Fingerpicking, How To Play Alternating-Bass Fingerstyle Guitar Solos by Mark Hanson  $13.57


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Solo-Fingerpicking-Alternating-Bass-Fingerstyle/dp/093679903X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686406/ref=sr_1_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Solo-Fingerpi … nating-Bas s-Fingerstyle/dp/093679903X/sr=1-1/qid=1165686406/ref=sr_1_1 /102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>


Flatpicking Guitar Essentials, Folk and Bluegrass, from Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons series  $14.56


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flatpicking-Essentials-Acoustic-Magazines-Private/dp/1890490075/sr=1-1/qid=1165686460/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Flatpicking-Essen … tic-Magazi nes-Private/dp/1890490075/sr=1-1/qid=1165686460/ref=pd_bbs_s r_1/102-0961200-3158529?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>


The Flatpicker's Guide by Dan Crary  $19.95


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpickers-Guide/dp/1574240587/sr=11-1/qid=1165686507/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Crary-Flatpic … dp/1574240 587/sr=11-1/qid=1165686507/ref=sr_11_1/102-0961200-3158529</a>


Grand total: $96.94 USD.  And one other thing, you should probably read and work through them in the order listed if you're brand new to acoustic guitar.


Those books are a great foundation in guitar playing if you really read and work the books and accompanying CDs.  That's my best tip, short of sitting down with you and our guitars in the kitchen and showing you myself.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Unsolicited Advice

Oubaas,


Great posting, I learned the same way (32 years & going strong). Note to newbies:  This bit of information from Oubass is from an experienced player take heed as it is sound advise.


Bootleger

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Unsolicited Advice

[quote title=Oubaas wrote on Sat, 09 December 2006 13:15 That's my best tip, short of sitting down with you and our guitars in the kitchen and showing you myself. 
Oubaas  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

There's a thought. Is there any way to post a short video on the forum? Would help a lot of people.

Just a thought.

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

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