Berklee Basic Guitar - Phase 1: Guitar Technique (Guitar Method) [Paperback]

William Leavitt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1986

A modern method ideal for all beginning guitarists, studying individually or in a class. Technique and reading skills are developed through two-, three- and four-part ensemble arrangements of traditional and newly composed music. Also includes an introduction to chord playing. Also available: Phase 2 Book 50449470 $7.95

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Berklee Press Publications (November 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634013335
• ISBN-13: 978-0634013331
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good intro book, October 11, 2002

By 

-raul (pdx, or) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berklee Basic Guitar - Phase 1: Guitar Technique (Guitar Method) (Paperback)

i'm using this for a few of my students who are complete beginners. it emphasizes reading quite a bit and typically has them reading in the first position (mostly in the key of C)within a few weeks. this is a book about the notes and reading. there is not much emphasis on chords. so, if you or your students are looking for an emphasis on chords, you should look elsewhere. if you find that the MODERN METHOD FOR GUITAR by leavitt is too complicated or accelerated, try learning/teaching from this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for teaching a class, but not a great self teach book., April 16, 2008

By 

Jsun (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berklee Basic Guitar - Phase 1: Guitar Technique (Guitar Method) (Paperback)

This is a good basic book to use in a class, as long as an instructor is present to guide one through it. If you're an absolute beginner with no prior knowledge of music theory or guitar studies, this book will be hard to follow and I wouldn't recommend self teaching with this. There are no exercises for music theory such as scale reading, sight reading, explantations of music notations, etc... Also, there are barely any diagrams (with the exception of the first two pages). This book is a good book for an instructor because its a concise book to use along with lecture. I'm an absolute beginner in guitar, but I have some prior knowledge in music theory. I know that if my professor wasn't present to guide me through this book, I wouldn't be able to comprehend it as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Surprise, March 19, 2007

By 

Brendan W. Burns (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berklee Basic Guitar - Phase 1: Guitar Technique (Guitar Method) (Paperback)

I ordered this thinking it was the old Leavitt Method Book with a different cover. It is not that book. It's about a step below the regular method books; great for beginning students of all ages. There are some nice duets and good exercises for the beginning reader.