Customer Reviews

CP69059 - Progressive Blues Rhythm Guitar Method BK/CD

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is clear and gives you the basics for learning to play Blues on guitar. It explains the theory in a way that is easy to grasp. The lessons are well thought out and really make you feel like you are getting somewhere. The accompanying CD sounds good too. Each exercise is played with a solo over the top so it is good to listen to. I bought the book because I was out of my depth in a blues workshop - I'm now hanging in there, and can to play along in any key.

This book would be perfect for a beginning guitarist or an experienced one who wants to learn the blues. If the reader does not know, the book shows all the chords in helpful diagrams and tablature. The book also touches on keys and scales. The audio takes all the guessing out of learning new songs and the wondering if your playing it right. A beginner will get a lot out of this book. If you want to get a firm base of blues, then buy this book.

After piddling around on the guitar my whole life, I decided to get serious with the Blues. This book kick-started me into the blues style. With a solid background in chord formations, I flew through the book, but Gelling covers everything that a novice needs to know. The CD is a fantastic learning tool. I am now going through his lead guitar methods books now. For the serious guitarist, I also recommend Fretboard Logic by Bill Edwards, a book that will solve the mystery of the fretboard and take you to the next level.

I bought a lot of books on rhythm, but this is the FIRST that actually improved my rhythm ability. This book actually managed to show me how to understanding time signature figures, count without mistakes, and strum my guitar like someone who knows what he's doing. Yes, counting correctly, learning to really listening to the beat, is finally helping me to FEEL the blues, and FEEL the blues song structure.

One reviewer said the book "fails to deliver the exercises in the context of songs." Well, I understand what he is saying, and what he means is that the book gives progressions, and not complete songs. Well, I must say that depending on your level, full songs aren't always the best starting point for learning. I also bought the book "Complete guide to rhythm guitar player" with 200 pages, and it is all based on small songs. However, they are dull, mechanic, lousy songs and didn't help me in any way. You don't learn to read by opening Shakespeare "King Lear". But you grow bit by bit, until you get there, right? I believe the same happen with music.

I was curious about this Progressive series, cause most reviews are good, and I'm glad that this book brings exercises that actually helped me not only play the songs in the tabs, but to create my own, cause I finally have the TECHNIQUE to play rhythm.

The book shows lots of major, minor, barre, augmented, seventh cords in patterns and different voicings so you can play all over the neck.

The rhythms are also FUN, the book has CLEAR explanations (and this is very unusual for guitar books) and the diagrams are very helpful.

It's so hard to find a truly satisfying guitar book that, when you do find one, becomes important to share a review. At least for me, this is the first book that literally means PROGRESS.

I've used this book before for teaching the absolute basics of blues comping. In addition, delivery was very fast. What's not to like?

I disagree with the reviewer who stated the songs are not "interesting." How interesting can I-IV-V get? The band on the CD is absolutely air tight, and the ability to keep up and jam along with the CD is a real confidence booster for the BEGINNER. Please keep that in mind: It's a beginner book. My students grow with this book, especially when I point out the commonality between the blues and other genres (rock, pop, country, etc.). Basic barred shapes are thoroughly covered, as well as practical and useful moveable shapes, then the book gradually gets into single-note rhythm riffing, then multi-note rhythm riffing (think "La Grange"). Highly recommended for the beginner regardless of what kind of music they "prefer." All players would do well to get a decent grip on the blues at some point.

While this method seems to have some very useful information its fails miserably in one key area. Its fails to present the information in the context of songs. Its presents chords with drill style excercise you could play with a meteronme = boring will not keep my attention. If only the writer could go back and take a more of a "Blues You Can Use" style appoarch he would have a real winner here. So unless he rewrites this book with intresting songs to acompany the material presented, steer clear of this book and buy something better.