Customer Reviews

FastTrack Guitar Method - Book 2 (Fasttrack Series)

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This book as well as the first in the series make learning guitar fun. Many of the songs are pretty cool. The CD makes an excellent companion to the book so you know what the music should sound like. It's almost like having your own private instructor.

In my opinion, the first in this series was better. It introduced things well for the beginner. This one picks up right where the first one left off, and it does a good job. I think however this book focuses mostly on basic barre chords. As with the other book, it does continue sight playing and reading music. It also includes different time signatures, key signatures, and rhythms. Plus, the book covers bends, vibrato, legato slides, hammer ons and pulloffs. It also has some great songs to play.

I think the book fails in one major area though- 5th position playing. THe first book covered playing in first position beautifully. It offered song after song to get your fingers to see the notes before playing them and helping you keep time. This book only briefly covers 5th position (probably the most important position in guitar playing). It gives you all of the notes in 5th position and gives you songs to play. I wish the book covered 5th position throughout the book, much like the first book did with first position. I mean the barre chords and everything else are fundmentals that guitar players need, but being able to play up the neck and know the notes in this position is very important.

Overall, the book is a good book. I would suggest that a beginner go through the first book and go into the second book. I would even suggest that you take 5th position playing very seriously and perhaps go back through the first book, but in 5th position to get your fingers down solidly. This will make you one heck of a sight playing guitar player. WHile unless you are a classical guitar player (this isn't for you anyway), sight playing isn't AS important, it is still something real guitar players should learn to do.

I would also suggest after going through this book, that you get into theory. At the very least, learn key signatures, Nashville numbering, chord theory, scales, and modes. For that, I recommend Don Latarski's theory books and any other good theory books. Then, I would recommend that you determine what style you wanna play- rock, metal, funk, jazz, etc ect. Check out good books for your desired style an go with it. God bless and good luck!

The most logic continuation of Guitar 1. It takes you exactly as you expect in this world of learning guitar. My recommendation is to decide on one method or series like Hal Leonard's and then follow trhough. Try not to mix different methods... you will get lost.

This book is a nice progression from Fast Track 1. It picks up where FT 1 leaves off and starts of at a good pace.