Guitar Quickstart: A Guide to Playing and Understanding Music Reading and Chord Techniques [Paperback]

Mary Jo Disler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

Guitar QuickStart was developed in college classes over 20 years of teaching. It fills in the gaps left by many other basic methods, and has been highly successful. Students learn the fundamentals of music reading, tablature, and chord playing while playing music such as "Ode to Joy," "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Wabash Cannonball," "Aura Lee," "Greensleeves," andothers. Just enough theory is included to make music and the fretboard understandable, and to provide some shortcuts to learning techniques such as alternating bass. It is a perfect text for individuals or classes, with material and presentation suitable for either secular or religious schools.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"a powerful logic and chronology about each chapter" Will there be a guitar under the Christmas tree this year? This is a wonderful gift for someone just learning. It covers all the basics but knows where to stop. It's organized based on 20 years of teaching experience (University of Michigan and private studio), so there's a powerful logic and chronology about each chapter. And, best of all, Disler instills just enough theory and fundamentals to ease the student into more difficult studies. Classic acoustic or steel-string guitar, this entry-level book sets the stage for more. No teacher in the neighborhood? That's okay. This book is designed for easy self-study. But Disler recommends one if possible. Either way, the student gets off to a great start. A discussion of guitar types, parts, how to hold it. The fretboard, the music staff, and how to convert tablature to notation. Some chord basics (and tips on memorizing them alphabetically) and quick start songs. Fingering exercises, basic theory and rhythm. Applying "alternating bass" to chords, how to freestroke with chords, songs for harmonizing with chords. Tablature is having a revival in many guitar publications, but "any serious student today must learn to read music." Disler makes it easy, helping students see the relationship between fretboard and notation. Ends with bonus stuff: guitar care and maintenance, how to tune it, popular chords, blank diagrams for practice. great for either private or self-instruction. -- the BOOK READER, Fall/Winter, 1999/2000

--the BOOK READER, Fall/Winter 1999/2000, p.10

From the Author

I decided to learn guitar as an adult. I thought it would be fairly easy, since I had played piano and organ from childhood and had earned Bachelor's & Master's degrees as a music major. Not so! The material then available [27 years ago] was simply not up to the teaching standard I had been used to. The learning process was agonizingly slow slower and more confusing than I knew it had to be. There must be a better way! Eventually I learned enough that I began teaching guitar. As I taught my students, I asked myself, "What steps would help me learn more efficiently if I were teaching myself?" The answer to this question would obviously help me teach more effectively. I tried to discover and apply the same sense of logic that I had learned when teaching superb material such as the Frances Clark Method to piano students. Soon the opportunity to teach college classes for beginners opened up. What a terrific laboratory for exploring ways to help people learn as much as possible in a short time, and thus develop an approach for guitar that was clear and logical! Over time, the results of experimentation and refinement took root. Students began to comment on what they were learning: "It took me two years to learn alternating bass on my own. You had the class playing this technique in 12 weeks!" "I've tried the other methods in the music stores. They were hard, but yours is easy!" "I never dreamed I would learn so much in just one semester!" Since I am a classical "note-reading" musician by training, and grew up loving this style of music, I was able to develop a style of presentation that balances the structured learning that classical musicians are used to, with the spirit of improvising that is so innate to the guitar. The result is a method that really works with beginning students on any type of guitar, and is very satisfying to teach. Students: Are you still looking for a book that you can understand? If you've been disappointed by others which were too difficult or confusing, Guitar QuickStart by Mary Jo Disler is for you! No previous knowledge of music or guitar is assumed. After you study Guitar QuickStart , other books will make more sense.

Teachers: Are you still looking for a general beginning guitar text that makes sense one that will work for courses in music education, music therapy, elementary education, general elective classes, junior high or high schools? Look no further! Whether you are guiding beginners, or helping self-taught players understand fundamentals, you will enjoy the satisfaction of seeing students make real progress. Why not teach material that understands the questions beginners ask, the progressive skills they need to succeed? Guitar QuickStart by Mary Jo Disler born, bred, and refined during 20 years of teaching college classes is the solution! Fretboard layout, music reading, tablature, chord charts and rhythm are taught through music suitable for either secular or religious schools or studios, any type guitar.You may supplement with classical or plectrum material, according to your personal preference.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 90 pages
• Publisher: Lyra House Music Pub (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964222906
• ISBN-13: 978-0964222908
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, very easy to understand, September 27, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Michigan/New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guitar Quickstart: A Guide to Playing and Understanding Music Reading and Chord Techniques (Paperback)

I have to learn to play the guitar for a television project and as I was looking for a book suited for someone like me who had never even touched a guitar before, I found "Guitar Quickstart" and it is perfect! Some of the other books that I came across were way too hard to understand, but "Guitar Quickstart" brakes it down just right. It has very helpful "fill-in-the-blank" exercizes in the workbook that really makes learning the guitar fun. It's totally the type of book I was looking for! It has made me want to stick with learning the guitar after the project is over. Kudos to the author for writing such a wonderful book!!

Christopher Ewing, Emmy Award winning actor/producer

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good But Not Quite Complete, March 22, 2001

By 

cjf - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guitar Quickstart: A Guide to Playing and Understanding Music Reading and Chord Techniques (Paperback)

The book couldn't be better exept for one thing. There is some information lacking that should have been taught before you get to the part of the book that teaches chords. You all of a sudden come into contact with notations that you don't have a clue as to what their meaning is if you've never read music before. Dim means "diminished", but what does that mean? what does a "7" mean when it appears in the name of a chord. etc. Up until that part at the end though, I felt the book was doing a really good job.