Customer Reviews

Mel Bay Frailing the Guitar Book/CD Set

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

 

 

In the intro, Steve Baughman says: "The Travis pick revolutionized guitar picking in the 20th century, and frailing stands poised to do so in the 21st." While this is a bold claim, I think it could happen.

I haven't had this much fun learning a new technique in years. It is not only a lot of fun but challenging as well. It is a versatile technique one can employ with just about any genre of music.

Since I am primarily a fingerstylist, I've never liked strumming the guitar. It just didn't seem musically interesting or imaginative. Now with frailing, I can have an uptempo groove going without strumming.

Be warned though that most of the book is in Orkney tuning (CGDGCD)--however, it is not at all hard to learn and it opens your musical horizons further by adding the element of open tuning.

Steve is not only a really nice guy and a great teacher, he's an innovative guitarist with much to contribute.
Highly recommended.

As frailing is a rather unusual guitar technique, this book/cd gives all you need to get started. It'll take a lot of practice to play somewhat like Steve but without his book you wouldn't even know where to begin

Hugo
Gent, Belgium

The book a joy to read because Steve is a great human being, sharing his experience and tips and know-how generously. It is very well written, well edited for clarity, and Steve will talk you through the instructions as if he is sitting beside you; warning when some foreign finger movement is coming up and encouraging that it just takes patience - so just enjoy the process! I have only had the book for a week, but I am on the fourth exercise, the one just before the main "frailing movement" is introduced. I am very excited because in a couple of days, I will be starting on it. But the sounds of the first rendition of "Shady Grove" are already appealing to the ear.