Mel Bay Mastering the Guitar Book 1A: Spiral (Mastering the Guitar) [Spiral-bound]

William Bay (Author), Mike Christiansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2001

Mastering the Guitar is an innovative, exciting way to learn the guitar. Co-authored by William Bay and Mike Christiansen, this extremely comprehensive method applies the array of musical styles and techniques found in today's music. Written in notation and tablature, it covers a vast array of guitar solo and accompaniment styles. A special feature of this method is that it teaches both flatpicking and fingerstyle solo and accompaniment techniques. We feel that Mastering the Guitar is the most comprehensive approach to guitar technique repertoire and performance to be found anywhere. Volume 1A: Presents the essential foundational studies for contemporary guitar performance; Immediately introduces the student to the concept of playing contemporary music through the creative use of tablature; Logically and methodically teaches note-reading, utilizing the notes in first position on each string in numerous pages of playing material (over 155 solos and duets in the keys of C, A minor, G, and E minor); Contains more than 140 scale and picking studies, chord etudes, and accompaniment pieces, teaching contemporary techniques such as the slur, hammer-on, pull-off, vibrato and slide; Includes in-depth sections on back-up guitar and rhythm; Incorporates guitar duet material.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 144 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications (July 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786605642
• ISBN-13: 978-0786605644
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Learn the Guitar Book in Print, November 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mel Bay Mastering the Guitar Book 1A: Spiral (Mastering the Guitar) (Spiral-bound)

This is the fruit of decades of guitar teaching books. With this book you learn not only to read music, but tablature and you learn all styles from blues to classical to fingerstyle to rock etc. The book really eanbles you to cover it all methodically. Makes learning the guitar easy and accessible. Get the accompanying CD.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guitar book, March 26, 2009

By 

Frederick E. Engle "elcamina" (Florida) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mel Bay Mastering the Guitar Book 1A: Spiral (Mastering the Guitar) (Spiral-bound)

As a person new to playing the guitar, I have bought a lot of books, trying to learn. 80% are to advaned for me. This is the best book I have bought. Takes you step by step through the learning process. If you are new to the guitar, buy it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Method book I teach from, January 6, 2012

By 

arizona rat - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay Mastering the Guitar Book 1A: Spiral (Mastering the Guitar) (Spiral-bound)

I teach from this method book. The teacher who said this isn't innovative or revolutionary or whatever is right: how much innovation can there be to a book about music?

What this book does is comprehensively introduce students to music, the guitar, different techniques, scales, chords, melodies, and covers more material than most technique systems do in any three books, saving my students money because they only have to buy this one book.

The teacher teaches. The book is a tool. This is a good one, and I usually keep a few on the shelf so my students have one to take home from their first lesson.