Mel Bay Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions, Volume 1: 50 Years of Legendary Guitar [Paperback]

Chet Atkins (Author), Deyan Bratic (Author), John McClellan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2003

This tribute, just released by Mel Bay Publications, contains twenty-two of Chet's greatest solos and duets along with interviews with his daughter, Merle Atkins Russell and close friends such as Jerry Reed, Vince Gill, Eddy Arnold, Don Mclean and many others. This book offers touching insight into the character of an American original, who did much to shape the course of music history and the guitar. Most importantly, Chet Atkins helped thousands of people over the course of his life through kindness and generosity. To quote Jerry Reed, "There is only one." This book is a tribute to a special man, a special artist... a hero to the millions of lives he touched. The Atkins Family has shared many rare photographs which are presented in a special eight-page color insert. Selections include, Heartaches, Caravan, When You Wish Upon a Star (live version), Music to Watch Girls by, Stars and Stripes Forever, Jerry's Breakdown, Nashtown Ville and many others. All music is in standard notation and in tablature. 208 pages.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John McClellan is one of America''s most respected guitarists and is the Head of Classical Guitar Studies at Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri. He has toured throughout Europe, South America, and Australia and has performed with diverse groups of musicians ranging from Tommy Emmanuel to Lucianno Pavarotti. He along with his duo partner, Kirk Hanser (The Hanser-McClellan Guitar Duo) organized the highly successful Guitar Foundation of America International Festival in 1996.

Deyan Bratic is on the fast track in the fingerstyle guitar world. The son of immigrants from the former Yugoslavia, Deyan is a major talent with impeccable sense of pitch and musical taste. An accomplished pianist, classical guitarists, and electric guitarist, his fingerstyle infuluences include Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, and Tommy Emmanuel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc (July 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786670452
• ISBN-13: 978-0786670451
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Available Collection from a Great Guitar Player, July 25, 2008

By 

Hank n Tennessee (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions, Volume 1: 50 Years of Legendary Guitar (Paperback)

Every serious guitarist should have a copy of this beautiful book. Chet Atkins may be the most influential guitarist America has produced, and this is a wonderfully wide ranging, impeccably produced sample of his talents.

It includes jazz (Ellington/Tizol's `Caravan', Desmond/Brubeck's `Take Five'), classical (`Recuerdos de la Alhambra'; a Bach minuet), some rockin' country funk (2 Jerry Reed pieces, "Drive In" and "Jerry's Breakdown"), "Going Home" (the adagio from Dvorak's New World Symphony, now frequently used as a funeral elegy), a 'genial' version of "La Vie en Rose", and - the reason I got the book in the first place - the guaranteed show stopper "Stars & Stripes Forever" by John Phillip Sousa, with the whole darn marching band arrangement fully transcribed by fellow fingerpicking wizard Guy Van Duser... including even the high piccolo part. Let me tell you, if you can learn that piece, you've got one that will have them laughing and cheering more than anything else in your repertoire.

That's IF you can learn it. These are complete transcriptions of the work of a great guitar player. There's nothing dumbed down or 'made easy' here. They are not for the faint of heart. You need to be an intermediate to advanced player looking for some new challenges to tackle the music in this book. But if you're willing to work at it - the rewards are terrific. Get this stuff in your fingers, and you will have learned some wonderful music.

The book is a beautiful production, clearly a labor of love from people who cared a lot about Chet and about music. About half of it is the 22 complete transcriptions of guitar pieces in both musical notation and tablature, and the other half is photographs and reminiscences of Chet. The tab is as pretty, complete and accurate as any that I have seen in a lifetime of serious guitar study. The photographs and reminiscences of Chet are as fond and as broadly based as you might expect about a guy who was one of Nashville's most successful record producers for many years, a kingpin in the country music industry who was respected by players in jazz, rock and classical as well. However, the book should have been spiral bound for easier study. Standard binding is fine for the coffee table, but not for the music stand. We owe McClellan and Bratic thanks for a fine job here - but since they clearly had serious players in mind, why not use spiral binding next time.

I came to Chet's music long ago as a rock, blues and jazz fan and amateur player who thought of Chet as the producer of too many middle of the road country records with strings and `heavenly choirs' (he and Owen Bradley pretty much invented the `Nashville Sound' in the 1950's). I quickly learned that there was far more to him than that. If you had any doubts about his music, this collection will wipe them out in a hurry. There's not much here but great music.

Which brings me to one final point: the version of "Vincent" (`Starry, Starry Night') transcribed here is simply lovely, IMHOP. In fact, it's one of the highlights of the collection, saved for last because it clearly meant something to Chet. I can't understand why one reviewer didn't like it. But, hey, check it out and judge for yourself.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chet in Three Dimensions, December 4, 2003

By 

Phil Waldron (Plant City, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions, Volume 1: 50 Years of Legendary Guitar (Paperback)

This book is a must for fans of Chet Atkins, both players and non-players. For the musician this book is well-written and nails Chet's arrangements. It is clear and concise, but not for the brginning musician... For the non-player, it is a look into one of the most influential musicians of all times, as seen from the perspective of his family, friends, and peers. I highly recommend this book... cannot wait for Vol.2 to be published.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indespensable Book For Serious Students Of Chet!, November 9, 2007

By 

Mr. Marvin B. Naylor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mel Bay Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions, Volume 1: 50 Years of Legendary Guitar (Paperback)

This is a brilliant book. A great selection displaying many different styles of Chets' playing. A lifetime of study is presented here for the serious guitarist (and you have to be SERIOUS about it if you want to play like Chet!) Wherever you take your guitar, take this book.