Mel Bay Complete Flatpicking Guitar Book [Sheet music]

Steve Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

This comprehensive study of contemporary flatpicking guitar technique presents numerous solos for the beginning through advanced flatpicking guitarist along with tips on creating your own flatpicking arrangements. The book addresses the tablature system, tuning, right and left-hand technique, use of the capo and the microphone, transposing using the Nashville numbering system, bluegrass back-up, arranging flatpicking solos and instrumentals. If you're into country or bluegrass music, or if you just want to develop outstanding flatpicking technique, this book is for you. Written in standard notation and tablature. The stereo play-along CD features Steve Kaufman's rousing performance of each flatpicking solo! Also includes a DVD containing some of the solos and techniques presented in the book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Kaufman was born April 20, 1957 in New York City. He was introduced to music by his father, a jazz pianist, and his mother, a classically trained pianist. At the age of four, Steve started to play the piano and later moved on to the cello. At 10 he began playing the guitar, but after a few years of strumming, he put the guitar under the bed. At 14, Steve started "picking" the guitar and he has not put it down since.

Steve is the only three time winner of the prestigious National Flatpicking Championships held in Winfield, Kansas. His music covers a broad range of styles. He is an extremely versatile performer and his performances are highlighted by his blazing technic and humor. Here is what some of the great flatpickers and bluegrass musicians have to say about him:

Product Details

• Sheet music: 104 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786672331
• ISBN-13: 978-0786672332
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, June 8, 2007

By 

bootbun (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay Complete Flatpicking Guitar Book (Sheet music)

Steve Kaufman has a very large catalog of books in print across several publishers, and since some of these books are fairly expensive it is a bit daunting to find what fits your needs. Good thing is that his books are excellent, though they do serve different purposes and audiences. I think this book is a particularly good one for anyone from beginner to advanced intermediate looking to pick up classic bluegrass flatpicking technique. Steve starts out with some basic "toolbox" topics such as accompaniment etc. and moves into the nuts and bolts of creating arrangements and solos using numerous examples that are highly musical and fun to play, based on classic tunes from the bluegrass repetoire. Two things make this book really stand out, however - one is the DVD that is included. Being able to watch Steve execute even basic stuff really adds value to the package. The other is the section of the book on "Flatpickers who Influenced the Flatpickers", where Steve includes versions of classic tunes as executed by Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, and others. These are terrific as stylistic examples and provide some really fun additions to repetoire - jack up the tempos and they are pretty challenging for even an advanced intermediate player. Overall, this is a "best value" book from a prolific author, highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginners Book, May 27, 2008

By 

C. R. Downing "Chris Downing" (Chippenham, Wilts England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay Complete Flatpicking Guitar Book (Sheet music)

I have a lot of studenst who like this book once they are throught the first month or so of basic playing. You'll learn chords, single line flatpicking solos, accompaniments, Carter style, Flatt runs and a whole lot more. What more could you want for general guitar playing. Well if you do want more in the bluegrass flatpicking style, Steve Kaufman has an huge array of materials to help you. If you're looking to learn Flatpicking style and you like bluegrass then Steve is a good guy to go with as you teach yourself through his books and DVDs. It will take you years to get through them all.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Kaufman!, May 19, 2008

By 

Yoseff Tucker (Near Fresno, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mel Bay Complete Flatpicking Guitar Book (Sheet music)

This book is great for people new to the genre.

Not a lot by way of tunes, you'd be better of picking up a tune book. Great for general flatpicking theory. The section at the end "Flatpickers who influence flatpickers" is worth the book's cost alone.

Great book.