Customer Reviews

10 Minute Guitar Workout

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

 

 

The work-out referred to in the title makes up only a small part of this book, but it is worth the price in my view. The exercises start very easy but gradually become more challanging. Each work out consisits of five different exercises:

1. A warm up based on chord changes which promote finger independence.

2. Arpeggios- good ear, as well as finger training

3. Scales- more ear and finger training

4. Finger twisters- sets some initially awkward fingering patterns to help improve finger independence as well as right hand technique.

5. Endurance.

You do each exercise fo a maximum of 2 minutes within which you need to play it a certain number of times. The number of repititions increases and eventually you move on to the next- moer difficult- set of exercises.
It is good for instilling a bit of dicipline into your guitar practice. Its only ten minutes, but I have been suprised at how much good it does.

The exercises would probably be suitable up to the intermediate guitarist. The author provides some useful information on how to deelop you own exercises to continue beyond what is provided here.

In addition to the workout there is a bit of a grab-bag of advice on everything from buying gear, some music theory and playing in a band. The CD also includes some tracks to demonstrate different types of effects- reverb, chorus etc. The book is written in an entertaining and easy going style and while it is mainly pitched at a young audience, it isn't grating on older eyes.

I reccomend it. When I moved house and couldn't find my copy, I bought another one.

The only bad thing is that it isn't always perfectly clear what constitutes a single repitition for each exercise.

As a beginning guitar player, I found (and still find) this book to be very helpful. David Mead, who has been a guitar instructor for many years, writes it in a very light-hearted way. However, the instruction that he gives is very serious and is a good foundation for beginners. Mr. Mead explains the essentials of what you need to know about chords, scales, reading tabs, etc. The core of the book is the 10-minute workout itself. This is based on scales, chords, arpeggios and speed/endurance, etc. Basically, you start out with five fairly simple exercises that you must complete in two minutes. As you become proficient, the exercises become more complex. These exercises combined with the other material in the book should have a beginning guitar player able to hold his/her own on about 6-8 months. It is no "secret shortcut" book. You earn everything you learn, it's just set up in a logical progression and is based on cumulative practice.

Ten minute guitar workout by David Mead Bit of a strange book this and a little difficult to see who exactly the it's is aimed at. The guitar workout section is only 40 pages of this 200 page tome, and as a guitar warm up/workout it's fine and can be recommended for just about anybody although the more advanced guitarist may find the exercises a little easy. The rest of the book seems to deal with issues concerning the beginner guitarist and as such is an ideal reference work, David Mead has an excellent sense of humour, writes well and is a mean guitarist in his own right. If you know a few chords and are looking for something to help you advance as a player with information about what scales and chords you need to know with a practice regime thrown in then this is the book for you, if however you are a more advanced guitarist looking for a more organised practice seclude you may well be disappointed as I was.

This is my third "David Mead" book. 100 tips for guitar and 100 tips for blues guitar were my prior purchases. As usual, his style combines practical information and technique with an excellent sense of humor, to make what could otherwise be tedious study, something more human and bearable. Half of this book contains the basics... chords, scales, vibrato, etc. The other half contains an excellent, condensed workout for the fingers and the ears that takes no more than ten minutes of a busy person's day. Of couse, many will say that you need to practise longer than that if you wish to become highly proficient, but David's regimen works because his insistence on sticking to 10 minutes max, is more conducive to ACTUALLY DOING IT every day. A habit is therefore created. Not to say that you can't play for more than ten minutes every day, because that would just be torture... but when you complete the daily workout, you can play other stuff or you can put it down if you choose... at least the workout is done.

The other book of Mead's that taught me alot was "100 tips for blues guitar". I highly recommend this book for anyone who is trying to get a better grasp of the fretboard.

Ten Minute Guitar Workout is a book/cd combination offering a series of graduated exercises that will methodically bring about a good level of fitness and player expertise. Designed specifically for busy people, it provides a condensed practice schedule for learning to play in the shortest possible time and still see a satisfying result. Players of all skill levels will find David Mead's Ten Minute Guitar Workout is unique, practical, and fun.

This is a terrific workbook, it has helped greatly to structure my practice time and focus me on critical details. The first part of the book is laugh out loud funny in places, with excellent theory and music history throughout. What an enjoyable way to learn.

Now, the critical information: David Mead posts a metronome guide for the workouts on his website, this will help greatly. Without it, I worry too much about whether I am going at the right speed, instead of focusing on my technique. Download here: http://www.davidmead.net/davenews1.html .

By the way, I bought this workbook as part of his 4-book package. There is some repetition of information across the books (and I do wish he didn't find it necessary to repeat the "this is tab" etc information at the beginning of each volume), but I found that he went into more detail in some books. The repetition also reinforced the information. Also, the price of the package is very attractive.

I like this book a lot because as a beginning guitar player it keeps it simple and gives you short exercises to work your fingers. Really helped me play more fluidly. I also like the author's funny, British tone - very low key and friendly. He offers some gigging advice based on his years playing for various small-town bands. He also has a guitar lesson column in the British magazine Guitar Techniques which you can find in most Borders and Barnes and Nobles bookstores in the U.S.

Coming back to guitar after 20 years, I find David Meads books really an excellent place to pick up where I left off. Thanks to his wit and very precise instruction I've found myself quickly regaining what I had lost when I stopped playing. David's books are very witty, encouraging and a great place to start for the complete novice picking up a guitar for the first time or someone like me, who has decided to come back to it. I will be picking up more of his books!

This is the book that made the real difference in my playing. I have other guitar books but they were overwhelmingly complex. I end up being confused more than being helped.

I developed my good habit of practicing daily because of this book.10 minutes max is so doable. And I think getting started and doing something is what make it work.
It's an excellent book, content wise. But it's would be better if this book is spiral bound. My book felt apart as I need to spread it open during practice. Since it felt apart, I stopped practicing with the book for a while. Today, I took the book out again and I rebind them using 2 rings and a hole puncher (with 2 holes). This allow me to lay the book flat instead of having to use my leg to keep the book open. :)

This is an exceptional "workout" book. Along with Mead's "100 Guitar Tips..." the intermediate to advanced player will have everything he or she needs to stay in shape, improve, and wail away.