Play Electric Guitar: From Beginner to Band in 3 Months [Spiral-bound]

Terry Burrows (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 1999

This interactive package (complete with a book, an instructional CD, a wall chart poster, a guitar pick and three sheets of fretboard stickers) equips the novice with everything he or she needs--short of an electric guitar and an amplifier--to become competent to play in a band within three months. The course is divided into twelve weekly lessons. Each lesson outlines the objectives of the week ahead and concludes with one of twelve specially commissioned backing tracks over which the novice can use the newly learned techniques. The book concludes with tips how to get the right sound from a guitar, amplifier and effects, as well as tips on forming a band, playing live and recording. If you've ever wanted to play in the band instead of just watching it, now you can!

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 128 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (November 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312244177
• ISBN-13: 978-0312244170
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 11.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great alternative learning style, August 2, 2007

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Amber H. "my crush with eyeliner" (Austin TX) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Play Electric Guitar: From Beginner to Band in 3 Months (Spiral-bound)

Okay so the pictures of the guy in white sneakers are super dumb- but the book IS very helpful for a beginner; It comes with small stickers to place underneath the strings to practice fingering per different color stickers numbered 1-5 indicating 1st, second, third... fingering- you get the idea; I wrote on the stickers the letter of each note so I wouldn't have to remember which colors indicated which notes; and the stickers come off clean with no residue; this is just an added bonus- b/c I initially bought this book over others- b/c it shows pictures of a players' hand with fingers on the correct frets along with the actual chart; Personally, it is much easier for me to look at a picture of someone playing the note rather than a chart with dots.And as I said the stickers make it a breeze- I don't have to look down every time I want to play a note to see if my fingers are in the right place. Also the book comes with a pic and a full length poster labeled "notes and scales" to refer to for all of the notes.I haven't really read through the book- I'm a scimmer anyway- and the first chapter is all about positioning and tuning- which I already know; But if you are a visual learner- and have had trouble in the past- get this book to start with; It's definitely learn at your own pace- and doesn't remind me of a boring text book- other authors should be as innovative;
and yes it seems he numbers the strings backwards -but to each his own I guess- and with the stickers and pictures for reference, this has not confused me.
I have been trying to learn guitar for forever- but the sheer boredom of most teaching styles has turned me off- this is straight to the point- no "hot cross buns"- and perfect for an ADD brain like mine to scim and take what information I need to build a foundation and learn my own way.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great no-nonsense course, September 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Play Electric Guitar: From Beginner to Band in 3 Months (Spiral-bound)

This electric guitar course takes you from absolute beginner to a level where you can start playing in a band. The three months mentioned in the title may be a bit optimistic, but the level of difficulty increases rapidly with each chapter, so you find yourself making quick progress. Each chapter is built up around a backing track on the CD, where you can try out the lessons in that chapter. The backing tracks, which are done in variety of pop styles, are also great for jamming along, so even after going through the material you'll have use of the CD. The book is not a reference book (go to Ralph Denyer's The Guitar Handbook for that), and the course is limited to rock music, but other than that (and the cheesy pick included) it comes highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars looks good to me, April 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Play Electric Guitar: From Beginner to Band in 3 Months (Spiral-bound)

i just started using this book never having played before and am finding it totally easy to follow. the friendly narrative guides the reader through every step, explaining the most simple of terms and concepts clearly and concisely. and yes, the CD is funky and you can play along with it more or less straight away AND sound good, which keeps you motivated.

horses for courses eh, i like this book a lot.