Customer Reviews

Steve Kaufman's Four-Hour Bluegrass Workout

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Steve Kaufman's Four Hour Bluegrass workout introduces 50 fiddle-type tunes. For each tune, the CDs contain a slowed down version, which I found a great way to learn the melody. Then the band kicks it up a notch to full speed. Some are fairly easy to follow along with and some are blazingly fast...a workout indeed. The melody of the entire tune is played once, then the accompaniment is played twice. I found that playing the chords the first time and then the melody the following two time was an excellent way to learn both parts.
Many standard fiddle tunes are included, with straightforward arrangements, often in the style that is common at jam sessions. Learning these tunes provides a great basis for jumping into jams with other players.
Beginners may find even the chords difficult at times, while advanced players are likely to know many of the tunes. I highly recommend this product to intermediate players looking to learn new tunes and to build speed and technique.

I have three volumes from Kaufman's "Bluegrass Guitar Solos Every Parking Lot Picker Should Know" series. I like to be able to learn progressively more difficult versions of the same song, which this volume does not have. Also, I use "Amazing X" software with the Parking Lot Picker series, which allows me to slow down each cut without losing pitch, so I can slow down and speed up progressively to learn each level. THIS book only has two speed versions--and the "slow" one is NOT slow. I've been using Kaufman's books (which are excellent overall) for the last two years, and I had a hard time keeping up with the slow version of this book/CD combo. If you are just beginning to learn bluegrass guitar, definitely begin with the Parking Lot Picker series. They are more versatile than this volume, and you'll get more mileage from them than this one.

i needed to learn more tunes and practice my flatpicking. this book and the 4 cd's are perfect for both. short songs, but you can put it on repeat and go forever. i can see a huge improvement in my playing after only a few weeks of this.

The only issue is that the songs span more than 2 pages and you have to turn the pages for the next part of the song. Can't play fiddle and turn pages at the sametime. But it is still worth it.

I'm new to fiddle tunes. Using them to help me build some speed and technique for other style of single note guitar playing. I like Steve Kaufman's stuff a lot but prefer a couple of his other books/DVD's/CD's for my use. The Parking Lot series is great. The workouts are more for serious bluegrass flatpickers rather than someone just trying to build technique. So for my uses this book was about a 3 or 4 but for someone wanting to perfect their bluegrass playing I give it 5 stars.

This is a 4-CD set of mostly fiddle tunes that are played first slowly and then at full speed. In both the slow and fast versions the songs start out with lead breaks and then settle into rhythm. If you read music or tablature, there is a book supplied that you can follow note for note. If you're like me and don't read music or tablature, you can follow along on the slow versions and pick out the melodies or pick your own melodies. As you get better, you can try playing along with the faster versions. I can't recommend this resource highly enough for beginning and intermediate pickers.

Steve Kaufman is clearly the best in the business for self instructional guitar material. The Workout book is just one of many that I own or have recommended, or given as gifts to deserving guitarists.

This is a great collection of songs with tabs for both guitar and mandolin along with CD's playing both slow and normal speed melody, then repeated backup is exactly what I have needed to break out of my playing plateau. I'm headed to Steve's Acoustic Camp this summer for more instruction.

Although it says it is a workout for guitar and mandolin, I found it a GREAT tool for me to work on learning Bass. I've had the set since right after it first came out and still use it when I just want to jam at home. Steve excels in all his musical abilities and I do appreciate him sharing his talents. Thanks to Donna too!

Dennis Almond
Kingston TN