Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar [Paperback]

Russ Barenberg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Teach Yourself Bluegrass | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

Written by a master player who shares his insights and personal playing advice with the student and offers hints for creating an authentic bluegrass sound, and the basics like backup, solos and right and left-hand techniques. B/w photos.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Music Sales America (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825603250
• ISBN-13: 978-0825603259
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to flatpicking, June 13, 2001

By 

"mdw7" (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar (Paperback)

This book is good in that it provides something for the beginner to the intermediate. I've owned it over a year and haven't made it through yet. The CD is helpful, as all of the songs in the book are on the CD. The arrangements for the songs are well-written and vary in level.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview - Kind of Brief, August 20, 2004

By 

Ghost of Metal Past (Circle Pines, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar (Paperback)

I think this book would be most useful for guitarists who have some experience with the instrument in a different type of music. With several years of playing rock guitar, this book made learning some basic bluegrass style and building a basic repertoire a snap. Someone who has no knowledge of music or other experience on the guitar may not find it so easy.

There are quite a few songs in tab, some good intro and ending licks, strum patterns (all played on the CD). I feel for the price more songs would have been nice. One negative thing is that the singing on the CD (for those with lyrics) is some of the worst I have ever heard in any genre. But the point of the CD is learning the instrument, not enjoying the vocals, so I guess it can be overlooked.

All in all, not a bad book for a lower-intermediate and above guitarists with no prior knowledge of bluegrass.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars beginning bluegrass, October 20, 2008

By 

Beverly F. Schlegel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar (Paperback)

Super beginning bluegrass instruction. Great deal for twelve bucks. The CD is wonderful and makes it easy to play along. There are "breaks" versions and "backup" versions of all the songs in the book--I found that very helpful! The songs are extremely simple renditions of a few traditional bluesgrass songs such as Pretty Polly, Nine Pound Hammer,Foot Prints in the Snow, Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms. I learned "Salt Creek" from it. I already knew a pretty good rendition of Dan Crary's "Soldier's Joy" and I think the verson in this book is very simple. A bit too simple for anyone but a true beginner. There a nice section devoted to reading tab and also playing some very basic bluegrass licks. Definitely worth $12 if you are a beginner. Intermediate/Advanced players should pass--you probably already know everything in the book. Super beginner book.