eMedia Learn To Play Guitar Pack: Amazon.com: Musical Instruments

Product Description

The eMedia Learn to Play Guitar Pack includes everything needed to learn guitar straight out of the box. It is perfect for someone who wants a quality guitar that will last for years and the easiest way to learn guitar. This beginner’s package includes a Sequoia acoustic guitar, a guitar pick and eMedia Guitar Method CD-ROM. eMedia Guitar Method not only includes interactive guitar lessons but also includes all the accessories needed to play guitar. The accessories include an automatic tuner, digital metronome, chord dictionary and one-track recorder.

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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Would be a five if it wasn't misleading, January 14, 2005

By

jk829 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: eMedia Learn To Play Guitar Pack (Electronics)

After successfully playing the piano for 8 years, it was time to move on to another instrument. What better than another classic: the guitar? Piano lessons were expensive with a private tutor. I didn't think it'd be any different with guitar. So I decided to save some money and buy a whole pack instead of a guitar and some books. This was the only one I could find and it looked promising. Within two days (4 hours spread out) I went through 43 lessons (3 chapters) (out of a total of 165 lessons, in a total of 11 chapters). The first 20 lessons or so are nothing special. You learn about the guitar, how to tune (which you need to do), string the guitar (it's done for you already), a few basic chords, and some lessons on how to read basic tablature. Seems boring, but by about lesson 41 you will have learned some nice folk songs. The chapters are organized as follows: learn a new technique(s) and some new chord(s), play a song(s) using those chords and previous ones, and a couple of quizzes to test your memorization of chords and ability to move smoothly from one to another (this is obviously crucial). And in the chapters you'll get some other miscellaneous info. The instructor is very good. Within each lesson there are usually a couple of audio clips with commentary on the lesson, a video from the instructor, and a midi recording of what you are about to do in the lesson (learn a technique, chord, song, etc..) These midi clips can be slowed down or sped up, according to learning pace. The instructor emphasizes the need to master each lesson before moving on, or you'll get frustrated (he's right). The good thing about this whole pack is it lets you go at your own pace, isn't pushy, doesn't all of a sudden go into info you never learned; it builds only on previous info so you won't be left guessing as to what is going on. The contents are well organized and you can always go back and redo any lesson you want.

Here are the chapters:

Intro

1- About the guitar

2- Simple chords and strumming

3- More chords and accented strumming

4- Slash chords and chord progressions

5- Rock style strumming and power chords

6- Playing the blues

7- Modern rock and movable power chords

8- Reading tablature and playing melodies

9- Bass note strums with country tunes

10- Fingerpicking: Arpeggio and Travis styles

11- Reading standard music notation

What is included:

Steel string guitar (strings on it)

Guitar method CD

Guitar straps

Screwdriver (the type provided when you buy furniture)

Black bag for the guitar

One pick

Registration info (you can do this online as well)

E-media promotion brochure

For beginners (those with little or no previous musical experience): this is definitely a good start for those with little money to risk on tutors and a professional guitar. Thus the guitar is an average one, definitely not professional. It's a nice way to test whether or not you're extremely, but just temporarily, passionate about playing the guitar, without risking a lot of money. At first it might seem pointless, and a beginner might give up frustrated, or think that they'll never be able to play well, but eventually this pack will make you see the fruit of your labor by teaching you songs (makes you feel like it's worth your time, also the pack provides links to online notation of many popular artists, so you can learn your favorite artist). While you're playing these songs, you can either follow along using the notes, or you can look at the animated fretboard. I haven't once looked at the animated fretboard, but I'd think for beginners this would be easier. BUT, in the end you won't have an animated fretboard with you! So might as well learn right, right away!

For experienced musicians: If you're an experienced guitar player, I'm not sure why you're reading this. Otherwise, for all you other musicians willing to learn a new instrument I guarantee if you were serious and successful with your previous instrument(s), and you are serious about learning the guitar you will find this worthwhile. You won't be prone to give up, and you'll know the troubles of learning a new instrument, thus you'll understand it's pain and sacrifice, but really worth it in the end. Learning the guitar will be even easier for those with experience in playing string instruments or the piano. The finger movement skills you've already learned will make your life much easier in learning the guitar. As for myself, I will truly say (as will other guitar playing pianists), learning and playing the guitar, is much easier than the piano (plus it's easier to carry around with you to entertain others).

Now, this pack isn't all good news. It isn't false advertising, but it is kind of skewed. I thought, when buying this, I'd be getting a real metronome and tuner. It turns out they're on the CD! You need to have a microphone to tune the guitar (for previous musicians with a good ear tuning is a breeze without any technology). And the metronome, obviously, can only be used on a computer. Also, I will take up issue with this and hopefully it was just a mistake, I didn't get an extra set of steel strings! On the box it is advertised as having a guitar with strings, and on a sticker it claims there are EXTRA strings inside the box (interestingly this sticker is missing in the picture Amazon provides), which I have searched for and can't find (there's little to look through)! Also, for whatever reason. Over the last two months I've seen this pack (on Amazon) go from $99.99 to its current price of $131.99. It must be getting popular. Thus, because of this skewed advertising, I can only give a four. Hope this review helps.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guitar for money, January 14, 2008

By

K. Parsons "KP" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: eMedia Learn To Play Guitar Pack (Electronics)

This was exactly as described and well worth the money! It arrived on time just as promised!

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