A Modern Method for Guitar - Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete (Paperback)

~ William Leavitt (Author) "1. Tune the open 1st string to the first E above middle C..." (more)
Key Phrases: Rhythm Guitar-The Right Hand, Rhythm Accompaniment, Speed Study (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Now guitarists can have all three volumes of this classic guitar method in one convenient book! Created by popular demand, this new edition of the method used as the basic text for the renowned Berklee College of Music guitar program is a complete compilation of the original Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Innovative solos, duets and exercises progressively teach melody, harmony and rhythm. Perfect for the serious guitar student and instructor alike.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Berklee Press Publications (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876390114
• ISBN-13: 978-0876390115
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,040 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The guitar book that will teach you more than you ever wanted to know., August 20, 2005

By	The Capitol (USA) - See all my reviews

I've worked at a music store in the past and browsed many guitar books, but I've never seen one this good. Most of the books are too "friendly" and pretty similiar to one another...they may even come with CDs. If you're not very interested in learning to sight read, or just want to play around with the guitar, I suggest you check out another book.

This book is pretty "hardcore." If you're looking for a book for your child, I would highly recommend this book be used in conjunction with a teacher or someone else who can offer assistance. You may be inclinded to purchase a book that includes an audio recording, but how will you ever learn to sightread music if you have heard the songs before? (All of the songs in this book are original.)

If you are really dedicated to learn guitar this book will take you VERY far. There is very little instruction in this book however, so I'd recommend you have a little bit of music knowledge. Another reviewer claimed you needed to know how to sightread already, this is untrue, but obviously desirable. From the very beginning, this book is going to ask a lot from you, but keep on trucking and you will catch up. There IS a steep learning curve. The book is very comprehensive and leaves practically nothing out. Like I said before, the book is 400 pages, and it's got practically no fluff. You've got your work cut out for you.

Listen, your guitar is never going to learn how to play itself, and neither will playing air guitar ever get you anywhere. If you're serious, buy this book and dedicate yourself.

P.S. As others have said, the binding is glue, and holds together over 400 pages. Do yourself a favor and take your book to a KINKO'S and have the book spiral-bound for about $5.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very comprehensive, January 4, 2003

By	Dave Abdemoulaie (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Modern Method for Guitar: Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete (Paperback)

This is a great book for any guitarist. It focuses on reading music mostly, and gets into technique later in the book. One thing to keep in mind, however, is the binding. It's a rather thick book with a ... glue binding, so it's difficult to keep open. After much use some of the pages start to come loose. I'd buy the volumes separately if I could do it again.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best way to start reading for the guitar, July 24, 2003

By	Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Modern Method for Guitar: Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete (Paperback)

I used the Leavitt books when I was learning to sight read back in the late 1960s, and it's still as good today as it was back then. The typography may look a little old to eyes used to modern computerized typesetting and layout, but the material is still solid. Working through all three volumes of Leavitt will give you a comeplete mastery of the fingerboard, and you'll learn some hip chords and lines along the way.

The new binding is a nice improvment- although the text inside is unchanged. And having all three volumes of Leavitt in one binding is both a money saver and convenient, as you'll want to refer back to some of the scale and chord charts once in a while.

There have been a lot of methods published before and since, but this is still one of the absolute best.