The First Stage Guitar Book: Learn How To Play Guitar Easily & Quickly! (Spiral-bound)

~ (Author) "Before getting started, I have included some general information about the guitar: Tuning The Guitar: The best way to tune the guitar is by using..." (more)
Key Phrases: chord finger pattern, foot taps the floor, scale path, Major Seventh, Whole Step, Blues Scale (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Finally, an enjoyable method to learning to play guitar. Chris Lopez makes the complex appear simple." -- Russ Hucek - Kradle Guitar Picks- July 2001

Product Description

The "First Stage" Guitar Book is for the anxious beginner who desires a direct no frills method to learning how to play guitar without pages and pages of reading before you start putting your fingers on the strings and begin strumming some music right away; it is also a great reference guitar book for those who already play some. Recently revised and updated with more easy to understand guitar learning information.

All instructions are boldly and clearly illustrated in the most easiest to understand finger shapes.

This must have guitar book is a generous welcome addition to better understand all other guitar books you may already have in your learn how to play guitar collection.

The "First Stage" Guitar Book introduces and guides you to learning:

* Clear and bold illustrations of the most commonly played guitar chords for every key in the easiest to play Open & Barre chord shapes, for example, Major, Major 7ths, Major Dominant 7ths, Minor, Minor 7ths, and 9ths

* The absolutely must have Chord Combination Chart which clearly illustrates which chords go with chords in the same key. Practice chord progressions galore in every key. You will enjoy putting your own creations together with this indispensible chord chart

* Simple techniques of changing one chord to other chords of the same root note names by just lifting a finger or two

* Transposing any chord progression to the key that is the most comfortable for your voice

* Power Chords

* How to read and write in Tablature (Tabs)

* A simple method to maintaining a steady rhythm while strumming

* Clear illustrations of every note on the guitar neck fret board and where each note is located in standard notation and sheet music

The coil bind format allows the guitar book to remain flat for easy viewing of both the left and right side of each page.

Special Note: Both The "First Stage" Guitar Book and The "Guitar Book" (red cover) contain the same learning information. Here you have a choice of which cover art you prefer. This text refers to both the Coil Bind and Paperback Editions. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 98 pages
• Publisher: First Stage Concepts (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966771907
• ISBN-13: 978-0966771909
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,620 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "No Fluff" guide to playing the guitar, December 27, 2000

By	V. Messner (PA, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like many others, own many 'how to play guitar' books. The vast majority of these books are either overly technical for the beginner, or present incomplete information that demands prior knowledge of guitar theory. This book presents chords (open and barre) in easy to read diagrams, along with progressions that take the guess work out of what chords sound good together. Of the many books I own, this, along Chris'other book,"The Next Stage Guitar Book", are my favorites. Rather than reinventing the wheel and taking years to learn the information presented in this book by trial and error, I'd suggest buying this book. It's like a treasure map that will simplify the guitar, and more importantly, allow you to have some fun rather than drown in years and years of theory before being able to play anything.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another truly refreshing approach., April 8, 2000

By	Greg Van de Berghe (the USA... [e-mail]) - See all my reviews

As with "The Guitar Book" this book also, with it's easy to see diagrams steps the beginner through the basics of the guitar from the proper positioning, tuning and the first few basic chords one begins to sense an immediate feel of accomplishment from the basics of strumming and finger placement.

The charts showing chords in the open and "barre" combinations, in my opinion, takes this knowledge to a level that any student can expand with to the best of their current ability. The availability of this "BUILDING BLOCK" feature paints a bright picture where as other books pile this information in following chapters.

From the easy to read diagram explanations, transposing and "tips along the way" the potential here is something that not only will the beginner find useful but many a player I'm sure will find resourceful. From the majors, minors, flats, sevenths and ninths this book by far is the best I have seen anywhere.

I doubt anyone will find this too elementary.

A Definite 5+ *****

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting Started Made Easier Than Ever!, January 19, 2000

By A Customer

I got the book and discovered this guitar book is just what I wanted. The chords are easy to understand and given in both "open" and "barre" finger forms. It has other helpful learning information such as the individual notes on the guitar and how they relate to written music. The illustrations are large and clear. It is much simpler now since everything I needed to get started is in The "First Stage" Guitar Book.

I am pleased that it is a spiral bound book, the pages stay flat making it easy to practice. It is a valuable guitar book for a beginner like myself.