Swing Guitar Essentials: Acoustic Guitar Private Lessons Series (Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons) (Paperback)

by Hal Leonard Corp. (Creator)
Key Phrases: Django Reinhardt, Eddie Lang, Freddie Green (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This comprehensive book/CD pack includes 5 full songs (including "Minor Swing" and "Avalon") and 10 in-depth lessons for players of all levels, taught and recorded (slowly and up to tempo) by the master teachers at Acoustic Guitar magazine. It introduces guitarists to swing's essential styles and pioneering players - from Eddie Lang to Count Basie's rhythm master Freddie Green to Hot Club virtuoso Django Reinhardt, and covers topics such as jazz chord basics, movable chord forms, swing soloing, and more. Instructors include Dix Bruce, Hal Glatzer, David Hamburger, John Jorgenson, John Lehmann-Haupt, Tony Marcus, Scott Nygaard and Michael Simmons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: String Letter Publishing (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890490180
• ISBN-13: 978-1890490188
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #313,534 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for learning the basics of the style., August 8, 2003

By	GB Guitars "gbroulet" (Colfax, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

I've found that String Letter's "Essentials" books appear to be fairly light on information at first glance, but as you dig into them there's more and more there. In fact, the problem I have is that I'll study a lesson and it will inspire me to play and compose new and different things and my practice session turns into a composing session. Then I never finish the book because I'm writing instead of practicing. This book in particular is a bit deeper than the typical "Essentials" book. You probably won't learn everything in this book in a weekend (Although it would be a fun thing to try).

"Swing Guitar" encompasses such a broad variety of music. This book trys to touch on several of the swing styles. You'll learn the basics of Duke Ellington/Count Basie swing, Gypsy Jazz Swing (my favorite section) and even Texas Country Swing. But this is not a primer on how to play like Brian Setzer. It covers the traditional swing styles.

As with all of this publisher's CD this CD is excellent, if a bit over instructive. Every piece and every phrase is played slowly, and then up to tempo. But I could do without every teacher having a 30 second track to introduce themself. But as a practice and play-along tool the CD is excelent.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swing Guitar Review, January 27, 2008

By	David Renfrew (Bangor, Co. Down N.Ireland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this to be an excellent introduction to the basics of Swing Guitar. It covered the areas of chord progressions and their corresponding scales, arpeggio's, licks etc very well. The chord voicings are quite different from the usual folk style voicings but are essential to give the desired sound of the Swing Guitar style. The theory of progressions is explained but not overwhelming. The areas on soloing provide a sound basis for the aspiring guitarist to develop from. There are also brief introductions to the various Swing Guitar styles and the personalities associated with them. All in all an excellent introduction to this style although the chord fingerings might be a challenge to those unfamiliar with them. But for those who persevere it is well worth the effort.