Mel Bay presents Modern Guitar Method Grade 1, Expanded Edition, Left Hand Edt. (Modern Guitar Method (Mel Bay)) [Spiral-bound]

William Bay & Mel Bay (Author)

Book Description

Series: Modern Guitar Method (Mel Bay) | Publication Date: January 25, 2008

For decades, guitar students and teachers alike have struggled with the idea of left-handed individuals playing right-handed. Now that the idea of letting the dominant hand rule is widely accepted as the best course of action, here at last is a proven method for the left-handed guitarist, in an expanded edition! The Modern Guitar Method, Grade 1/Expanded Edition provides valuable enhancement to the world s most popular guitar method. This comprehensive spiral-bound volume doubles the quantity of studies and solos presented. Every new concept is reinforced by numerous pages of fresh study material. In addition, every note contained in the original Modern Guitar Method, Grade 1 is included and supported by additional playing material. Available as a book only, book/2CD or deluxe book/CD/DVD set. Expands entire content of the original Modern Guitar Method, Grade 1 Doubles the amount of study and solo material CD and DVD edition available. Spiral bound for durability and reading convenience Provides a solid foundation for the left-handed guitar student

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Bay is president of Mel Bay Publications, Inc. He is an accomplished guitarist and trumpet player and has performed on both instruments in a wide variety of professional settings. He is experienced as a performer and composer of music ranging from jazz and rock to the classics and sacred. He received his bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his master's from the University of Missouri. Bill has received international acclaim for his innovative teaching methods, and he has authored over 200 books with sales in the millions. Mel Bay was born on February 25, 1913 in the little Ozark Mountain town of Bunker, Missouri. He bought a Sears Roebuck guitar at the age of 13 and several months later played his first "gig." (He recalled playing until his fingers were raw!) Mel took up the tenor banjo shortly thereafter and continued to play both instruments. During his teenage years Mel played with a wild assortement of bands and characters in rural Missouri. Perhaps no "gig" was as strange as the job he landed with, in Mel's words, "a snake oil salesman." This flamboyant peddler would pull his ostentatious Pierce Arrow automobile, complete with steer horns mounted on the grill, into the center of a small, rural town. Mel would sit on the car and play up a storm on the tenor banjo. After a crowd gathered, the peddler took over and began extolling the merits of his "wonder elixer." In 1933 Mel Bay moved to St. Louis and began his professional career. He played with numerous local and traveling bands. In addition, he landed staff guitar jobs on several radio stations. Mel fronted his own trio (piano, bass, guitar) and played steadily for 25 years! He was equally adept on most fretted instruments and played mandolin, uke, Hawaiian guitar, tenor and plectrum banjo professionally. While Mel was actively pursuing his playing career, he continued to teach as many as 100 students a week. He decided to begin writing instructional materials due to the difficulty encountered by guitarists at playing good sounding chord forms in rhythm sections and due to the poor note reading ability prevalent among guitarists. After the war Mel was asked to write instructional materials on guitar for GI's wanting to learn music under the GI Bill. In 1947 Mel formed his own publishing company and wrote his landmark initial book titled The Orchestral Chord System for Guitar. (This book is still in print under the title Rhythm Guitar Chord System and continues to be one the finest rhythm guitar chord texts available!) His Modern Guitar Method was penned shortly thereafter. For years Mel traveled from town to town talking to guitar teachers and players and showing them his publications. At one time Mel claims to have known virtually every guitar teacher in America on a first name basis! The guitar and Mel Bay books caught on in a big way in the 1950's. Things have continued to grow ever since. Mel used to sell D'Angelico guitars. At any given time he would have 5 or 6 "lying around the house." Mel played professionally on his New Yorker model but his favorite was the initial Mel Bay Model crafted as a gift for him by John D'Angelico. This famous guitar had all of the main features of the New Yorker but was a "cut away" model and had a slightly thinner neck. This instrument has been pictured on the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method for decades. Someone once calculated that sales of guitar books written by Mel Bay have exceeded 25 million copies. When asked, Mel frequently said that he quit counting long ago. Sales of his Modern Guitar Method have alone surpassed the 7 million mark. It is safe to say that Mel Bay is one of the pivotal figures in the world of guitar music and instruction in this century.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 88 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (January 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786677805
• ISBN-13: 978-0786677801
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,078,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Unnecessary, January 18, 2012

By 

katiesue (Ohio) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay presents Modern Guitar Method Grade 1, Expanded Edition, Left Hand Edt. (Modern Guitar Method (Mel Bay)) (Spiral-bound)

This book is mostly musical notation, which is no different for left handers. I bought this book before I knew anything about guitar and what I suggest is that lefties like me just learn to mirror chord charts, or if that is too difficult, either write your own chord charts or order a chord chart for lefties. This book only has a few chords featured, save your money for lessons or a book of lefty charts.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Standard for Learning Guitar - With Excellent DVD, August 21, 2011

By 

David Gurgel (Roseland, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay presents Modern Guitar Method Grade 1, Expanded Edition, Left Hand Edt. (Modern Guitar Method (Mel Bay)) (Spiral-bound)

My guitar teacher insists this series has been the best seller for many years. I am new to guitar but very experienced in voice and piano. I think the book is outstanding. There are seven books, graded 1 - 7, plus twenty or more supplemental books.

The DVD enclosed with the book includes all of the exercises and songs in the book plus full explanation of the instructional text. The songs and exercises are play-along and include a light accompaniment that makes my modest beginning efforts sound quite pleasant. The DVD shows the musical notation on screen, so you can put away the book and use just the DVD.