Recommendations for comprehensive and detailed guitar exercise lesson books/websites/software.
August 11, 2009 8:13 PM Subscribe
Recommendations for comprehensive and detailed guitar exercise lesson books/websites/software.
I've played electric guitar for maybe a month. After learning a few simple chords and scales, I've realized I need more structure. Part of it is because it would push me to keep learning by giving me a sense of progress. Another reason is that I used to play violin so I realize the importance of scales and exercises.
My goal is to play blues/rock lead guitar, but I still understand that chords are very important. So though I am looking for recommendations on scales book, I need more than that.
I would prefer books/sites/software that would take me from the beginning to end: basic strumming patterns to scales to simple songs to more difficult riffs. I would also like details. This means scales are labeled with fingering for different positions and exercises with strum patterns. And it'd be nice if it kept me more interested by rewarding me with fun songs at the appropriate difficulty after a few exercises.
Thanks for the help.
I've played electric guitar for maybe a month. After learning a few simple chords and scales, I've realized I need more structure. Part of it is because it would push me to keep learning by giving me a sense of progress. Another reason is that I used to play violin so I realize the importance of scales and exercises.
My goal is to play blues/rock lead guitar, but I still understand that chords are very important. So though I am looking for recommendations on scales book, I need more than that.
I would prefer books/sites/software that would take me from the beginning to end: basic strumming patterns to scales to simple songs to more difficult riffs. I would also like details. This means scales are labeled with fingering for different positions and exercises with strum patterns. And it'd be nice if it kept me more interested by rewarding me with fun songs at the appropriate difficulty after a few exercises.
Thanks for the help.
My husband is also beginning to play guitar and has a couple of suggestions. I'll be watching for this thread for him too.
Mel Bay's Finger Gymnastics for flexibility and strength. It has helped him build up finger strength, flexibility and calluses. It also has lessons for coordination, speed, timing, and strum patterns.
We've looked at the House of Blues: Electric Guitar Course series but haven't picked it up yet. We liked how it had video lessons as well as paper guide for basically everything. They've got an associated Blues Guitar course too.
The Fender Players Club website had some great tutorials as well, but looks like it may have been taken down or moved behind a paywall.
posted by bookdragoness at 10:01 PM on August 11, 2009
Mel Bay's Finger Gymnastics for flexibility and strength. It has helped him build up finger strength, flexibility and calluses. It also has lessons for coordination, speed, timing, and strum patterns.
We've looked at the House of Blues: Electric Guitar Course series but haven't picked it up yet. We liked how it had video lessons as well as paper guide for basically everything. They've got an associated Blues Guitar course too.
The Fender Players Club website had some great tutorials as well, but looks like it may have been taken down or moved behind a paywall.
posted by bookdragoness at 10:01 PM on August 11, 2009
As a supplement to whatever structured suggestions people give you here, I highly recommend Guitar Fretboard Workbook. It's not enough material to be your only book (imo), but it will help you get a better understanding of the other material you're learning. Just learning chords, scales, etc, won't help too much. This book helps you piece all that knowledge together until you understand how those chords, scales, etc, were formed.
posted by Precision at 11:06 PM on August 11, 2009
posted by Precision at 11:06 PM on August 11, 2009
Justin Sandercoe runs a popular lesson site covering basics and some advanced technique with lots of video instruction. Its all free, but you can donate if you like the material.
posted by freya_lamb at 4:14 AM on August 12, 2009
posted by freya_lamb at 4:14 AM on August 12, 2009
A Modern Method for Guitar: Vol 1
Takes you through simple picking patterns, strumming, rhythm, a bevy of chords, improvisation, etc.
I still reference it from time to time.
posted by teabag at 8:19 AM on August 12, 2009
Takes you through simple picking patterns, strumming, rhythm, a bevy of chords, improvisation, etc.
I still reference it from time to time.
posted by teabag at 8:19 AM on August 12, 2009
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Line 6 makes a device called the GuitarPort and it's really freaking awesome. The downside is you need to subscribe to GuitarPort Online in addition to buying new hardware to take advantage of all the lessons they offer. In the past they offered a 30 day trial not sure if that's still going on or not. The lessons range in difficulty from complete neophyte to guitar wizard. It's good stuff. Complete songs tabbed out with audio that you can play to.
One thing worth mentioning, if you cancel your subscription you loose access to all the lessons and jam tracks you have downloaded.
Also check out WholeNote. It's creators have abandoned it for the most part but if you check out the lessons there is lots of really groovy stuff available for all skill levels.
Search for lessons on Power chords, barre chords, pentatonic blues scales, harmonic minor scales, it should get you up to speed fairly quickly. Those are the things that are going to be the most useful to you in playing with others in a rock/blues environment.
posted by CoinOp at 9:58 PM on August 11, 2009