Plus, with the MusicGurus video player you can loop and slow-down all the performances and demonstrations, so this course will allow you to see exactly what the pros are doing. If you're a student taking a graded exam, this course is the ideal preparation. And if you're a teacher teaching grade 1 guitar lessons, this course will provide all kinds of ideas to keep your lessons fresh and authentic.
Apart from offering guitar and music tuition in Colchester, Essex, I often get asked about what are the best guitar and music books that can aid in the process of learning the guitar and music theory. While there is no substitute for one on one private guitar, bass and music lessons, I also feel that a good book can really help guide you in the right direction. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of books in this article that I personally use as supplementary material in my guitar lessons. I have listed 7 books from my collection below; 3 aimed at beginner guitarists, 3 aimed at more intermediate to advanced guitarists and other musicians, and one aimed at both!
rock school grade 1 guitar book
Although it was first published in 1982, The Guitar Handbook still contains a lot of relevant information for guitarists of all abilities and styles. With a foreword from Police guitar legend Andy Summers, this book explains all aspect of the guitar, from basic technique, anatomy of the instrument, amplifiers, effects and anything else you can think of pertaining to guitar. Personally, I learnt a lot from the music theory section in the book, which is brilliantly explained by author Ralph Denyer. Although I had a basic understanding of theory before I read this book, it was The Guitar Handbook that really cemented my knowledge after reading through it, helping to completely demystify music theory for me. Although I have linked the first edition below, which is also the edition of the book that I own, there is also an updated version available online if you search.
In truth, I could have listed either of the Debut Rockschool books on electric or acoustic guitar, or the Grade 1 Electric edition, however it is the Grade 1 Acoustic book that I am most familiar with. Containing transcriptions of actual songs from across a broad range of styles and eras, I have had a lot of success teaching beginners the basics of guitar with at least 5 of the 6 pieces in this book, whether they are acoustic or electric players. Although some of the broken chords and scales in the back of the back are a little tricky, the songs listed should present enough of a challenge for any beginner to see improvement on the guitar early on, without being too difficult and off putting to anyone still in the early stages of guitar development. Whether or not you opt to take a graded exam, Rockschool Acoustic Guitar Grade 1 is still a good learning resource to any beginner guitarist.
I believe that there is something for guitarists and musicians of all abilities and styles on the above list. A good book on guitar playing or music theory should always supplement guitar lessons and music tuition, so ensure that you get lessons booked in with an experienced, highly qualified instructor in order to get the best out of your learning and understanding of whichever book you decide to purchase, particularly if you are a beginner on either guitar or music theory. I hope you enjoyed the above list, and that you enjoy any of the books you decide to purchase.
The Guitar Grade 1 book contains everything you need to sit your Grade 1 exam - in one essential book. It's packed with essential techniques and theory for beginners picking up the fundamentals of guitar.
The Rockschool Grade Exam syllabus provides a framework for the progressive development of a wide range of musical and technical skills, over a series of grades and diplomas from beginner to expert level. Technical, aural and sight-reading skills are acquired in a sequential way. Performance pieces are focused on the most popular contemporary genres and selected by experts to suit the needs of students at their particular stage of development.
Rockschool is a vibrant, contemporary music program of exams and qualifications for electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, vocals, piano, ukulele, bands, popular music theory and music production.
One of the best Guitar Books for Beginners, this books takes a classical approach to reading music. It focuses on reading sheet music and identifying the notes A,B,C,D,E,F,G. The notes are then associated to the corresponding fret on the guitar. Working one string at a time, from the high E string all the way up to the Low E string, this book covers the first 3 frets of the guitar. The student also learns how to play basic rhythms such as whole notes, half notes and quarter notes.
After learning the individual notes on the 6 strings of the guitar, the student goes on to learn simple melodies like Ode to Joy, Yankee Doodle, and Brother John. After, the book covers how to play easy 1 finger chords such as C, G, G7 and then eventually D7. The student learns to play these chords to accompany different melodies, which can be sung by the student or played as a duet with a teacher.
As the title suggests, this book uses an approach to learning guitar called Tab (short for tablature). Tab is a modern system for reading music based on numbers. The fret number is associated to one of the 6 strings of the guitar. For ex. a 3 on the second line from the bottom means the student should press their finger on the 3rd fret, 5th string.
This is one of the best guitar books for beginners because it covers rock-and-roll songs that students know and love such as Peter Gunn, Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones, Wipeout, Batman theme and much more. The songs are short (usually 2 bars long) and made up of riffs (short repeating patterns) so they are learnt quickly. Power chords are introduced later in the book (2-note chords that are used in rock).
Although these songs can certainly be learned on the acoustic guitar, they sound best on an electric guitar with a bit of distortion (a guitar effect used in rock, which is often included on guitar amplifiers).
Aired in the United States by public television station WNET, Herbie Hancock was brought in to host the series for the American market. Hancock presented various topics in a studio classroom setting, interspersed with short lessons from the "Rockschool Band" composed of Deirdre Cartwright on electric guitar, Geoff Nicholls on drums, and Henry Thomas on bass, and interview segments with well-known musicians.
Two volumes titled Rockschool 1: Guitar, Bass & Drums and Rockschool 2: Electronics, Keyboards & Vocals were published in the U.S. in 1987 by Fireside Books (Simon & Schuster). Volume 1 was previously published in Great Britain by the BBC in 1984. The books were edited by series producer Chris Lent.
Biographical Sketch: Helen L. Ness (Mrs. Melvin Ness) of Pinckard, AL, is a musician and music teacher. As a young woman, she lived in Chautauqua, NY, and attended its summer music programs. To pay her room and board, she kept house for a resident who gave her a large amount of sheet music for songs popular in the 1890-1930 era. The music and the graphic design are emblematic of the era. Scope / Content: Consists of music magazines from 1905-1942, music instruction books, sheet music with religious, instructional, patriotic, and secular themes from the 1870s-1980s, and papers from Helen Ness's association with school recitals and church camps. Sheet music focuses mainly on piano with a few scores for guitar, organ, violin, oboe and ukulele. Organized into 4 Series, one with subseries:Series 1: Music Magazines, 1905-1942 [21 magazines]: Magazines focus on popular music of the time and include artist interviews, performance critiques and sheet music. Arranged by title, then in reverse chronological order. Series 2: Songbooks, 1901-1958 [16 books]: collections of popular or classic songs for teaching and enjoyment. Arranged in reverse chronological order. Series 3: Sheet Music, 1860-1988 [2 folders, 5 booklets & 137 scores]: collection of scores for piano, guitar, organ, violin, oboe or ukulele. Organized into 5 subseries by musical genre, files in each arranged in reverse chronological order. Religious, ca.1879-1969 [17 scores & 1 folder]: Religious songs.Instructional, 1904-1938 [5 booklets]: collections of songs used to teach music to grades 1-5.Guitar, 1892-1893 [2 scores]: music designed for the guitar.Patriotic, 1895-1918 [10 scores]: galops, marches, & tributes to soldiers.Classical & Popular, 1877-1988 [108 scores]: including songs from hit theater & movie productions.Series 4: Ephemera, [1 folder]: papers & photos associated with school recitals and church camps.
Series 3: Sheet Music: 1860-1988 [2 folders, 5 booklets & 137 scores]: collection of scores for piano, guitar, organ, violin, oboe or ukulele. Arranged in reverse chronological order within subseries. Religious: ca.1879-1969 [17 scores & 1 folder]: Religious songs.
A survey of teaching vocal music in the secondary schools (grades 7-12). Emphasis is on administration, organization, rehearsal procedures, materials, and the philosophy of music as a public school subject.
A brash and dazzling celebration of the instruments that created the sounds of rock and roll from the 1940s to the present day Play It Loud celebrates the musical instruments that gave rock and roll its signature sound-from Louis Jordan's alto saxophone and John Lennon's Rickenbacker to the drum set owned by Metallica's Lars Ulrich, Lady Gaga's keytar, and beyond. Seven engrossing essays by veteran music journalists and scholars discuss the technical developments that fostered rock's seductive riffs and driving rhythms, the thrilling innovations musicians have devised to achieve unique effects, and the visual impact their instruments have had. Abundant photographs depict rock's most iconic instruments-including Jerry Lee Lewis's baby grand piano, Chuck Berry's Gibson ES-350T guitar, Bootsy Collins's star-shaped bass, Keith Moon's drum set, and the white Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock-as works of art in their own right. Produced in collaboration with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this astounding book goes behind the music to offer a rare and in-depth look at the instruments that inspired the musicians and made possible the songs we know and love. 2ff7e9595c
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