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Contents at a Glance
Introduction xiii
Part 1: Preparing to Play 1
1 The Guitar: A Noteworthy History 3
The life and times of the guitar, from ancient Egypt to
modern America
2 What Is a Guitar? 9
Understanding the different types of guitars
3 Buying a Guitar 17
Shopping hints to help you find the right instrument for you
4 Strings and Things 23
Setting up your guitar and getting it in tune
Part 2: Getting Started 29
5 Beginning to Play 31
Holding the instrument, preparing your left hand, and playing
your first chords
6 The Right Hand 39
Learning basic right-hand techniques
7 Advanced Right-Hand Techniques 45
Rest strokes, arpeggios, and more
Part 3: Tunes and Tablature 53
8 How Guitar Music Is Written 55
Introducing tablature and learning how to read it
9 Varied Accompaniments 71
Various accompaniments shown in tablature, and some easy
songs
10 Rhythm Practice 87
Learning faster and more complex rhythms
11 Slur Techniques 93
Upward (hammer-on) and downward (pull-off) slurs
12 The Full Bar 101
Bar chords and how to play them
Part 4: Making Notes 111
13 How to Read Notes 113
Reading music in conventional notation
14 The Scale 123
Learning basic scale patterns
15 Music in Multiple Voices 131
Playing more than one part at a time
Contents
v
Part 5: Regional Styles 139
16 Elements of Travis Picking 141
Learning a basic folk accompaniment style
17 Folk and Country 151
More folk- and country-style accompaniment patterns
18 Introducing Flamenco 161
The gypsy rhythms of Andalusia
19 Latin Rhythms 179
From tango to bossa nova: You'll be dancing to a Latin beat
20 The Blues 187
Blues accompaniment without pain
21 Rock and Roll 197
A basic introduction to rock-style playing
Part 6: Taking Off 207
22 Chord Formation 209
The basics of chord accompaniment
23 Moving up the Fingerboard 215
Getting beyond first position to explore the guitar's range
24 Classical Virtuoso Secrets 227
The secrets behind great classical playing
25 Putting It All Together 233
Two virtuoso pieces to add to your repertoire
Appendixes
A Further Study 243
Books, videos, and other learning aids
B Guitar Gods 249
Some famous guitarists you ought to know
C Guitar Talk 253
Simple, concise definitions of terms found in this book
Index 259
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Guitar, Second Edition
vi
Contents
Part 1: Preparing to Play 1
1 The Guitar: A Noteworthy History 3
The Ancient Roots of the Guitar ........................................... 3
Early Guitar Masters .............................................................. 4
The Guitar in America ........................................................... 6
The Folk Revival .................................................................... 7
The Least You Need to Know ................................................ 8
2 What Is a Guitar? 9
The Parts of the Guitar ........................................................ 10
Guitar Styles ........................................................................ 11
More Guitar Talk ................................................................. 11
Selecting a Guitar ................................................................ 12
Guitar Variants .................................................................... 15
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 16
3 Buying a Guitar 17
Before Shopping .................................................................. 17
How Much to Spend ........................................................ 18
Acoustic vs. Electric ......................................................... 18
New vs. Used.................................................................... 18
Shopping Tips ...................................................................... 18
Sound Advice ................................................................... 19
Fitting an Instrument to You .............................................. 19
Common Guitar Brands ...................................................... 20
Japanese/Asian Makers .................................................... 20
American Makers ............................................................. 20
Spanish Makers ................................................................ 21
What Will a Dealer Do for You? ......................................... 21
Mail Order ........................................................................... 21
Accessories ........................................................................... 22
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 22
4 Strings and Things 23
About the Fingers ................................................................ 23
The Playing Action .............................................................. 23
Strings .................................................................................. 24
Changing Strings ............................................................. 24
Choosing Strings ............................................................. 26
Raising the Dead .............................................................. 27
String Brands ................................................................... 27
Tuning ................................................................................. 27
Tuning to the Piano ........................................................ 27
Relative Tuning................................................................ 27
Electronic Tuning ............................................................ 28
Contents
vii
String Stretch ....................................................................... 28
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 28
Part 2: Getting Started 29
5 Beginning to Play 31
Playing Position ................................................................... 31
Sitting Correctly .................................................................. 33
The Left Hand ...................................................................... 34
Chords ................................................................................. 36
Changing Chords ............................................................ 37
Why These Chords?......................................................... 38
Minor Chords .................................................................. 38
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 38
6 The Right Hand 39
Right-Hand Playing Position ............................................... 39
Preparing the Nails .............................................................. 40
Right-Hand Chord Technique............................................. 41
Rhythmic Variety ................................................................ 42
Further Practice ................................................................... 42
Quick Review ....................................................................... 43
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 43
7 Advanced Right Hand Techniques 45
The Rest Stroke .................................................................... 45
Alternation....................................................................... 47
Practical Work ................................................................. 47
The Free Stroke .................................................................... 47
Arpeggios ............................................................................. 48
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 51
Part 3: Tunes and Tablature 53
8 How Guitar Music Is Written 55
Guitar Tablature .................................................................. 55
Rhythm and Counting ........................................................ 56
Time Signatures ............................................................... 57
How to Count Time......................................................... 58
Ties, Rests, and Damping .................................................... 59
Some Familiar Tunes ........................................................... 60
“Au Clair de la Lune” ...................................................... 60
“Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” .............................. 61
The Eighth Note .................................................................. 62
Nursery Rhyme ................................................................ 62
Counting Beats with Fractions ............................................ 63
“The Ash Grove”.............................................................. 64
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Guitar, Second Edition
viii
More about Dotted Notes .................................................... 65
“Greensleeves” ................................................................. 66
“Muss I Denn” ................................................................. 67
Irish Air: “Endearing Young Charms” ............................. 68
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 69
9 Varied Accompaniments 71
Playing Chords and Arpeggios in Tablature ....................... 71
“Down in the Valley” (Folk Song from Kentucky) ......... 73
“The Riddle Song” ........................................................... 75
“The Streets of Laredo” (Traditional Cowboy Song) ....... 76
“Aura Lee” (George Poulton, Lyrics by W. W. Fosdick) .. 78
Some New Chords ............................................................... 79
The Half Bar ..................................................................... 80
“Waltzing Matilda” (A. B. “Banjo” Patterson) ................ 81
A First Solo ........................................................................... 83
“Andantino” (Ferdinando Carulli) .................................. 84
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 85
10 Rhythm Practice 87
Advanced Counting ............................................................ 87
Sixteenth Notes ................................................................... 88
Smaller Note Values Do Not Always Equal
Greater Speed ................................................................. 89
Mixed Rhythms ................................................................... 89
“William Tell”.................................................................. 89
“Leaves So Green” ........................................................... 90
“Humoresque” ................................................................. 90
Triplets ................................................................................. 91
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 91
11 Slur Techniques 93
The Upward Slur (Hammer-On, Ascending Ligado) ........... 93
Upward Slur Exercise ....................................................... 95
The Downward Slur (Pull-Off, Descending Ligado) ............ 95
Slurs on Inside Strings ..................................................... 96
Downward Slur Exercise .................................................. 96
Practice for Upward and Downward Slurs .......................... 97
Rhythm of Soleares ........................................................... 98 Exercise for Left-Hand Solo ............................................. 98
The Least You Need to Know .............................................. 99
12 The Full Bar 101
Playing a Full Bar ............................................................... 101
Chord Sequences ............................................................... 105
12-bar Blues ................................................................... 106
“Dream a Little Dream of Me” ...................................... 108
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 109
Contents
ix
Part 4: Making Notes 111
13 How to Read Notes 113
Why Learn Notation? ........................................................ 114
The Music Staff .................................................................. 114
Notes Above and Below the Staff .................................. 115
Tones and Half Tones ........................................................ 116
The Octave......................................................................... 117
The Notes on the Staff ....................................................... 117
The Notes on Each String .................................................. 117
Notes on the First String ................................................ 118
Notes on the Second String ........................................... 118
Notes on the Third String .............................................. 118
Notes on the Fourth String ............................................ 119
Notes on the Fifth String ............................................... 119
Notes on the Sixth String .............................................. 120
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 121
14 The Scale 123
Sharps and Flats ................................................................. 124
Accidentals ........................................................................ 126
Tunes from Notation ......................................................... 127
“Plaisir d'Amour”........................................................... 128
“Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)” ................................... 129
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 129
15 Music in Multiple Voices 131
Independent Voices........................................................... 131
“Andante” (Fernando Sor)................................................. 134
Study Notes .................................................................... 135
“Bourée” (J. S. Bach) .......................................................... 136
Study Notes .................................................................... 136
“Country Dance” (Frederick Noad) ................................... 137
Study Notes .................................................................... 138
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 138
Part 5: Regional Styles 139
16 Elements of Travis Picking 141
Syncopation....................................................................... 142
“Careless Love” .................................................................. 147
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 149
17 Folk and Country 151
Keeping It Steady ............................................................... 152
Basic Chord Shapes ........................................................... 153
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Guitar, Second Edition
x
Picking a Country Song ..................................................... 155
Playing a Solo: “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” ........... 155
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 158
18 Introducing Flamenco 161
The Flamenco Forms ......................................................... 162
Development of the Solo Art ............................................ 162
Technique .......................................................................... 163
Right-Hand Techniques..................................................... 163
The Flamenco Downstroke............................................ 163
Damping ........................................................................ 165
Flamenco Damping ....................................................... 165
The Upstroke ................................................................. 165
The Rhythmic Tap (Golpe) ............................................ 166
The Rasgueo ........................................................................ 166Downward Rasgueo ........................................................ 166 Developing the Fingers .................................................. 168
Four-Finger Rasgueo ....................................................... 168 Study Note ................................................................. 171
Down and Up Rasgueo ................................................... 171Rhythm of
Soleares ......................................................... 172 Study Notes, Soleares .................................................. 174
Farruca ............................................................................ 174 Study Notes, Farruca .................................................. 174 The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 177
19 Latin Rhythms 179
Tango ................................................................................. 179
Rumba................................................................................ 180
The Beguine ....................................................................... 181
The Bossa Nova ................................................................. 181
Carnavalitos ........................................................................ 183 The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 183
20 The Blues 187
Taking Measure of the 12-Bar Blues .................................. 188
Seventh Chords ................................................................. 189
Getting Down to the Blues ................................................ 190
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 195
21 Rock and Roll 197
The Boogie Bass ................................................................. 198
A High-Note Solo............................................................... 200
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 205
Contents
xi
Part 6: Taking Off 207
22 Chord Formation 209
Chord Families .................................................................. 209
Related Chords .................................................................. 210
The Relative Minor ............................................................ 211
Other Useful Chords ......................................................... 212
The Diminished Seventh ............................................... 212
Sixths, Ninths, and Major and Minor Sevenths ............ 212
Transposing with the Chord Clock ................................... 214
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 214
23 Moving up the Fingerboard 215
The Positions of the Guitar ............................................... 215
Ways to Change Position .................................................. 216
The Guide Finger ........................................................... 216
The Portamento ............................................................. 216
The Slide (Arrastre) ......................................................... 217 Notes of the Fifth Position ................................................ 217
Equivalent Notes ............................................................... 218
Natural Harmonics ............................................................ 219
Study in E minor (Francisco Tárrega) ............................ 222
Study Notes ................................................................ 224
Plegaria (Guillermo Gomez) .......................................... 224
Study Notes ................................................................ 226
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 226
24 Classical Virtuoso Secrets 227
Tone Production ................................................................ 227
Vibrato ............................................................................... 229
Tremolo ............................................................................. 230
Dividing your Practice Time ............................................. 230
Additional Study................................................................ 231
The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 231
25 Putting It All Together 233
Study in B Minor (Fernando Sor) ...................................... 234
Study Note, Study in B Minor ....................................... 237
Romance Anónimo (Anonymous Romance) ....................... 237 Study Notes, Romance Anónimo ..................................... 242 The Least You Need to Know ............................................ 242
Appendixes
A Further Study 243
B Guitar Gods 249
C Guitar Talk 253
Index
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