Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Complete Edition: Books & CD's 1, 2 and 3 Reviews

• A method book with a curriculum and a design!

  
  By A2GD1FO2CWU8JK on 2006-07-22
  I'm a guitar teacher who has been teaching beginning guitar since 1983 to a multitude of young start-ups learning the instrument. This has always been the main book I use for beginners. This book's target audience is 12 to 19 year olds. Students 8 to 11 have used the book with me but struggled, as the note reading and strumming is a little difficult for them. Students under 12 need a book more dedicated to 3 and 4 string EZ chords played on the high strings (like Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course) as opposed to full 6 string chords. This book progresses into lengthly 7 and 8 line melodies pretty early on and children under 12 can't maintain a high level of concentration for that long without soon becoming frustrated and impatient. (Maybe Hal Leonard will release a "Guitar Primer" as a preliminary to this book someday).
  
  But it's perfect, like I said, for the 12 to 80+ year olds. This age group has the maturity, finger strength, and the self-discipline to diligently practice the material slowly without giving up too soon. Dedicated practice time is the secret to success using this book or any other method book. The lessons are progressive, meaning each chord sequence you learn uses chords from the previous lessons and the notes you play for melodies contain sharps and flatted notes from previous lessons.
  
  The song selection is nice because there are all styles, time periods, and ethnicities represented. There's rock songs, folk songs, Christmas songs, traditional African American spirituals, fiddle tunes, classical pieces, and what I really enjoy as a teacher - 2 part duets! Book one covers the rudimentary chords and 1st position note playing. Book 2 gets you into finger picking, Carter Style, and alternating bass notes with open string cowboy chords. Book 3 gets into rock playing and improvisation using pentatonic scales. There are also "jam sessions" in book 3 that give you, the student, the chance to sit in with the band and apply what you've learned.
  
  The book is authored by Will Schmid, past president of MENC, a national music organization that sets the national K-12 standards for music education. The book's overall strength comes from Schmid's insight into professional guitar education. This is a method book with a curriculum and a design.
  
  This book is a revision. The revisionist being rock star celebrity Greg Koch. Greg Koch, although a little wacky (but in an entertaining way) can cover any genre of music to stylistic perfection. His performances have been professionally recorded with a full band of studio musicians. The tracks have a slow version to practice along with and a up-to-tempo version to hear what it should sound like up-to-speed. The CDs will be very helpful for those without the benefit of a guitar teacher. The audio tracks will help facilitate your learning because you can pop the CD into your boombox and listen to the lesson material as if Greg Koch himself were giving you a private lesson. (wouldn't that be zany and fun!)
  
  

• Good for any Beginner, or Amauter player

  
  By A3EH1WTQX5K3N6 on 2005-03-08
  I have been playing guitar for several years, and even play on the worship team at church. So far I have learned by just chords or playing by ear. I picked this book up to learn how to read music and take my musical ability to a new level. AND this book definetly does it!!
  
  This book starts of at square one of how to hold a guitar and proceeds very logically through into more advanced topics; reading music, building chords, music theory, advanced fingerings, all main key signatures, etc. This book will help practically anyone who plays guitar, to play better. (Unless you are already a Pete Townsend or Eric Clapton, but if so why are you looking for a new book on how to play guitar?). This book comes with 3-CDs that play nearly every song within the book covered allowing the guitarist to develop perfect timing, playing with other instruments, and knowing how the song should sound. This book is great for any beginner, amauter, and even the intermediate players will be able to pick something up. Especially since it's less than $25 bucks make this a 5-star buy for any guitar player.
  
  

• Excellent series!

  
  By on 2003-10-17
  This is a great system for learning the guitar. The instructions and photos are clear and this gets you reading music and playing tunes quickly. (Includes TAB in the second book) - since all three volumes of this serires are bound in one terrific spiral binding - this is an excellent value. I am a pianist and like this system because it gets into reading notes immediately. I tried another system that did not explain what notes were where on the guitar and found it frustrating since I knew where they were on the piano, I wanted to know where they were on the guitar - not just where to place my fingers. This is a great book!
  
  

• Great Start

  
  By on 2003-09-04
  The 3 book/3 CD compilation of the HL Guitar Method is where I began and what I use to teach students how to master the guitar and to become... musicians. The book methodically relys on learning to read actual music (later in the book the tab method is introduced) and slowly, patiently develops the student's fingers, ears, and appreciation of harmony and melody. Theory is introduced ever so subtley and enjoyably.

  The CD tracks are excellent and make quality self-study feasible. Many of the songs or exercises are presented in slow and up tempo versions.

  This is a treasure chest for the teacher and student or the student who is teaching himself. There are excellent supplemental books (pop and rock melodies, rhythm books, riff and lick books, etc.)and I recommend them all.
  
  

• essential learning tool

  
  By AC5UOO7YRH4IK on 2007-08-06
  This book is a necessity in learning to play guitar! I had never picked up a guitar and my daughter wanted one for her birthday so I decided if I was going to teach her to play I need to learn myself.I do have a basic music backgournd,I was in band in school,so I do know how to read music.Other than that I am starting from scratch.This book starts out showing you the parts of the guitar and how to hold it.Then it takes you through the playing process sting by string,showing you the notes and how to play them.It is very easy to read and understand.There are practice songs after each string so you have a feeling of accomplishment being able to play a familar tune.Granted it is songs like Yankee Doodle and so forth but I think it is important to crawl before you walk!After 2 hours of practice I have mastered the first 3 strings,I am halfway through! You are also able to learn to read music through this process because with each finger position it shows you the note and then you put it all together while reading the practice songs.This is great because you aren't just memorizing chords you can truely pick up sheet music and paly!Then the book goes on to teach you how to strum chords.I think this is an awesome book to start with to teach you all of the basics.You will probably want to get more books later but everyone has to start somewhere!
  
  
• Excellent Guitar Method, Excellent Bargain
  By AGV64QZ078U8J on 2005-12-15
  I have been using the Hal Leonard method with my guitar students for several years with great success. This spiral bound edition of books 1,2&3 is a great bargain. Not only do you get all three volumes for less money, the spiral binding makes playing and teaching much easier since it stays flat while on the music stand.
  
  If you are just starting out, the CD offers a great chance to hear what you are actually trying to learn, and with a little self discipline you could improve your skills a great deal even without an instructor.
  
  Great product!
  
  
• a precise method to reading music and understanding theory
  By on 1998-09-03
  ive have studied this book under the instruction of my teacher and now i teach myself and use this book as a tutorial. excellent for revealing basic theory and has good exercises for the beginning to intermediate guitar player to sight read.(as opposed to the destructive method of guitar tablature.)
  
  
• My Tutor
  By A2BX0HAN7PGIX3 on 2005-05-28
  With this book I have gone from knowing only how to play the most basic tunes, (No chords) and although I am not done with it, I can play chords and strums and do a whole lot more than I could before I got this book. Basic chord charts (Chords are what makes great songs great.) are included along with songs everyone would know. The price is also great, considering how much you will get out of it by the time you get from cover to cover. Although I have guitar lessons on Tuesdays, this book serves as my second teacher- ok what im saying is: GET THIS BOOK!
  
  
• Just perfect
  By A12K825KX7H5U6 on 2005-03-03
  This book is amazing. It is not easy to find a single source for different level of skill. The book has plenty of excercises and songs for beginners and more advanced guitar players. There are folk, rock, blues songs arranged for acoustic or electric guitar. Enclosed CDs are very helpful. Try to listen the song before you start playing it. You probably dont need to look for other books, because this one covers it all.
  
  
• Comprehensive - one book for all
  By A3DA1NZB3FYUO4 on 2006-02-05
  this book gives clear, detailed explanation on basic terms, notations, and demonstrate finger position with photos. On the music (with standard notation and later tablature) it depicts melody, lyrics, strumming, chords and styles. The print is big and comfortable to the eyes. The spiral binding make the book stay open so you don't have to constantly bother with pages shutting together. The studying regimen is well-organized so you progress gradually from the front of the book to the end. It provides stylistic accompaniment and covers many genres such as country, classical, bluegrass, roc n' roll, gospel, folk, etc., just to name a few. (I wish it'd include some Latin American style such as Bossa Nova, Salsa or Habanera, but I have not found any guitar book catering to the Latin American styles.) It teaches scales, chords, and even provide basic music theory knowledge at the end of the book. In general, this book gives great introduction to all there is in guitar playing in the United States.
  
  
• Complete Edition - Complete Perfection
  By A1GQHGISERMU4M on 2006-08-01
  I'm rarely one to completely hype a product, but in this case, I must. I purchased this to use with an after school program I'm starting this year and to bone up on my lacking guitar skills. This series has everything one needs to LEARN to play the guitar.
  
  From the first pages, I knew I had the right book for my needs. Though I took lessons as a child, I had forgotten most of the basics. The first lessons in the book are the basic finger picking notes on each string including notation and which fingers to use for each note. The songs are a tad bland in this section, but with a bit of inspiration you will be able to pick your own songs using these notes in no time.
  
  From there it goes on to strumming technique, chords, progressions, etc. The songs get better and better. The included CDs make using the book a real treat as well. You will easily develop proper playing technique for each song by listening and playing along. The CDs make it very easy and take away some of the "can that really be right?" that you would no doubt feel playing solo.
  
  So far, I've used this only on my own, but my class begins soon and I plan to use this book with the students. I am sure the outcome will exceed my expectations, and I'm looking forward to us all playing "Love Me Tender/Aura Lee" at our mid-year academic rally.
  
  If you're really looking for a book for an absolute beginner, this is the one to buy. The songs are above average (in later sections), the CDs are fantastic, and the overall quality is second to none.
  
  
• Perfect starting point!
  By A3L4ETW3DU1MN6 on 2002-05-31
  I played piano long ago as a kid, but have been out of music for quite a few years now. This is a great way to get back in, learning the bars, notes, and strings. I'm a fan of progressive rock and metal, so I plan to follow in the footsteps of guitar greats like Yngwie Malmsteen and Eddie Van Halen. LONG way to go, but the melodies in this book are a great first step.

  By the way, if you wanna learn an instrument but find yourself running out of steam, listen to music you enjoy for a while .. You should feel the urge to copy it, and you'll be ready to go again.
  
  

• Outstanding Value
  By A1WIY5EMCHC9S0 on 2006-07-28
  I already had a copy of the first Hal Leonard Guitar Method when I purchased this combination of all three books with the CDs. The CDs make all the difference. Don't buy without them. I struggled my way through the first book without the CD. I'm now reviewing everything from the first book with the CDs and it makes 100 times more sense to me now. I own a bunch of Hal Leonard titles, and they are all well written and easy to understand. You can't go wrong with Hal Leonard and this combo deal is a steal. For the price you can hardly buy one book with the CD.
  
  
• Hal Leanard Guitar Method
  By AEPOYZ8YOGLPF on 2006-08-15
  My 9 and 7 yr old boys are both taking their first guitar lessons and it seems ok....the CD is a bit confusing..I couldn't tell what music it was corresponding to at first because it was going too fast. It should say "now we're doing sample #1" etc. I like the idea that all three books were together.
  
  
• Not for everyone!
  By A2LFB6K7SL3EGO on 2008-08-14
  I bought this book based on the overwhelming positive reviews here at Amazon, and was left quite disappointed. The book is ultra-simplistic, and each section has a small bit of information followed by a large chunk of sheet music. If one were browsing in a music store, and picked up this book and casually flipped through it, it would come across primarily as book of sheet music.
  
  The book is heavily focused on learning to read actual music (staffs, notes, clefs, etc), and tablature is almost an afterthought.
  
  As best I can tell, the accompanying CD's are simply the music bits played, with absolutely no verbal instruction.
  
  This book may be fine for many (and apparently is) but it is definitely not the best way to learn guitar for everyone. I downgraded it to 3 stars, not because "it's just not for me", but because I actually find the instructional material to be quite sparse. A large chunk of the print is going to be sheet music, which you can find online for free anyway.
  
  
  
  
• No complaints
  By A33TFFJ9BF7PHZ on 2006-07-10
  For the price, you cannot beat the information within this book.
  
  I am learning to play both Guitar and Mandolin and cannot afford music instruction classes. I am using this book to learn both instruments. Granted however, I have been learning to read music for several months.
  
  I recommend this book, plus:
  Harmony and Theory : A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians (Essential Concepts (Musicians Institute).) (Paperback) by Keith Wyatt, Carl Schroeder
  
  The combination of these two will provide you a solid musical foundation. That is if your willing to put the work into it.
  
  
• The best start
  By A38XNG0FHQUG7P on 2007-01-09
  If you want to understand the musical language there is no other place to start than this book...for any style. With this book there is no need for a teacher because it is self explanatory. After memorizing the material in this book I suggest learning the C-A-G-E-D sequence. If you want to begin classical I recommend Chistoper Parkenings guitar method and if you want to learn flamenco then I suggest Juan Serranos Basic Flamenco Techniques...both are part of a series which will enable you to sight read anything...Most importantly to help you understand theory I think that you should go through Alfeds Adult Basic Piano Book 1...then look into a book on composition, musical notation, and eartraining here on this site...Lastly learn some common jazz chord progressions and scales for improv....no matter what LEARN STANDARD NOTATION IT WILL OPEN YOUR MIND!!!
  
  
• I like it!
  By A5DDJV0VR6FVU on 2007-08-10
  This set is what I expected out of the reviews I have read. It is a very good set for some one who is learning the guitar and wants to beable to read music not tabs but actuall musical notes. I am curently on the first book and it progresses at a really good pace, not to fast and not to slow. The CD's that come with it are very good also because the help you learn how to listen for the sustainment of a note.
  
  
• Very satisfied after puchasing dozens of copies
  By A3NQKKRXZTGRWQ on 2008-01-12
  I have probably purchased several dozen copies of Hal Leonard's Guitar Method Complete Edition through Amazon and continue to use it week after week with my private guitar students. I like the theory aspects and practical exercises. Other books I have used are short on exercises to solidify the theory that is being taught and tend to move from one concept to another without adequate practice. The CDs are high quality and quite varied in their styles so students should enjoy using them to play along with. There are certainly other books that go into more detail but I highly recommend this one as a basic curriculum.
  
  
• Nice book, if you don't need tabs
  By AQRUD29L6L340 on 2007-11-22
  The book is very helpful, however, I was disappointed that there is only a very limited number of tabs. It is geared towards learning staff music.
  
  
• Hal Leonard Guitar Method - Complete Edition
  By A2MLHL8PKE1U88 on 2006-02-21
  As far as method books go, this one is not bad. I still recommend individual/group lessons if you hope to advance. But all in all, not a bad book for the beginner.
  
  
• Amazing value for the price!
  By A176Z8SWX5RJDP on 2006-11-09
  I bought this book given the ratings by other customers. And it hasn't disappointed in any way. This book is appropriate for beginners or intermediate players. The first book starts out at a good pace from the very fundamentals. Each page introduces a new concept with mini-exercises to enforce the concept. I've been playing the guitar and wanted to start again from the fundamentals. This book has helped me do just that. The best part of this package is the set of CDs. It helps greatly to ensure that the tunes are being played on beat. It also helps make even the most basic of pieces fun to play. I highly recommend this book for beginners and intermediates alike.
  
  
• Great Instruction for Beginners
  By A3MNOJYXHW5YTH on 2007-02-03
  This book has helped a beginning guitarist get a good start. I played around for a few years with my guitar, never really putting any effort into actually learning. But about a month ago I decided to really start trying to learn; thus I purchased this book. It has been invaluable in learning to read music and learning where the notes are on the guitar. I have only made it to about page 30; so I still have well over 100 pages to go. If I can stick with it I know this book will help me become a good guitar player.
  
  
• Excellent Self Teaching Guitar Book
  By AAQ2XM4VTDSBI on 2007-09-24
  This is an excellent book for learning guitar, even with zero previous knowledge of how to play. No need for expensive lessons. Playing along with the cd is excellent practice. Most songs on the cd have slow and fast tempos. The book is very well written and easy to understand.
  
  
• Not the Best... But Good
  By ABD7A4FRO654X on 2008-08-02
  This is not the best book to learn notes. It is funner then some books though, because its not just lines of notes. It teaches chords and alternate fingerings for some. Book one has tuning, playing position, musical symbols, etc. Book two goes deeper with power chords, fingerstyle, pentatonic scales, for someone who more experience with a guitar. Finally in the third book is more on different scales, barre chords, Travis picking, information on gear, and other information for advanced guitar. All three books are bound together in one edition. The spiral binding seems to be made of good quality plastic and is probably not likely to break. The CDs contain audio accompaniments and are not just guitar examples. I would not recommend you use the book by its self to learn notes, a good accompanying book to use with it is Aaron Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique Volume One.
  
  
• Guitar Method Book plus CD's
  By A1IJIAPGEC1XZN on 2006-02-17
  The book is great for a beginner, and also one who has not played the guitar for a couple of years.
  
  
• Great beginners book
  By A2Y7O998TL8EGS on 2007-01-05
  I bought this book in the begining of the school year for my guitar emesmble class. It is a great product that teaches you nearly everything. If you practice the excercises for just fifteen minutes a day you will be a great guitar player. By the way i am one of the best in my class.
  
  
• Excellent Value
  By A109TVYL655H0U on 2007-03-08
  Three Books in one with a CD to boot! Great Book for a beginner, my daughter is already playing beautifully and she's only had the book a month. The key to her success is the CD - with accompaniment she keeps better time and hears a finished product - it's really encouraged her to keep working hard.
  
  
• Best way to start...
  By A24R9KMRCKZMLP on 2007-06-21
  I have a weak piano playing background from childhood. So I kinda sorta understand how to read music. I picked this book out of a bookstore after getting my first guitar ten years ago. I still hang onto it. As a hobbyist its great cause sometimes I'm so busy my skills get rusty with reading music its embarassing. This is great for warming back up because I just forget what notes go where on the guitar. This book is so clear dealing with one string at a time. When I took up a beginners guitar class a year later at USC's music school... the teacher had the students buy book one of this set. I was ahead of the game. I have seen imitations copying this teaching style but this one is the original. No regrets.
  
  
• Solid introduction
  By A373ZCB1AYOZC on 2008-03-12
  Probably at this time, I will not add more to previous numerous reviews. But let me state briefly this: before I decided to go through the "Guitar Method", I had been just a casual, rather primitive player striking chords selected from "chords finder". I must say, this book made me a true solid beginner, able to read notes on the staff, use a fingerstyle, understand tablature and chords construction (just a few things among many). I continue progressing using other Hal Leonard books by practicing daily. These books motivate!!
  
  

• The Hal Leonard Acoustic Guitar Method: A Complete Guide with Step-by-Step Lessons and 45 Great Acoustic Songs
• Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask (Guitar Method)
• Guitar Fretboard Workbook
• The "First Stage" Guitar Chord Chart - Learn How To Play The Most Commonly Played Guitar Chords
• Fender Presents: Getting Started on Acoustic Guitar -- A Guide for Beginners