Advanced Scale Concepts and Licks for Guitar: Private Lessons (Musicians Institute Press) [Paperback] Review

by this author because you get 100 licks in many different tonalities. About the only one not covered is Harmonic Major(Ionian flat 6). Belkadi starts out with the major/minor pentatonic scale (4examples) using the 4th interval approach and then with chromatism and quickly moves on to the dominant 7th pentatonic scale and then several lessor known pentatonic scales. Soon he's into harminic minor tonality(Ionian flat3/flat6) and breaks it down by modes giving 2 examples in each mode. This book is a good practical way to learn these modes. In my case phrygian dominant or phrygian natural 3 stuck with me from this book,(it's mode 5 of harmonic minor). The next tonality gone thru is melodic minor(Ionian flat3),(my personal favorite). Belkadi sells these tonalities well with his virtuosity and change-ups (tone and style) on the accompanying CD which has very good sound quality. You also get lines for whole tone and diminished scales and miscellaneous lines to round out the book. I'd put this book in the same league as outside licks and possibly a tad more useful because of the theoretical lessons it contains.

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Product Description:
MI instructor Jean Marc Belkadi reveals the secrets to creating interesting, over-the-top phrases. This book is the complete resource for applying pentatonic, harmonic minor, melodic minor, whole tone, and diminished scales. The CD includes 99 full-band tracks.

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Learn To Play Bottleneck Blues Guitar #1 DVD Review

This DVD, along with volumes 2 & 3, are hands down the best available if you want to play authentic pre-war style blues slide guitar.Bob Brozman is an extraordinary player with an encyclopedic knowledge of the music.Bob's incredible chops are vividly documented not only on this DVD but in the 26 recordings he has released since his first in 1981.Beyond the music, Bob is acknowledged as the world's foremost authority on National guitars.His 1993 book, The History and Artistry of National Resonator Instruments, is the definitive work on the topic.Bob's passion for pre-war blues and slide guitar comes across clearly throughout this DVD.

If you have never touched a guitar before this DVD may not be the best place to start.Even though Bob starts from the very beginning and leads the viewer through all aspects of slide playing in detail, the early sections progress quickly and it is helpful to already be comfortable with first position chords and basic finger picking.If you have been playing for a while but have not learned finger picking you can learn the basics here if you can resist the temptation to skip ahead to the embellishments Bob demonstrates as the lesson progresses.

Tone is what differentiates a rudimentary slide player from an excellent player.Bob explains, demonstrates, and leads the viewer through progressive exercises that will help you produce the clean and accurate tones that sets one slide player apart from another.Even if you are already a slide player the DVD is worth the price for Bob's instruction on harmonics.I can say from experience that adding a few tasteful harmonics into your slide playing now and then will set you apart at a jam!

DVD 1 in this series starts with the basics and rapidly progresses into repertoire tunes such as "Walking Blues," "I Can't Be Satisfied," "Crossroads Blues," and "Come On In My Kitchen."Along the way Bob teaches tricks and embellishments used by players like Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, and Tampa Red.Most of the instruction uses the popular Open G ("Spanish") tuning though there is a section on Open E ("Vastapol") tuning.(More in Volumes 2 & 3.)

You simply will not find anyone that knows the history of the music, the instruments, and how to play it and demonstrate basic and advanced playing techniques better than Bob Brozman.There are other tutorials on blues slide guitar but why not start with the best?Highly recommended if you are at all serious about slide guitar playing in the Delta Blues style.

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Product Description:
Bob Brozman's remarkably detailed instruction starts with the basics, including the open tunings needed to get the true bottleneck sound. Through careful explanations of essential left- and right-hand techniques, exercises and songs, this video reveals the secrets of traditional blues/slide guitar.
Beginning and experienced slide players alike will benefit from this presentation of powerful licks and runs, rhythm techniques, use of vibrato and harmonics and other ways to get the true Delta sound. Before you know it, you'll be playing dynamic tunes made popular by the blues greats! Bob covers the early Delta blues sound of Robert Johnson and the driving rhythm and slide of his composition "Walking Blues."
Bob illustrates additional runs and rhythms, and guides you through the dynamic Muddy Waters tune "Can't Be Satisfied." He then uses "Cross Roads Blues" to take you into even more complex rhythmic devices.
This video presents a complete picture in the art of bottleneck blues guitar. You'll receive a wealth of ideas to work on and be able to use the tools you have learned to build your own repertoire of bottleneck blues favorites.

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Absolute Beginners: Keyboards Review

This product seeems as though it would be useful, but the instructor goes a little too fast for people, who are "beginners".

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Product Description:
This easy-to-follow DVD keyboard tutor will take you step-by-step from first day exercises to playing along with a professional backing track. Fully enhanced and packed with extra features including easy-to-use menu and translation into four different languages - English, French, German and Spanish.

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Techniques for Contemporary 12-String Guitar DVD Review

I specifically chose this DVD because I know that Chris Proctor is one of the few people who looks at the 12-string as a unique instrument. By this I mean that he goes beyond the approach of playing "songs that sound good on a 12-string" to look at techniques that you can only use on a 12-string guitar.

My disappointment is that the DVD focuses only on material with alternate tunings. As a player who has started later in life, I just don't have the time or energy to focus on anything but standard tuning. Unfortunately this leaves little concrete material to make use of.

For players who are comfortable with alternate tunings and own a 12-string, this is your DVD!

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Product Description:
This lesson by one of the pioneers of the contemporary fingerstyle guitar movement provides new insights into the sounds, techniques and innovations that are possible on the 12-string guitar. It is jam-packed with important tips on tuning, stringing and setting up the instrument, plus revolutionary ways of picking the 12-string. Several complete instrumentals are taught, including: Sailor's Hornpipe * Fisher's Hornpipe * Halfway * Bells of the Harbor * War Games * Over the Pass. 80-MIN. DVD or VIDEO * INCLUDES MUSIC + TAB * LEVEL 3

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Basic Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar Review

The video has good camera work and good sound.The songs covered are basic but it is a beginning video.Steve is a good instructor.The printed materials that come with the video (stuffed in DVD case) are somewhat weak.I had to expand them on a copier so I could read them.The actual notation is just fine.I would recommend this video to a friend.

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Product Description:
Here's your chance to learn the basics of bluegrass back-up guitar! Steve Kaufman teaches you how to play solid rhythm, from playing behind the simplest two-chord song to the complex chord progressions needed to accompany Texas-style fiddle tunes.
Steve starts with the fundamentals, showing you how to hold the pick, get good tone, and play the basic bass/chord rhythm patterns solidly and accurately. Then he moves on to important embellishments, such as adding bass walks, playing the famous Lester Flatt "G run," altering your chord shapes to add moving bass lines within a song and other essential techniques. Steve also provides valuable insiders' tips, such as "how to keep up when the going gets fast," and developing "muscle memory" for more accurate chord work.
This lesson in back-up rhythm guitar is illustrated with some classic bluegrass tunes. Playing along with Steve will give you the practice you'll need to use these techniques in other bluegrass songs. You'll soon be playing solid back-ups in jam sessions or any picking situation!
Songs: "Wabash Cannonball," "Blackberry Blossom," "Sally Goodin."

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EarMaster Pro 5 Review

I think it says something that Apple sells this music software at their San Francisco Apple store.That indicates EarMaster Pro has gone through some serious vetting, as Apple does not sell junk.Apple's shelf space for selling software is small.

Except for those days when there isn't enough time or I'm too busy, I use the EarMaster Pro software every day for about a half hour. I've been using Ear Master Pro for about four months and am nearly half way through the exercises.EarMaster Pro has an online forum which has been helpful and responsive when I've had questions.

In a good way, Ihave found the EarMaster Pro exercises beyond the starting "easy" ones to be brutally hard.I consider EarMaster Pro to be a program for music majors or for serious musical hobbyists such as myself who are highly motivated and have a strong background in musical harmony and musical theory.The more advanced exercises are so subtle that I ended up (with the help of someone on the Ear Master Pro forum) installing some additional "open source " software on my PC so that the musical tones of the chords generated by Ear Master Pro are easier to hear.For example, hearing the minor seventh of a four note V chord versus a V chord triad can be difficult if the tones aregenerated by the mediocre tone generator that comes standard on a WinXP computer.(EarMaster Pro works on both MAC and Windows).

If you (like myself) are a jazz pianist wanna-be, then Ear Master Pro is definitely a good purchase for you.You will most likely conclude, as I did,that first you have to go through Ear Master Pro's entire classical training program and only then tackle the (even more) difficult jazz exercises.

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Product Description:
If you want to sing, improvise or jam with complete confidence, you need to recognize all the sounds around you. Ear training can make this possible. Making music with others will become easy and fun! EarMaster is your personal teacher. It is easy to use and provides instant feedback. EarMaster includes a Standard Tutor with over 400 lessons as well as a Jazz Tutor with over 200 lessons. Both will guide you and automatically increase in difficulty as your ear improves. Create your own customized exercises to improve the way you play, compose and notate any style of music!

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iPlayMusic Beginner Guitar Lessons for the Mac and iPod Review

This is a well-thought out way for beginners to learn a few, fun things on the guitar.The dual-window approach to view the instructor makes for a genuinely intuitive approach to guitar lessons.My daughter and I both learn from this program and it's something she can use on her own.

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Product Description:
Learn Guitar the easy way! iPlayMusic offers the first guitar learning software product that is fully integrated with the Mac iLife suite. Users can learn to play guitar, play hit songs, create in GarageBand and export lessons to their video iPod. The software features over four hours of interactive video guitar lessons, an 80-page eBook and multiple chord charts. Appropriate for guitarists of all ages, the iPlayMusic video learning method teaches guitarists to play without learning complex theory or reading music. Users can have fun and learn by making music right away. The software features lessons for over 25 popular rock, folk, country and children's songs from artists like the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie.

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Marty Friedman: Exotic Metal Guitar (2009) Review

Marty Friedman is one of the all time great unknown guitar players. He got most of his recognition playing with Megadeth but a lot of people don't know about his 2 albums with cacophony (the best shred metal band) or his solo work. In this DVD he offers a lot of very interesting advice about playing outside of the box. Namely using Japanese scales, playing in a 5/8 time signature, and playing over chord changes rather than doing pentatonic licks. Great tips from a great guitar player, also check out the Hotlicks DVD for Jason Becker (the other guitar player from Cacophony).

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Product Description:
Exotic Metal Guitar will help any metal guitarist add spice and speed to their playing, as Friedman covers unusual scales (Japanese-sounding scales, half-step bend scales, and more,) odd time signatures, picking exercises, and even playing out of time. Learn from this unique guitarist, filmed at the height of his career!

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Artful Arpeggios: Fingerings and Applications for Guitar (REH Pro Lessons) [Paperback] Review

I think Don Mock did alot of things right with this instructional book/cd package. It's a beginning to intermediate book but don't let that deter you from buying it.1st off on the CD he talks you through what he's doing. That's very important because there will be times when you are listening without the book. 2nd, He gives you the most useful arpeggios in two positions and then tells you how to finger them on the CD. He then demonstrates practical applications for these arpeggios so you will learn some useful hands on theory. He comps in Cmaj7 for example and then solos over it using Cmaj7, Em7 and Am7 arpeggio patterns. He does something similar for Dm7 and G7 but the solos get progressively rockier and funkier with more options being explored. If you play guitar in a local rock or funk band, the last two examples will open up numerous options for your guitar soloing that you probably were not previously aware. At the very least it will get you out of that box pattern of improvising. There are also some bones to jazzers thrown inwith the use of arpeggios over the V chord in a 2,5,1,6 progression to create altered dominant tensions. There are no jam tracks but for the money this is a great and practical lesson that most guitarists would benefit from.

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Product Description:
Expand your playing and your imagination with these essential arpeggios! With this pack, players will learn: arpeggio fingerings; major, minor, dominant and altered dominant sounds; bi-tonal arpeggios; arpeggios from major, minor, melodic minor and harmonic minor scales; and much more! The book features standard notation and tab, and the CD includes 78 demonstration tracks.

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Easy Steps to Guitar Fingerpicking Review

If your interested in fingerpicking and like blues/country/bluegrass music than this is a must have. Happy Traum is great at breaking the art of fingerpicking down and explains everything in a relaxed fun way. Before you know it, you'll be jamming some nice little tunes he has picked out. Excellent for those interested in getting into fingerpicking.

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Product Description:
For many aspiring players, the ability to maintain a rock-steady rhythmic pulse with their thumb while picking out off-the-beat melody notes with their fingers is an essential skill for country, folk and blues playing. Drawing on 4 decades of teaching experience, Happy Traum has devised this nearly foolproof method to help them get off to a great start. The simple children's song Skip to My Lou helps teach the basic concepts before getting into fingerpicking standards such as: Spike Driver's Blues; Green, Green Rocky Road; Staggerlee; Nine Pound Hammer; Hobo's Lullaby. 100-MIN. DVD, LEVEL 2, INCLUDES MUSIC + TAB

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Grateful Dead: A Step-by-step Breakdown of Grateful Dead's Guitar Styles and Techniques (2004) Review

Not sure how the other reviewers were mislead but this was very clearly a guitar tutorial DVD taught by a great teacher. In just one day, i was playing Uncle John's Band and Casey Jones exactly how the Dead play them. Both Jerry and Bob guitar parts are broken down and clearly explained in both close-ups on the fretboard as well as a picture-in-picture of the right hand strumming. i wish all video tutorials were this good.

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Product Description:
Learn the note-for-note riffs and solos of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir - the legendary guitarists of San Francisco's ultimate jam band - via in-depth analysis of

Songs: Touch Of Grey : China Cat Sunflower : Uncle John's Band : Casey Jones : Shakedown Street : Sugar Magnolia : Friend Of The Devil : Truckin'

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The Tony Rice Guitar Method Review

This is an excellent DVD, but there are a few minor negatives. Compared to his earlier VHS "lesson," (An Intimate Lesson w/TR) this one was more difficult for me to follow because Tony isn't talking to you, the viewer. He's talking to Happy Traum. This makes it a little more difficult to match with the tablature because Tony will do a variation after Happy asks a question. The older VHS is straight forward - we're going to learn this one now. This new DVD really is like sitting in on two musicians playing around but not noticing you're there. The pieces are more difficult than the older video as well - I find myself very intimidated by how fast and clean he plays these more complex tunes - but that may be because I haven't learned them yet!!! Other than those nitpicks, it's always great to get a closeup view of just what in the world Tony's doing, hear stories, listen to that amazing old Martin and his very impressive newer Santa Cruz.And the ability to slow forward and easily rewind the DVD is magnificent. The selection of tunes is very good, the audio quality is excellent and the camera work is very good. Now if I could just get Tony to come to my house and teach me this stuff . . .

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Product Description:
In a wide-ranging and detailed session, Tony Rice demonstrates his world-famous technique, gives invaluable advice, analyzes some of his best-known pieces and discusses his style, influences, guitars and favorite players. This exceptionally rich two-part set is filled with fascinating conversation and the amazing playing we've all come to expect from this master picker. Tony has geared this lesson so that aspiring players at all levels can learn important techniques and benefit from his vast musical experience.
You'll gain insights into important elements, such as Tony's method for getting his guitar in tune, how he warms up for a show, the correct way to put on a capo, proper left hand fretting technique, advice about speed and dexterity, the secrets of Tony's guitar micing and how he plays some of his signature licks.

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George Benson: The Art of Jazz Guitar (2006) Review

this DVD is more like an intimate profile of George Benson as a solo jazz guitarist & as a veteran musician than a lesson... yet the video reveals just what an amazing guitarist / entertainer he is- without anyone playing with him... it makes me want Benson to do a solo CD featuring this aspect of his playing as he is simply phenomenal as a solo guitarist !!! whether he plays a Ramirez nylon string cutaway or his trademark Ibanez Benson model jazz guitar as he does in this video- he exhibits an awesome mastery of improvisation & Wes Mongomery-styled techniques of picking with his thumb & use of octaves as well as his unique ability to mirror whatever he sings with what he plays... simply awesome talent [without all the "bells 'n' whistles" of his band] demonstrating as simply as he can how he plays & how he feels the music that is his legacy... i think there are much better instructional videos to watch to learn jazz guitar technique BUT this intimate portrayl of George Benson's guitar playing & personality is a real gift of insight to any guitarist who appreciates grrreat jazz guitar & the overall talent of this stellar individual's charismatic personality... so, after watching this DVD, i am looking forward to a solo guitar CD from maestro Benson to take what he touches on to it's logical conclusion that will fully give to his listening audience what this product promises... a wonder-full finished product of jazz standards & his own creations that reveals what this guitarist is capable of alone without the distraction of other musicians- PLEASE GEORGE !!! GIVE US A SOLO CD !!! uhhh, make that a double... lol !!!!!!!!!!

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Product Description:
Eight-time Grammy-winner George Benson covers chord substitutions, turnarounds, the Wes Montgomery style, and more. He demonstrates his signature scat-style singing on the groundbreaking This Masquerade and soloing over the famous On Broadway vamp. Also included are several virtuoso solo jazz and blues guitar performances by Benson himself further proof, if it were needed, of his total mastery of jazz guitar. 1 hour, 3 minutes.

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How to Play Blues Guitar Lesson One (2006) Review

Never judge a book by its cover, right?I profess guilt in this as the cover of this series was not terribly impressive.What is impressive is Stefan Grossman's ability to teach.

Cleverly staying in one key at a time, Stefan patiently brings the student not simply a solid background of acoustic blues, but also of small "tricks" as he calls them.These "tricks" or short licks, hammers, pull offs, etc, are things taken for granted by Intermediate or Advanced players, but the type of little things that beginners listen to and marvel over.Stefan generously shares these little, and sometimes quite simple little manuevers that vastly improves the sound of the song.

Stefan also includes original recordings of the songs; some from as early as 1927, and has you listen to the original; sometimes more than one version, before hearing him play, and before breaking the song down for you.

The only negative is that the TAB (which includes all the lyrics) has graphics that are not the easist to read.But, I could not take away from the 5 stars for that.

I never knew of Stefan's music, which may be a plus in my case. I am able to view him simply as a teacher.There are a lot of instructional DVDs out there by talented players who are not talented teachers.Stefan's easygoing personality is a must.Why?In taking DVD lessons (which is my only source of instruction) you spend many hours "with" the instructor, as you repeat the lessons over and over.If the instructor's personality is not your 'cup of tea', you will find that you will learn less, as you subconciously pull away from the time spent.Conversely, when you enjoy the personality of the teacher, you are inclined to spend more time "with him" via DVD; subsequently, learning far more.

Such is the case with Grossman.Perhaps it is the age and wisdom that comes as the ego no longer seeks rock star adoration from people.I have had the unpleasant experience of sitting "before" an instructor who's talent is amazing, but who's love of himself is so over the top, that I ended up selling the DVDs...perhaps my own weakness, but in conversing with others, I find that others feel the same way.

Enjoy Grossman.He is not there to tell jokes, nor boast of his past accomplishments (Martin Guitar has built one in his honor, so not much else needs to be said).Enjoy the personality who seems eager to do one thing:share his love of acoustic blues.

Great series.

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Product Description:
In this series of lessons we will explore various fingerstyle blues guitar styles and techniques. Our final aim is to give you the freedom to improvise playing a blues in all the keys studied. As a bonus feature, audio tracks are included featuring rare recordings of the songs and styles presented.Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. A detailed tab/music booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. This includes lyrics to the songs as well as tab/music transcriptions of the guitar playing.Lesson One (GW971dvd):This first lesson focuses on the Key of C. We will delve in to the alternating as well as monotonic bass techniques; blues slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs and blues slurred notes. The playing techniques of Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis and Blind Blake are discussed. But more importantly the aim of this lesson is to give you a freedom to improvise playing a blues. The lesson finishes with Blues in C which brings together the many ideas and styles that have been taught. As a bonus feature, audio tracks are included featuring rare recordings of the songs and styles presented.Tunes include: Railroad Bill, Careless Love, I m Satisfied, You Got The Pocketbook I Got The Key, Cocaine Blues, See See Rider, Save Up Your Money John D. Rockefeller Put the Panic On and Blues in C.

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eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method Win/Mac Review

I have been playing and teaching beginner and intermediate level guitar for over 40 years. Learning this instrument is easy for most people who practice regularly.
Music students pay $-$$ per guitar lesson, and a lot of that money covers instruction and repetition that self-starters and motivated self-learners don't need to spend. At under $$ US for comprehensive instructional and reference material, eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method provides exceptional value for these students.
I remember being lukewarm to positive in my appraisal of Volume One, the beginner CD in this series. It has been revised since then. If it's as good as this Intermediate CD (Volume Two), beginners now have a much better chance of learning from scratch.
From my first encounter with eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method (abbreviated as "IGM"), the experience has consistently been positive. Installation of the cross-platform CD's software takes only a minute or two. Initial 23 pages of sensible, thorough Introduction and Tips cover all necessary instructions, commands, and options, including well-written and illustrated:
Animated Fretboard diagram
explanation of the Chord Dictionary and Metronome
description of Guitars and Their Parts, including holding, stringing, and tuning
details on Reading Chord Charts, plus Tablature and Music Notation.
Once students are "Ready to Take It to the Next Level" the lessons begin with straightforward left-hand melody techniques. Subsequent topics include barre chords, right hand strumming styles, "Using Scales and Building Chords," plus solo and fingerstyle methodology.
One set of icons on the page of each song or exercise takes you directly to spoken short descriptions of a song's history, or pithy comments such as "Use a pick so your fingers don't fall off." A different icon launches the Animated Fretboard's display, playing the song or exercise while fret numbers display simultaneously with a running presentation of the notation or tablature for the piece. Very impressive, all of it, and not nearly as complicated as it appears from reading the above paragraph.
Navigational arrows lower right easily take you forward or back one page, and the Tools and Goto menus at top offers complete navigation throughout the entire application, including:
Scale Directory and audio enhanced Chord Dictionary (REALLY GOOD!)
Tuner and Metronome
Self-recording feature.
Additional observations:
1. Set your screen resolution to one higher than 800x600 for best viewing.
2. The IGM's CD responds quickly and quietly when playing its instructional QuickTime sound and picture files.
3. A special icon launches short QuickTime movies in which a very competent guitarist demonstrates the techniques0 with close-up camera on the active hand.
4. Colored live embedded links take you directly to related chapters, if desired. (Is there a way to jump right back? I can't figure that out.)
5. Special mentions of differences between electric guitars and acoustic instruments are given, when appropriate.
Instruction is segmented logically, with high-quality attention to detail. I plan to begin using the IGM software, movies, and sound files immediately with my students. Its cost is a bargain for the reference features alone.
If you know your way around the guitar and want to "Take It to the Next Level," IGM is easy to recommend. When all your prior instruction has come from a human teacher, the comprehension curve for this multimedia application will seem steep at first. Remember that repetition is your friend, music students. Take your time, practice a lot, and you'll be glad you purchased eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method.
Nemo's MyMac.com "Q/D/S/V Standard" for all product reviews:
Q = QUALITY, including ease of installation, performance, stability, and general happy relationship with everything on my system;
D = DOCUMENTATION, both printed and electronic, plus appropriate website material;
S = SUPPORT, in the form of email, phone, and web updates;
V = VALUE, which includes both original cost and subsequent expenses.
Depending upon previous instruction and self-teaching skills of guitar student, our rating is:
4 out of 5
A very decent product. Worth the time and investment, but look for competing products.
- TO -
BR> Fantastic products! Well worth your money and investment. The best of its kind.
John Nemerovski

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Product Description:
eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method is the next step in an award-winning line of educational guitar method softwareLearn to play lead guitar and more! Everything you need to take your playing beyond basic chords and melodies. New techniques are demonstrated in over 175 lessons with full-motion video, variable-speed MIDI, recorded audio and an animated fretboard.You'll learn to play solos like the ones Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix made famous, using newly acquired lead guitar skills. You'll also find rhythm and fingerstyle chapters, plus lessons on the basics of improvisation. The new scale directory provides fingerings, recordings and variable-speed MIDI for over 200 scales. Additional accessories include an automatic tuner, digital metronome, recorder and 1000-chord dictionary with audio playback.'The ultimate way to learn how to play guitar!'- Peter FramptonIntermediate Guitar Methodfeatures over 50 songs including:'All Along the Watchtower' - made famous by Bob Dylan'All Along the Watchtower' - rock version made famous by Jimi Hendrix'Spoonful' - made famous by Eric Clapton, Willie Dixon, and The Rolling Stones'Jet Airliner' - The Steve Miller Band'Drive On' - Johnny Cash'Time in a Bottle' - Jim Croce'Fur Elise' - Ludwig van Beethoven'Malaguena' - Ernesto Lecuona'Touch of Grey' - The Grateful Dead'I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home' - Grand Funk Railroad'Too Much to Lose' - made famous by Jeff Beck'Sloop John B' - made famous by the Beach Boys.'Four Picks!' Highest rating given!- PC Magazine'I used to teach guitar, and eMedia's Guitar Method is the greatest because it centers around playing songs. And if it's not about playing songs, what's it about?'- Nancy Wilson, guitarist/vocalist of HeartMusic Notation or TablatureEvery screen can be displayed in either guitar tablatur

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Ronnie Earl: Blues Guitar With Soul Review

This is an interesting DVD featuring bluesman Ronnie Earl as the instructor.There are multiple simultaneous views of Earl while he demonstrates what he is doing (including a shot of his intense facial expressions).The first part of the tape focuses on substitute chord voicings that Earl uses to make the changes interesting (6 chords, 9 chords, 13 chords, etc).The second part of the tape covers his style of soloing.The main point that Earl makes (and it is the way he learned to solo) is not to worry about copying solos note for note, but to get the feel of the solo.He advises playing along with such greats as Magic Sam and Otis Rush.As another reviewer wrote, Earl uses a minimum of notes to achieve a maximum of expression and urges the student to do the same.

This is not a beginner's video.If you have developed the feel for blues changes (eg, 12 bar blues), know your pentatonic scales, and want to add finesse to your blues, Earl is definitely an excellent player deserving your attention.

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Product Description:
This is a lesson with a true blues master, and is not to be missed by anyone who's really serious about their blues guitar. Ronnie Earl is known for being a soulful player, and on this video he doesn't hold back! You'll learn the special chords used by Little Walter, T Bone Walker, Magic Sam, Robert Jr. Lockwood, the style of B.B. King, the fingerpicking of Albert King, Country Blues styles, question and answer phrasing, bending and shaking, turnarounds, and how to get maximum feeling out of minimum notes the key to blues guitar. If it's blues you're looking for, they don't come much better than this. Includes booklet with tablature. Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish.

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Chord-Melody Phrases for Guitar (REH Pro Lessons) [Paperback] Review

I loved this book because of all the great ideas that can be extracted for intros and endings in a jazz setting. I thank Ron Eschete for being so generous!

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Product Description:
Expand your chord-melody chops with these outstanding jazz phrases by Ron Eschete! He covers: chord substitutions, chromatic movements, contrary motion, pedal tones, inner-voice movements, reharmonization techniques, and much more. The book includes standard notation and tablature, and the CD features 39 helpful demo tracks.

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DVD-Easy Steps to Acoustic Blues Guitar #2-Essentials of Fingerstyle Blues Review

Volume one was a great way to introduce acoustic blues.Happy assumes nothing in terms of the player's knowledge, and his enthusiasm for acoustic blues is contagious.By assuming nothing, he covers the very basics...even down to how to count, and then moves on to some very EASY to play songs that are...VERY EASY to "dress up" and sound quite impressive.Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 left off and is also a lot of fun.The didatic aspect of the DVD is undeniable, but I found, especially with these DVDs on the acoustic blues, that I was learning without really recognizing it because I was enjoying myself.I have many of Homespun DVDs (I consider a library of Homespun instuctional DVDs a must for every guitar player---and every piano player (my son) who seeks a solid education) and some are quite challenging; where one DVD might last me for months of lessons----the Blues series are fun and learning is coming along fine.Happy shows that the blues variations are just endless.....and blues is not all "blue" or depressing music, but rather can be quite uplifting.His love of the blues goes back to his early teacher, whom he quotes often, and it feels like the viewer and student is being let in on some old, old secrets.Great to learn these songs, and then to teach them to my kids. It is funny to hear a 5 year old wake up and sing, "Good morning, blues, how do you do?".

Homespun is the premier music instruction today.I will continue to build my DVD library, which now includes instruction on acoustic guitar, blues, folk, solo playing, general instruction, as well as Harmonica, Drums, Piano, and the Irish Tin Whistle.My entire family loves music and is benefiting from the great work by the Traums.

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Product Description:
Happy Traum's easy steps learning concept breaks down the all-important steady thumb blues style into modules that can be digested one element at a time. This nearly foolproof method for building solid guitar technique includes shuffle and boogie-woogie bass lines, blues scales, playing solos up the neck, variations on blues chord progressions and arrangements of Rock Me, Baby, Baby Please Don't Go, Trouble in Mind and other blues classics. 90-MIN., INCLUDES MUSIC + TAB, EARLY INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

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Jazz Guitar Chord System (Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons) [Paperback] Review

The impression you get when you look at this book initially is that it will be a complete chord system.That is not true.Although many of the chord voicings work in theory, a large portion of them aren't usable because they don't sound very good.The system is also not presented very clearly.The idea is to use enharmonic thinking so that one chord can be used in multiple contexts.The presentation is very complex and confusing- and I'm an advanced level professional/ performing guitarist with 2 degrees in music.
Part of what makes the presentation somewhat confusing is that it is based on colors for different chord types.
Save your money and buy Steve Khan's chord book.Khan's book has better voicings and is organized well.

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Product Description:
The essential guide to jazz chord voicings and substitutions, complete with a color-coded method for over 500 essential voicings. Players will understand chord functions and their harmonic possibilities better than ever before, as well as inversions, extensions, alterations, and substitutions. Players will also be able to increase their harmonic vocabulary for accompaniment, composing and chord-melody playing.

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Slap and Pop Technique for Guitar (Private Lessons) [Paperback] Review

I purchased this book in December 2005 and really enjoyed it. I practiced the patterns and applied them to my playing, and I copped the riffs that I liked best. I use slap-pop all the time live when I gig, and believe me when I say that it freaks people out in a good way.
In April 2006, work and college brought me to LA and I looked the author up. We set up a jam at Musicians Institute and I had a blast. Jean Marc is truly one of the best and most verstatile musicians I've ever met, and even though I only ended up jamming with the man 3 times, I learned a months worth about music and improvisation.
If other people thought the lessons were vague, then I don't know how else to say this: I read the music notation and then I played it. That's how books like this work. Besides, even if you can't read music, use the tab and listen to the CD to make sure you're playing it right. This technique is deceptively simple.
Long story short: Jean Marcs book on Slap-pop is pretty freakin' rad and I reccommend it to anyone wanting to go a little outside the norm. There's even a few touchstyle lessons in the book. What's not to love?

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Product Description:
This one-on-one lesson with MI instructor Jean Marc Belkadi applies the slap bass techniques popularized by Louis Johnson, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten and others to the guitar. Covers basic "slap" and "pop" techniques in funk, rock, RandB, Latin and reggae styles. The book includes standard notation and tab, and the accompanying CD features 52 full-band demo tracks.

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