1st Steps For A Beginning Guitarist: Chords and Chord Progressions for Guitar

by Bruce Arnold

"1st Steps" presents you with all the information you will need to get started on the guitar. All the chord forms you will need to play your favorite songs whether they be rock, folk, or country are here.

The book contains clearly illustrated and easy to understand pictures, and our website offers hundreds of free videos and files to supplement your learning. A picture or (a movie) is worth a thousand words so if you learn best through actually seeing and hearing someone demonstrate what they are teaching, then "1st Steps" is your best choice; it's like getting a book, Audio CD and DVD all together for one great low price.

Because these Audio and Video files are on line they grow each week. We are always updating our files to give you more information or to share some fascinating aspects of the guitar with you.

Here's what you get with "First Steps:"

1. All the most commonly played guitar chords (Major, Minor, Dominant 7th ) along with videos on how to tackle the typical problems students have with learning them.

2. Both Open and Barre Chords with practice chord progressions and the strumming directions which most books do not include. Each chord progression is presented with strumming patterns of various difficulties so that you can start making music as quickly as possible. All chord progressions have online video and audio files presenting the material at different speeds. These will get you playing along right away, and students who have difficulty strumming and changing chords will find this immensely helpful.

3. Videos demonstrating chords with special added notes (used by such artists as Jimi Hendrix) show you how added notes and phrases can take a strumming pattern from run-of-the-mill to exciting.

4. The easiest fingering patterns for both chords and scales along with tips on the common problems you will encounter -- this really speeds learning. Videos present you with common alternate fingerings, muting, and alternate chord forms so you can sound better with more variety in your playing.

5. The "scratch" method: This will get you switching between chords more fluidly and make your songs sound like music right away.

6. A Video on the popular "CAGED" Method for learning chords with a discussion of the pros and cons of reliance on this unique aspect of the guitar.

7. Information on how to tune the guitar is found both in the book and on line with audio files so you can hear what the correct pitch for each string sounds like. There is also an online movie on how to change strings on a steel string acoustic guitar.

8. Music Theory information in the book is accompanied by on line video so you can understand each part of music theory and prioritize what to learn first and what can wait until later.

9. The book contains a note chart showing you all the notes found on the guitar fretboard so you won't be guessing which note you are playing and you can quickly find the note you need in your favorite piece of music.

10. Ever wonder why certain chords go really well together? The book and on line videos show you which chords go together the best (and why!) so you can really understand what you love about your favorite songs and begin to make up your own.

11. Hammer-ons, Pulloffs, Slides, Bends, Vibrato-- these are some of the essential techniques of the guitar, and our videos show you exactly how to play these cool effects to enhance your playing. These small but useful tools make all the difference, and you'll start to sound like a professional in no time.

12. Learn through the online videos how to add notes into chords to give them more interesting sounds, and to build your understanding of chord theory. Examples from real music help you understand and learn this essential aspect of playing. There is also a video that demonstrates how to understand the two different ways to figure out the notes found in any chord.

13. A learning tool called "cycle 5" is presented in the book (and with a video) to help you memorize and play the barre chords. This is essential stuff.

14. All music has rhythm yet most beginning books don't really deal with this integral element. "1st Steps" has an entire section in the book explaining all aspects of rhythm so you can understand and play any rhythm you find in music.

15. Most American popular and folk music has some element of the Blues. "1st Steps" gives you access to a large online resource showing you how to play the blues with tons of information on alternate ways to play the chords along with the scale patterns, turnarounds, fingering patterns, bending notes, and the blues triplet feel.

16. Here's the biggie: A resource of 22 different scales is presented in the form of videos so you can learn all the commonly used scales in music with downloadable fingering charts and videos telling you how to use the scales and common applications. THIS IS A HUGE RESOURCE WITH A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION. If you are serious about the guitar, you'll be in heaven!

All the above is just some of what "1st Steps" is about. In addition to this you have access to the author through email if you run into any problems. There is also a hugh FAQ section on the publisher's website so you can read about other student's problems to gain insight into your own.

THIS BOOK IS UNIQUE. You will find no other book that presents this amount of information in such a clear and accessible way. Whether you learn best by reading notation, reading diagrams or watching videos this method has it all.

Price: $23.99
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IBSN: 978-1-890944-90-2

To purchase this title, use our shopping cart or, if you prefer, go directly to this book's order page at Amazon.com by clicking on the book.



There are many files that accompany this book and it can confusing to locate these files for some customers. On the left side of this page you will find a list of links to access many of the files that accompany this book. Some of these files require special programs to play while others will instantly play as soon as they download to your browser. You will find instructions at the bottom of each link page.

There are also files available in the member's area that cover specific subjects related to this book. These member's area files include:
Strumming
Slow mp3 files for chord progressions
Videos help on how to play each chord

After you purchase 1st Steps for a Beginning Guitarist you can access these files for free by joining our MEMBER'S AREA

Remember the member's area is FREE to join for customers that own one of our books. You are encouraged to take advantage of this area to expand your music education.  If you would like to join the member's area please click member's area