You Need Grade 2 To Get To Grade 3
Written: Aug 04 '08 (Updated Aug 04 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good coverage of the keys of C, F, G and D and related material
Cons: Boring solos and duets and technical studies may be too much
The Bottom Line: There's a lot of material here, and if you can get an eight-year old to plow through, he's going to start sounding pretty good.
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| buffoonery's Full Review: Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method Grade 2, EXpanded Edi... |
Under review here is the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method Grade 2 Expanded Edition, designed for introductory guitarists. The book is part of a seven-volume course and, as you might guess, is a follow-on to the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 Expanded Edition and, as you might expect, picks up where that book left off.
The 88-page book is a substantial expansion on the original edition, which was about 48 pages. Much of the original material is still present (especially the dated solos and duets). Most of the new material is a large number of picking studies that are extremely useful for sight-reading and technical development that, although primarily intended to be played in the first position, may be easily transposed into other positions for use by intermediate players who want to brush up.
The book begins with reviews of the keys of C, A Minor, G and E Minor. These reviews consume about 28 pages and contain extensive picking studies and solos in the primarily in the first position at more challenging level than Grade 1. There is an emphasis on alternate picking, which is difficult for beginning students, and an introduction to double-stops. Triplet studies are also introduced and these can also be difficult for beginners.
The key of F Major is next. A diagram explains the intervals between each note over two octaves. Large charts show the three chords (F, B flat and C7) for the scales and, as usual there are picking exercises and the usual duet (I know that there a million students who can’t wait to play I Love Thee).
Important note: The student should always learn both the lead and rhythm parts of the solos. The rhythm parts in particular are critical for developing skills at strumming and arpeggiating chords.
Included in the book are the keys of D Minor, D Major and B Minor along with their chords. There are explanations for musical terms regarding style and speed (diminuendo, dolce, etc.). Intervals are defined and the structure and inversions for the major chord explained. Sixteenth and dotted eight notes, 3/8 and 6/8 times are explained with accompanying exercises. Lots and lots of exercises.
It will take the conscientious student fourteen or so weeks to get through this book at six pages a week. It might be more reasonable to expect twenty-two weeks at four pages a week, as opposed to twelve in the original Grade 2 addition. The difference, of course, is the enormous increase in picking studies. I’ve never taught an eight-year old guitar student (the intended audience for this book) and all this technical work is likely to bore the beejeepers out of him. On the other hand, I’m actually running through this book right now for review purposes at the pace of ten or so pages a week and find it very useful technically.
At the end of the day, the student will now three major keys along with relative minors, the major and minor chords in their first position inversions, and have a good start on timing and sight-reading. The material is lengthy and boring, but the book is very good for young students. Recommended.
You may also be interested in some of my other instructional book reviews.
Mel Bay Guitar Method Grade 2 Expanded Edition
Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 Expanded Edition
William Leavitt Guitar Method
Eric Clapton: The Cream of Eric Clapton
Beatles Complete Scores
Jesse Gress: Guitar Lick Factory
Andres Segovia: Twenty Studies for Guitar
Mel Bay Volume 7
Mel Bay Volume 6
Bill Edward Fretboard Logic
Mel Bay Volume 5
Guitar Tab White Pages Volume 2
Guide to Guitar Progressions
Complete Johnny Smith Approach To Guitar
Don Latarski The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book
Aaron Shearer - Classic Guitar Technique
Mel Bay - Rhythm Guitar Chord System
Mel Bay Volume 2
Solos For Classical Guitar: 135 Repertoire Pieces
Ralph Agresta - Chords and Progressions for Rock Guitar
Easy Classics for Guitar
Acoustic Guitar Tab White Pages
Fred Sokolow - Great Jazz Standards of Duke Ellington for Guitar
William Bay - Building Right Hand Technique
William Bay: Building Guitar Speed
Johnny Rector - Mel Bay's Deluxe Encyclopedia of Guitar Chord Progressions
Jazz Guitar Chord Melodies
Serious Guitar (this is a GREAT book!)
Subscribe to these magazines:
Guitar Edge
Guitar World
Guitar Player
You may find these books to be of interest:
Hugo Pinksterboer – Tipbook Amplifiers and Effects
Ritchie Fliegler – Amps: The Other Half of Rock and Roll
Michael Ross – Getting Great Guitar Sounds: A Non-Technical Approach to Shaping Your Personal Sound
Nick Freeth – Classic Guitars: Identification and Price Guide
and, not to be omitted:
A Parent and Child's Guide to Introductory Electric Guitar , (an essay by ME!)
A Parent's and Child's Guide to Introductory Classical Guitar (another essay by ME!)
Recommended:
Yes
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