Techniques Books

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

Will Schmid, Greg Koch

Amazon Price: $20.65 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hal Leonard Corporation Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $11.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 85 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is pretty good. It has a lot of music and teaches you a lot about the instrument. It doesn't have all that many contemporary tunes, but it's got loads of classics. Worth the cost!

The BEST way to learn guitar 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

this book collects books 1-3 of the hal leonard guitar method course.i tried all the learn guitar overnight internet courses and shortcuts don't work.i wish i had this book in the beginning!!those other courses left holes in my musical education that this book filled in.this book will teach you how to be a REAL guitarist.Unlike many guitar books which get you started using chords, tablature and eventualy get to sight reading notes, this book takes the opposite approach,it teaches you to read notes and play melodies FIRST,THEN you move onto playing chords and tab.(you must crawl before you can walk grasshopper!)by the end of book one you will be able to read notes on all six strings!and play alot of chords!when you finish this entire book you will be up to the intermediate level,and can move onto any advanced topics/styles in the Hal Leonard guitar method series just put"hal leonard guitar method" in a search on amazon and you will see all the books that can be used with this series(i suggestMusic Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask (Guitar Method)to start with because music theory is VITAL to becoming a great guitarist,because when you have a good grasp on music theory you know the mechanics of how music works. but look at the list of titles and see what interests YOU)go get this book and begin a lifetime love affair with music:-)

Editorial Review:

The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. It is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and reflects some of the best teaching ideas from around the world. This super-convenient Complete Edition features the new and improved method books 1, 2 and 3 spiral-bound together, available as a book only (00699040) or book with three CDs (00697342)!

The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians

Jim Fleser

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hal Leonard Corporation Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $8.26

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

theif?!! 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Mr. Schulz, you invented nothing. This wheel was originally published at least 60 years ago, and probably invented well before that. In music, we all stand on the shoulders of our forebears.

The Chord Wheel 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I bought chord wheel a couple years ago and could not figure the thing out to little explanation and I play piano hoping to help me play by ear better. No luck it sits in the bottom of all my music. I am trying one of the other music books right now.

Editorial Review:

Master chord theory ... in minutes! The Chord Wheel is a revolutionary device that puts the most essential and practical applications of chord theory into your hands. This tool will help you: Improvise and Solo - Talk about chops! Comprehend key structure like never before; Transpose Keys - Instantly transpose any progression into each and every key; Compose Your Own Music - Watch your songwriting blossom! No music reading is necessary. "This is the kind of device that players of any instrument can use to enhance their musical understanding. Chord and key relationships are inseparable, and learning these relationships is a must in becoming a successful musician." - Alan Remington, Orange Coast College Music Dept.

Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One

Willard A. Palmer

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alfred Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 65 new & used starting at $5.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

This is an amazing course 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have never played piano before and I'm halfway through book 1. I'm taking my time, but its been about 3 weeks. The stuff coming from my fingers sounds like real music and I'm using both hands to play complex music. I never felt overly intimidated though, each new song is a challenge, but never too much of one. The first few songs take minutes, then a couple sessions. I try to practice in tiny chunks (I have a 5 year old son), of about 15 minutes and the length of the songs in this book are great for that. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Alfred's Piano 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought the book AND the CD from Barnes & Noble. I don't know why Amazon doesn't stock them both together. I found the book very good, but the CD has a really cheesy soundtrack which sometimes drowns out the piano examples. The pages are clear and precise, the diagrams easy to see, and the concepts clear. Overall I would say that this is a good book for the beginner and you really should buy it WITH the CD, just try and forget the awful din coming from your speakers; just listen to the piano examples to see what it should sound like.

Editorial Review:

A beginning course for adults who prefer a chord approach. It teaches chords for both hands so that the student can play more than single note melodies. It contains outstanding songs such as "The Entertainer," "Scarborough Fair," "Greensleeves" and "Amazing Grace."

How to Play Guitar: Everything You Need to Know to Play the Guitar (How to Play)

Roger Evans

Amazon Price: $9.56 List Price: $11.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: St. Martin's Griffin Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $6.64

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It's Okay 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I found this easy to read and understand but I don't like the way the book is set up. You learn a few notes and then move onto chords. I would have preferred to learn all the notes and then move onto chords because that seems much simpler to me. But you can skip through the book to find the other notes.

I also thought there should be more songs to practice with when learning the notes, there were only rwo or three tiny little bits after learning the notes.

All in all it was just adequate for me.

Editorial Review:

In How to Play Guitar guitar players of all levels will find a wealth of instruction and inspiration. Whether you want to play pop, folk, country, rock, blues, jazz, classical, or any other style of music, you will pick up the basic techniques without tedious drills and exercises. Using real music and a step-by-step approach, How to Play Guitar will teach you about:

· Choosing and buying a guitar

· Tuning your instrument correctly

· Reading sheet music, guitar music, and tablature

· Playing melodies with chords

· Fingerpicking

· Mastering left-hand techniques, including sliding and bending notes

· Transposing melodies from one key to another and much more.

The Piano Handbook: A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano

Carl Humphries

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Backbeat Books Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $17.97

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

previous piano experience required! 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This should be called the "piano review" workbook. The problem with experienced teachers and authors is they don't understand the mind of the beginner. They assume we already know things, or gloss over important details, or leave them out all together.

I think the author should have spend more time proofing the materials being taught, rather than babbling on with history lessons about people that have no relevance to the topics and techniques being taught.

The total glossing over the major and minor scales is horrible. To many "see if you can figure out...." without any followup explanation to check our work. To many new concepts found in the musical examples with no explanations as to their meanings.

This is not a book for beginners. It is good for picking up a tip here and there if you already have experience.

Very disappointed.

Editorial Review:

With clear and easy-to-understand exercises, The Piano Handbook is perfect for anyone interested in learning the piano or improving their skills. It provides fresh material and techniques in styles ranging from classical to jazz, rock, bebop and fusion, and gives new players everything they need to learn and enjoy the piano. This book's innovative tutorial approach covers classical and contemporary music styles in an integrated way, and the companion CD brings the playing techniques and concepts to life. A full-color photo gallery illustrates the history of the piano and its essential recordings. This hardcover, deluxe edition also features semi-concealed spiral binding so the book stays open on the piano. The Piano Handbook prepares you not just to play, but to perform - and not just as a pianist, but as a complete musician.

Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises - Complete: Piano Technique

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: G. Schirmer, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $3.71

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 54 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A mustn't have! 1 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Going against the grain here I would say DO NOT buy this book! I am a piano teacher and yes, I had to use this book in my younger days. Recent research, however, has shown that using this can potentially give you wrist problems such as RSI. Finger strength is not really a priority when learning the piano. Good technique and understanding of the music is.

Ask yourself: How many times do I repeat patterns such as those in Hanon over and over again when I am playing a piece of music? The answer is never! So why train your fingers to do that? The only thing playing Hanon makes you better at is playing Hanon!

If you want to improve the technique and musicality of your playing find a Mozart (or Haydn, Corelli, Kabalevsky or any other composer) piano piece that you enjoy and that is within your ability or will stretch you just a little and learn it. Practise it slowly and play each phrase with the correct notes and fingering every time. This gives you a piece of music you can perform as well.

In short, if you were an athlete would you train using physical techniques from the early 1900s? Our knowledge of physiology has moved on and even some elements of the piano action have been improved to make actions lighter and more responsive.

If you are looking to improve your piano technique I suggest you read:
Lhevinne: Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing
Gieseking & Leimer: Piano Technique (Paperback)
Sandor: On piano playing

They aren't necessarily the easiest books to read, but playing the piano isn't easy! I use other books as well (e.g. 20 Lessons in keyboard choreography), Czerny for certain things, but never Hanon!

Editorial Review:

This collection of exercises has been a "Must Have" for many years. Designed to build independence and dexterity.

The "First Stage" Guitar Chord Chart - Learn How To Play The Most Commonly Played Guitar Chords

Chris Lopez

Amazon Price: $7.50 List Price: $7.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: First Stage Concepts Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $3.76

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Now you can learn the most commonly played guitar chords! The ideal guitar learning chord chart for anyone who would like to quickly learn to play guitar! Includes lots of practice chord combinations! Learn to play guitar to rock 'n roll, country, blues, popular songs, etc., on an electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and 12 string guitar. Clear, simple, and very easy to understand illustrations. This guitar chord chart is for the beginner who wants a simple and direct method to learn how to play chords on the guitar. There is no note reading or complicated theory to deal with. There are study notes and clearly illustrated fingering diagrams to help you on your way to playing chords to your favorite songs and some great exercises to get you going on your own songs. This guitar chord chart is easy to understand and is presented in a clear and methodical fashion with chord grids and logical explanations. Finally!, a learn to play guitar chord chart that offers you so much more! Includes 6 full chart pages of the most commonly played guitar chords!

Even though this is a great handy guitar chord chart, getting both THE "FIRST STAGE" GUITAR BOOK and THE "NEXT STAGE" GUITAR BOOK would be the perfect choice to building a great foundation in establishing the overall skills to learning how to play a guitar without spending a great deal of time in music theory!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Harmonica, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to)

William Melton, Randy Weinstein

Amazon Price: $12.97 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alpha Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $11.72

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Idiot's Guide for an Idiot. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I have a keen interest in music but have no training. I bought the "Idiot's Guide..." hoping to gain some insight into harmonica playing. I was entirely pleased. The authors assume that the reader is intelligent but ignorant of the subject. This book was meant for people like me.

Editorial Review:

With photos, illustrations, and a new audio CD.

The harmonica is one of the most traditional musical instruments in America. Millions are sold each year, but there are few high quality, comprehensive instructional manuals for new harmonica players. This bestselling book has been completely updated, with dozens of new songs and a professionally mastered audio CD.
• Over 100 songs, both traditional and original to this book
• Detailed instructions on playing, including photos to illustrate positions and techniques
• Buying tips and interesting historical facts about famous players
• Authors are professional musicians
• The most comprehensive music lists featuring nearly every style of playing and category of song
• Over 80 riffs and songs performed on the special audio CD
• Comprehensive resource guides

The Jazz Piano Book

Mark Levine

Amazon Price: $22.29 List Price: $32.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sher Music Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $22.29

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

"The" book for playing jazz on piano 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is not an easy book to get a handle on. Beginner's may be overwhelmed. Intermediate students will need help in structuring the topics and lessons. Advanced students will probably find plenty of nuggets of jazz wisdom to make the purchase of this book worthwhile. As a long time musician relatively new to jazz, I find this book extremely valuable for learning about jazz, but it isn't terribly helpful in improving my piano chops. I still give it five stars because I didn't buy it to learn the piano so much as to learn jazz, and obviously, jazz piano. That may sound crazy, but it makes sense when you realize there aren't many specific "drills" to learn the various aspects that Levine teaches about jazz and specifically, jazz piano. Yeah, he may say something like, "Be sure you can do this in all twelve keys", but you're not going to stop reading the book, rush to the piano and practice for four weeks before you continuing reading. The kind of stuff he "teaches" takes a lifetime of experience and playing to learn. So I appreciate being told about it, and I like having some perspective added to such a very deep field of music, but after you buy this book, you're still going to need to do some drills, (try Jazz Chord Hanon: 70 Exercises for the Beginning to Professional Pianist, Jazz Hanon (Private Lessons), Post-Bop Jazz Piano - The Complete Guide with CD!: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series (Hal Leonard Keyboard Style), and even Piano Essentials: Scales, Chords, Arpeggios, and Cadences for the Contemporary Pianist (Book & CD)), learn some songs (use The Real Book: Sixth Edition), and get some instruction (try your local community college or music store). In short, Levine's book is a wonderful map and a readable, useful guide for just about anyone with interest in playing jazz on the piano.

Editorial Review:

Endorsed by Kenny Barron, Jamey Aebersold, Richie Beirach, and more, this book presents all the information a student of jazz piano needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced pianists, written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz piano playing.

Play Piano in a Flash: Play Your Favorite Songs Like a Pro -- Whether You've Had Lessons or Not!

Scott Houston

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hyperion Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $6.64

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 65 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Perfect piano learner - just the right amount of content 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book will give you everything you need to get started playing the piano. The book is a very easy read with concise, right to the point instructions and doesn't offer you anything but the basics, hammering home the key points.

You should find that (assuming you have at least some basic knowledge of music) that you will be able to play a few recognizable songs within a matter of days! I am not saying you will play them like a seasoned pro, but you will play them in a way that would impress your friends or family and will prompt them to ask, 'when did you start taking lessons?'

I love how Scott just dives right in and gives you what you need to know to play right away. The book is short and sweet and offers just enough content.

I also purchased his fake book and the first song I started working on was "Hey Jude". The music notation is in the key of C (from what I understand the easiest key to play) and I would say after a few hours I could play it somewhat decently. After a week, I had it nailed. Not just a riff or two, but the whole song atart to finish! I was blown away by my progress and look forward to learning more and more songs.

For roughly $10 you can't go wrong with this book. Just be sure and keep an open mind when you read it and please don't listen to piano snobs who will tell you 'oh this is just shortcuts and nonsense'. They are just jealous that they spend thousands of dollars on lessons and probably wish they learned piano in this manner to begin with.

Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

As seen on public television stations nationwide, a revolutionary new approach to playing non-classical music on the piano.

Have you ever wished you could play the piano? Well, now you can! Scott "The Piano Guy" Houston teaches you to play the way the pros play, in a style enormously simpler than traditional classical piano and with an absolute minimum of note-reading. By focusing on playing the melody with the right hand (one note at a time) and simple chords with the left hand, Houston gives you the tools you need for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Best of all, your tour guide to this adventure forces you to have fun along the way!