Modern Guitar Method Complete Edition, Part 2

This book (and the companion Volume 2) provide a huge amount of guitar instruction, from the absolute never touched a guitar before beginner level right on up so that the player is at a level suitable for quite advanced studies.It's the old Mel Bay method reworked and expanded by son Bill Bay, in its largest and most modern form. Book 1 covers grades 1-4. Book 2 gets pretty deep with grades 5-8, but that should be the subject of a separate review.The book is not "talky" in that verbal explanations are on the terse side. For the very beginner, this will likely not be suitable and a teacher would be a huge help. (That's true in general but specifically true for this method book.) Once you get the basics down, self-study becomes possible, but if you can afford a teacher, staying with the teacher through at least the first three grades would be best, and longer if possible.So, what's here? We have a walk through basic music reading and quite basic music theory; we have a study of notes on the strings; and then we make our way into keys and position playing. Key presentation is by fifths (not 4ths as in many jazz books).In each key there are scales and chords, also built up progressively.But what I really like about this edition over earlier, briefer Mel Bay method books, and over many other methods, is the amount and variety of practice material. There are just loads of exercises, studies, and surprisingly nice little pieces to play. Nothing fancy at first, of course, but still fun and pleasing even if not at Carnegie Hall recital level. In this respect, the book goes far beyond any other book I've ever come across.Online audio is available. I find that a great help even for simpler exercises and pieces as it's great to hear how something should be done.I give the method 4 stars. As an intermediate player, I'm still using book 1 for review and practice. I can't quite go five stars because of the weak verbal content and the lack of an index, making it quite hard to find things later on.There are months if not years of study in Book 1. It's aimed at making you a musician, not a hack. If you are serious and are willing to put in the work, it's a good method.

If you are really serious about learning to play the guitar, this will take you far. The lessons progress fairly easily. If you don't have any background, a few lessons or pointers from a guitarist might be helpful for things like holding the guitar, the pick, placing the finger, etc.If you already read music and play any other instrument, the first 90 pages should go fairly quickly.The ONLY complaint I have is it would help if the book were not bound but hole punched and put in a binder so it can lay flat on the music stand.

Pretty easy to follow. Advice from my teacher: practice the exercises slowly at first and use a metronome. (There are plenty of free apps out there, I saw no need to buy one.)

The Mel Bay books are a great tool for teachers, but it's essential to pair them with other lessons pertaining to what is taught in the book. Also a great idea to supplement your own songs (more modern material) to keep children engaged in the learning.

Great for both tertiary and quartal chord studies as well as chord melody and sightreading practice through all keys and positions.

Stuck on book two... just not enough to help get a beginner through.

The new, more complete, edition. And they weren’t kidding!

Excellent

Extensive and practical guide to learning how to read on the guitar. It'll take years to get through all the content here. Highly recommended.

The product has a metal wire binding which was crushed out of shape and needed to be straightened to allow pages to be opened and covers were torn. The quality and durability is poor given the value of the product. Returned for a refund.

It may be a year or more before I get to this book, but I was so impressed by volume 1 that I bought this right away.

A more traditional approach to guitar instruction, well paced and detailed.