The Sound Hounds

This book is fun, fun, fun. Anything by Dix Bruce is good. The chord progressions in the tunes are the same progressions you find in standard swing tunes such as Sweet Georgia Brown, Honey Suckle Rose, and How High the Moon. The melodies are changed but they sound great. The book has everything: notation, tab for guitar and mandolin, and chord diagrams. The CD plays the tunes fast and slow with the melody and without.  This book is great for anyone that likes classic swing music.
By Bruce Nix, Published by Mel Bay Publishing Corporation, stock # MB94344bcd, ISBN 7866-2344-6
Notation? yes,  tab? yes, chords? yes, chord diagrams? yes, CD normal speed? yes, CD slow speed? yes, level? intermediate to advanced. cost? $17.95.

I like this book because it teaches you to play the blues as a soloist. Unlike countless books on the market that just show you riffs. The tunes sound really good. Any one interested in roots delta blues should have this in their collection. If you are acquainted with pentatonic scales and moveable chords you should pick up on these tunes reasonably quick. Many of my students have worked through this one and they all have been pleased.
By Kenny Sultan, Published by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, stock # HL00000157, ISBN 0-931759-73-0
Notation? yes,  tab? yes, chords? yes, chord diagrams? no, CD normal speed? yes, CD slow speed? yes, level? intermediate to advanced, cost? $18.95.

This is the authority for North American and Celtic fiddle tunes. I had to buy a second because I wore the first one out. Almost all of the classic fiddle tunes are in this book. I usually learn the songs as they are written then I play them an octave lower which is more in the flat top guitar range.  It is 300 pages long. It has a discography that is a great source for recordings of these styles.  However, it is written in traditional notation only and it doesn’t have accompanying CD’s. Brody offers a Guitar Fake Book and Mandolin Fake Book written in tablature only but they don’t have as many tunes or as much information as the Fiddler’s Fakebook does. Anyone interested in playing fiddle tunes on the guitar needs to have this book even if they have to sell their house to get it.
By David Brody, Published by Oak Publications, stock # OK63925, ISBN 0.8256.0238.6
Notation? yes,  tab? no, chords? yes, chord diagrams? no, CD normal speed? no, CD slow speed? no, level? intermediate to advanced. cost? $24.95.

The main thing is enjoting the journey. Playing guitar is so healthy. You feel good after praticing. Compare how you feel after practicing guitar for an hour to watching tv for an hour.

People have asked me this question countless times. Each time I’m asked I hesitate and stutter trying to find the appropriate answer. I could honestly say just a few months or the rest of your life and both answers would be true. Students ask me how long it took me to learn to play guitar? Well, I never woke up in the morning and looked in the mirror and said to myself this is a great day. Now I have mastered the guitar. The truth is, you never stop learning and you never stop wanting to be better. If your idea of playing guitar is strumming some chords around a campfire while everyone sings traditional songs, then you’ll be able to play in just a few months (with a little practice). If you want to master the instrument, you will work at it the rest of your life. Regardless of your expectations always remember music is a gift and it is to be enjoyed. So, enjoy the music above all else!

My students could help me answer this question.

Great guitar moments:

I was 10 years old when I put the needle of our console HiFi  on an LP called Meet The Beatles. I think my life changed that day.

Brian Turner

I am interested in what you have to say about guitars.

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