INTRODUCTION
It’s an information “jungle” out there these days with all the teaching videos, magazines, and of course internet. The problem with these things is the lack of structure. You may spend your 1st guitar lesson in 1st grade, your 2nd in 8th grade and your 3rd in college. Just by spending a little time exploring all the information out there, one could easily get overwhelmed and discouraged and thus abandon efforts to learn music at all. This book is intended to take you from the most basic to advanced ideas, making it suitable for all students of guitar regardless of their education and experience. Additionally, this book is an excellent resource for teachers. It is formatted in such a way to be a step by step, methodical method of building on the knowledge attained previously in such a way that it becomes intrinsic. This book teaches the building blocks of notes and chords and how they work together for a good and solid understanding of music. Worksheets are provided to help the student truly understand these concepts. This knowledge is important for playing music and becoming a better player than a musician who just memorizes and plays without understanding what they are doing. Music knowledge needs to be made intrinsic. In other words, one must internally know it instead of just memorizing chords, charts, et cetera. This knowledge is also extremely helpful for songwriting and improvisation. In addition, to make sure you fully understand the information in this book, Rick Taylor offers one on one lessons through Skype, making this truly a “guitar success” program. Is there more to be learned? Absolutely, but what you will get from this book will give you a solid ability to play the guitar and actually understand music as it’s applied to the guitar. Then you can always go explore the jungle knowing you have a solid foundation. No music reading or prior music knowledge is required.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rick Taylor is a professional instructor of guitar, ukulele, and bass as well as a professional performer and recording artist. Rick started performing guitar and singing at a very young age and has played a large variety of venues and genres throughout his music career. His pursuance and persistence in music studies include schooling and private guitar lessons with some of the best-recognized and most influential musicians. Since 1999, Rick has taught guitar and music theory to a multitude of students, helping aspiring musicians follow their own passion and dreams to learn guitar and/or improve what they already know. Rick’s passion, knowledge, and ability to provide a solid foundation for all student ages and levels make him a top-notch instructor. In addition to his music career, Rick holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Rick teaches at his studio in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is also available for Skype lessons on a long- or short-term basis. If you would like to schedule lessons with Rick or need help with this book, you may contact him through his website, www.rtaylormusic.com.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is arranged in 2 main sections called Phase I and Phase II, each covering 3 topics: scales, chords, and putting scales and chords together. Phase I is intended to provide some great information to get you up and playing. Phase II expands on the Phase I concepts for a more extended and advanced theory. Prior to these main sections is a preliminary section to ensure the basics are known. Along the way, I include “tricks of the trade” as well. These are important for anyone wanting to write songs, improvise, and just understand how music works. A lesson planner is included that will have you skip around the book a little bit to better facilitate the methodical aspect and keep things interesting.
Preliminary Section: Ensure that the basics are known
PHASE I: Basic Concepts: Basic understanding how scales, chords, and putting scales and chords together work
Chapter 1: Scales
Chapter 2: Chords
Chapter 3: Putting Scales and Chords Together
PHASE II: Advanced concepts; expands on the topics learned in the basics section
Chapter 1: Scales
Chapter 2: Chords
Chapter 3: Putting Scales and Chords Together
Audio Files
Click Here for the Guitar Sense audio Files