|
| 
| Author: Fred Sokolow
Publisher: H.Leonard Publishing,U.S.
Category: Book
New (16) Used (6) from £2.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 1391
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 80
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.6
ISBN: 0793520886
Dewey Decimal Number: 781
UPC: 073999069822
EAN: 9780793520886
ASIN: 0793520886
Publication Date: August 1, 1993
|
| Customer Reviews:
WOW August 24, 2007
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
Although i haven't even picked up my guitar yet this book seems like a very precise and comprehensive guide to the modes. I've been looking for a guide like this for a long time and now i finally have it!
Also, a plus is the fact that the licks arn't half bad!
I look forward to pick up my axe and apply my new found knowledge :)
A typical 'roadmap' book - first class. May 15, 2007
39 out of 39 found this review helpful
There are several books in the 'Roadmap' series and they all share the same attributes. This one is no exception and is slightly better than most.
They all cover pretty standard ground in terms of popular licks, phrases and 'boxes' within which to play and improvise.
Despite brief introductions, they all assume at least some familiarity with the guitar fretboard and the reading of either notation or tablature. It is fair to say that to get the best out of these books, you do need SOME experience. Raw beginners might find this particular book a bit heavy going at first because it moves fairly rapidly from one technique or style to another and doesn't set out to teach you in an especially linear way. If you're that new to the guitar, think of this book as one to grow into once you have some basic knowledge and experience.
All roadmap books cover a lot of ground in very little space in both great detail and in a well-developed style that is very easy to follow.
In short - the 'Roadmap' series set out to provide you with a good repertoire of skills and licks and then show you how to develop them in your own playing.
Briefly, the content of this book covers the following topics:
the fretboad
the major scale and intervals
barre E and A chords, root notes and simple progressions
I -- IV -- V chord family, moveable chords and basic blues
D -- A -- F roadmap and inversions
chord fragments, families, licks, strums and arpeggios
circle-of-fifths progressions and how to use the whole fretboard
learning many differerent chord types
moveable major scales and playing melodies
moveable blues scales
major pentatonic scales
a moveable double-note lick for country, blues, rock and R&B (and that's the true 'Rhythm 'n' Blues' not the modern mish-mash of soul/hiphop and urbanised grumblings as chanted by groin-grabbing wailers).
Of all the books in the 'Roadmap' series, this one sets out to do slightly more in that it lays down a foundation for all the other styles to be built upon. Thus many of the topics are looked at again in some of the specialised books (eg: bluegrass and folk). But this is not a weakness or an easy get-out.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants a good introduction to ideas that they can learn, develop and tghen make their own.
Worth more that every penny spent. November 19, 2006
70 out of 70 found this review helpful
Consider this. I bought this book (including the postage) for a total of 5.56. now if you consider that a single 1/2 hour guitar lesson will set you back upwards of 15 this is an absoloute bargain. I have been playing for over 20 years and have been a frequent dabbler. I've done this and that, but never found a way of bringing together what I understand about music.
What this book does, is bring those loose strands together and put them into 12 achieveable lessons. I am currently at about lesson 5 and have been amazed at how much I actually understand about scales, chord formations and key tones.
I would recommend that the reader have some basic understanding of the guitar before using this book, but it is not essential. If I were beginning I would look at something like Begin Guitar - by Douglas J Noble as this will give you the understanding of the easier open chords. This book focuses more on barre chords and sliding scales, which could be daunting for the beginner.
This book has already made me consolidate what I understand and has taught me a lot. I will definitely be purchasing the Fretboard Roadmap Rock book when I am done with this one. Highly recommended to all, especially intermediate player. This book will improve your playing!
You'll love it, or hate it...! June 21, 2006
50 out of 51 found this review helpful
I have read a couple of Sokolow's books, and they all seem to follow the same format: bare essentials. This is, as I say, something you will either love or hate. Let me explain.
The amount of information you are given really is quite minimal in terms of words, but with respect to actual content, it is exceptionally high. There is little padding, little fluff involved, and everything is written in short, direct sentences. You are given a couple of diagrams, a quick explanation as to why you should be doing it, and the rest is up to you. Sit down, play it, and learn it. Don't ask questions. Just do it (to quote a well-known sportswear manufacturer).
This may suit some people, of which I definitely include myself. I picked up his mandolin book of the same series, and got more from that one, slim book than I had gleaned from about ten other books I had read. Perhaps it was a bit of background which I already had which meant I got these nuggets out of that book. If I had come to it cold, I don't think I would have gained so much so quickly.
When I decided I should actually learn guitar (meaning to for ages, thought best to do rather than just think about it), this is one of two books I decided to get (the other being David Mead's book on 10-minute drills - fantastic stuff!). I think my life was made somewhat easier than other reviewers' experiences, particularly if you scan the reviews at Amazon.com rather than Amazon.co.uk, simply because I had this background, and I knew what to expect.
So be warned! You are not getting anything chatty, no in-depth analyses, no complicated theory lessons. What you *are* getting is what you need to know in order to (as the title suggests) know your way around the guitar fretboard. If you are a beginner, I can see that this may raise more questions than provide answers. Theoretical discussion is minimal, as I have said, and you may want to look elsewhere for the answers (again, David Mead's book is a fine investment). You are getting the distilled essence of playing guitar, and it is up to you to learn why you should be doing it in this way. Get another book, or just figure it out for yourself - Sokolow doesn't seem to care either way.
But I would recommend this book without hesitation to anyone but the complete beginner. I promise you, you *will* learn something about playing.
Sat Nav for the guitar! June 16, 2006
12 out of 18 found this review helpful
What a book of resource. You can't ever hope to remember all these shapes for chords, but this book helps you to certaintly try!
A good book to often have at hand.
|
|
|
| |
