"Mastering the Guitar" vs. "Modern Guitar Method, Expanded Ed."?

[Broadus]

I'm looking at these two Mel Bay series in order to get a handle on note reading and understanding the rudiments of playing the guitar.

Mastering the Guitar (http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=96620SSET&Heading=&category=&catID=&head1=&head2=&sub=&sub1=&author=34&mode=author&q=&r=&s=&next=)

Modern Guitar Method, Expanded Edition (http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=93200ESET)

A knowledgeable member named "mapletrees" has expressed a lot of praise for "Mastering the Guitar," but most of those posts (if not all) appear to have been written before the expanded edition of the "Modern Guitar Method" was published (2005).

At any rate, I'm trying to choose between these series. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Bill

[Brent Hutto]

Bill,

Funny you would ask about "Mastering the Guitar". My teacher recently (several weeks ago) gave me the Volume 1B of that book. We had worked previously out of a classical-guitar oriented method book, which made sense when I was doing classical and fingerstyle. But during my current flatpicking kick he thought this one would be good.

It's a funny book. Definitely not an instruction book in that it has very limited "instruction". It's a densely-packed collections of songs, studies and exercises in a variety of styles. We're not working straight through it a few pages at a time but more like picking and choosing.

If the opportunity were to arise ;) I'd be glad to show you the 1B volume that I'm using.

[Broadus]

That's interesting, Brent. Hopefully, the opportunity will arise! :)

"Mastering the Guitar" is touted as
an innovative, exciting way to learn the guitar. Co-authored by William Bay and Mike Christiansen, this extremely comprehensive method applies the array of musical styles and techniques found in today's music. Written in notation and tablature, it covers a vast array of guitar solo and accompaniment styles. A special feature of this method is that it teaches both flatpicking and fingerstyle solo and accompaniment techniques. We feel that Mastering the Guitar is the most comprehensive approach to guitar technique repertoire and performance to be found anywhere. Volume 1A: Presents the essential foundational studies for contemporary guitar performance; Immediately introduces the student to the concept of playing contemporary music through the creative use of tablature; Logically and methodically teaches note-reading, utilizing the notes in first position on each string in numerous pages of playing material (over 155 solos and duets in the keys of C, A minor, G, and E minor); Contains more than 140 scale and picking studies, chord etudes, and accompaniment pieces, teaching contemporary techniques such as the slur, hammer-on, pull-off, vibrato and slide; Includes in-depth sections on back-up guitar and rhythm; Incorporates guitar duet material. Includes DVD.

It sounds as less instructional and more as a collection, Brent, the way you have described it.

The "Modern Guitar Method, Expanded Edition" basically takes the tried and true Mel Bay "Modern [as of something like 1947] Guitar Method" and doubles the amount of practice material. That looks pretty attractive, too.

Bill

[cb56]

I have the mastering guitar book 1A and the Mastering guitar "Technique studies". I agree with Brent's desciption. I'm actually finding the technique studies book to be more my speed because I already know how to read music. And yes it has a little of everything in it flatpicking,fingerpicking,strumming, note reading,tab etc....
I might check out the modern guitar method and see if I like it better but probably either one is good.
My problem is, I want to avoid "Red River Valley" and "Twinkle Little Star" if possible.:D

[Broadus]

Thanks. I found a PDF download of the expanded edition (http://www.melbay.com/FreeDownloads/93200E.pdf) of the Modern Guitar Method, actually 50-something pages of grade 1, on the Mel Bay site. I wish there were a PDF of Mastering the Guitar 1A to compare the two. BTW, I had to open it in Internet Explorer--couldn't in Firefox.

I don't see "Red River Valley," but there is "Home on the Range." :)

Bill

[cb56]

Well, this thread has motivated me toget back into book 1a and finish it. What the heck. It will cause me to put my fingers on the guitar in places I might not otherwise put them.:) Well sorta.

[Broadus]

Well, this thread has motivated me toget back into book 1a and finish it. What the heck. It will cause me to put my fingers on the guitar in places I might not otherwise put them.:) Well sorta.

Great, cb! Have you checked the pdf download that I linked for the Modern Guitar Method? I wonder how it compares with your Mastering 1A.

I may order the Mastering 1A book as a resource.

Bill

[cb56]

actually, I couldn't get it to open.
I did check out the description of Modern guitar and decided that what I had was probably what I needed anyway. (mastering guitar) It really is jam packed with music (not much fluff) and starts pretty basic. I just reviewed and blew through the first 3rd of the book and really only quit because my fingers got tired. I've got plenty of material to work on besides that book so I have no excuse for not progressing.

As far as note reading goes. It's pretty basic. I really think if that's what you're after, either book (method) will get you there.

[Broadus]

Found the first 30 pages of Mastering the Guitar 1A (http://books.google.com/books?id=QC740IhqLacC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22mastering+the+guitar%22+1a#v=onepage&q=&f=false) online at Google Books.

Bill

[Broadus]

As far as note reading goes. It's pretty basic. I really think if that's what you're after, either book (method) will get you there.

I suspect you're right. One thing that intrigued me about the Mastering series was mixing in fingerstyle.

I just gave the Modern Guitar Method pdf another go in a new IE window and it opened. Earlier this afternoon, I was unable to get it to open.

Bill

[Broadus]

If you want to download the 50+ page pdf download of the expanded edition of the Modern Guitar Method and have been having trouble, try this:

Open this link (http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=93200E) to the Modern Guitar Method Grade 1, Expanded Ed. page.

Then click on the "Free PDF Download" link.

Bill

[Brent Hutto]

Bill,

Looking through the first 30 pages of "Mastering the Guitar 1A" it does have slightly more explanatory material than the 1B volume but after the very first little bit, it's just small snippets interspersed with the songs and exercises. I'll stick to my theory that the instructions there are more suited to being reminders of what a teacher showed you than actual How-To material.

Also, there is not as much repetition and covering each concept in depth as in the "Modern Guitar Method", don't you think? I still think that "Mastering..." is better with a teacher and "Modern..." better on your own.

[Broadus]

Hi Brent. I think you're right. I just looked over again the Google sampling of "Mastering 1A" and noticed how short so many of the exercises are. "Snippets" rightly describes them. It seems that "Mastering" tries to cover a lot of styles of music and technique. Even the promo for it says it is for beginners who have not settled on a musical preference or for others who want to grow out of one area.

For what I'm after, I think the "Modern" series will work well. Plus, lots of folk and classical-styled music, right up the alley for this geezer.

Oops, just noticed it does have "Red River Valley"! ;)

Thanks for all the input.

Bill

[Bern]

I don't know what instructional material is covered in these series. I know one thing for sure, nobody has, does or will master the guitar. Playing is a learning process that will never end until the day you die.

[Brent Hutto]

Yeah, I like the title of Gene Bertoncini's book Approaching the Guitar. Sounds a little more humble.

[Broadus]

I don't know what instructional material is covered in these series. I know one thing for sure, nobody has, does or will master the guitar. Playing is a learning process that will never end until the day you die.

While I acknowledge the sentiment of your statement, the word "master," among a plethora of other meanings, in this context means "an artist or performer of great and exemplary skill" and "highly skilled or proficient," not to have "total domination" or "absolutely perfect understanding and proficiency," IMO.

So the publisher decided to call one series, not one book, "Mastering the Guitar," indicating to me that this is a road to travel in the becoming of a proficient guitarist. If one completes the series, from what I see in the last volume, one will be well on one's way. :)

Regards,
Bill

[cb56]

:eek:
You mean I won't have the guitar mastered after I finish book 1A????
What a ripoff!!! I want my money back!
just kidding
I think Broadus pretty much sums it up. I'm going to use this book as a path to learning and improving various technique and also branch off into learning songs in these different styles.

[Bern]

While I acknowledge the sentiment of your statement, the word "master," among a plethora of other meanings, in this context means "an artist or performer of great and exemplary skill" and "highly skilled or proficient," not to have "total domination" or "absolutely perfect understanding and proficiency," IMO.

So the publisher decided to call one series, not one book, "Mastering the Guitar," indicating to me that this is a road to travel in the becoming of a proficient guitarist. If one completes the series, from what I see in the last volume, one will be well on one's way. :)

Regards,
Bill

Bill, I agree with you...I guess, it's a marketing ploy. :)
Anyway, my statement was more directed to those who are very impressionable and/or mislead by the material that is available out there.
It reminds me of a comment Jimmy Bruno once made in one of his videos. He talked about scale exercises that are available, which are not in the best interest in playing efficiently. Anybody can publish instructional books with all sort of scales and fingerings, but if there is no logical explanation for why and how it relates to other things, it's probably better to stay away from them. Technique, IMO, is one those things that has to make sense deep in your own mind, otherwise it will always a struggle to apply it and to develop any kind muscle memory along with one's musical development.