Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar

For the colour version please "See all formats and editions" ISBN 978-0956954725

Guitar For Kids is a fun and comprehensive guide on the first steps of learning to play Guitar, with over 70 photographic examples, diagrams and cartoons. The book features original musical pieces in styles like Rock, Blues, Pop, Flamenco, Jazz and Reggae. Start with a strong foundation in guitar playing with easy-to-follow techniques throughout.

The book begins with advice on buying your first guitar, how to hold the guitar and how to tune it. The music then starts with easy-to-play melodies using only open strings (open strings means only the plucking hand is used), ideal for young beginners. This is followed by simple melodies that incorporate both plucking and the use of the fretboard.

Tablature Based - Guitar for Kids clearly explains and uses guitar tablature making this popular instrument more accessible for children. Sight-reading is also covered, starting with rhythm for the chord lessons, and introducing note pitches later.

Audio & Video - Guitar for Kids comes with 47 downloadable audio tracks for the musical excercises and pieces. Each piece has a full band demo track and a backing track with the guitar part removed to play over. Each musical piece also has a demonstration video.

What Else? - Easy chords are covered and are accompanied with diagrams of the full versions for later on, or if your child feels like a challenge. There’s an introduction to easy Power chords with Rock pieces to play and there's a Blues and Rock duet to play with a friend.

• Guitar Playing Techniques: String plucking, alternate picking, fretboard hand technique and strumming . All with clear explanations and photographic examples.
• Guitar Melodies: Nine different melodies in various contemporary styles.
• Easy Guitar Chords for Kids: G major, G7, C major , A minor, E minor and D major in easy-to-follow chord diagrams.
• Guitar Strumming: Six musical excercises and two musical pieces for strumming chords.
• Guitar Duets: Two Guitar duets in Blues and Rock styles. Duet backing tracks with one of two guitar parts removed for one to play over, and a backing track with both guitar parts removed for two to play over.
• E minor Pentatonic Scale: Easy-to-play with open strings, this is one of the most used scale types in popular music.
• Power Chords: Three different easy-to-play power chords and two musical pieces using power chords.
• Sight reading: Basic notes on the top three strings, three sight-reading exercises and four sight-reading pieces.
• Quiz: Guitar for Kids finishes with a Quiz, no cheating!

Start your child's journey of developing a lifelong skill and a passion for music and Grab Your Copy Today!

"Children really love playing along to the backing tracks and they have been more enthusiastic about practicing because they have something to play along to. The content of the book is well thought out and each musical aspect is introduced gradually as to not swamp the child with too much too soon. I recommend this book to both teachers and learners." Ben Parker, Bachelor of Musical Arts - Jazz (CPIT Jazz School New Zealand)

"I looked through Guitar for Kids thoroughly when I received it and I think it is really cool! I will be recommending that my students buy one. I would be happy to recommend." Chris Nastri, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Phoenix Arizona US

"Gareth has written a really well thought out first book for teaching young children how to play. The fact that he teaches tablature and takes the time to find a logical way to add rhythm makes this method a step above other similar books. I've taught guitar for 30+ years and it has always been a challenge to find a book that doesn't talk down to the students. This one is definitely the one I'll be using." Bob Lucas - Bob Lucas Guitar Studios (Missouri US)

"Really detailed and thought out well. It's good that this book presents the easy to difficult chords. I like the introduction of notation as well. When you present it in stages, it's not too hard for people to pick up." Michael Hanna, Grade 8 RS.Guitar - Larne Guitar School (Ireland)

"It looks like Gareth spent a lot of time writing Guitar for Kids. I think the illustrations are very helpful in keeping people's minds interested and engaged. The fact that it also includes audio will help them understand how it should sound as well." Tim Woosley - Music Director, Lincoln School of Music (Nebraska)

"The book Guitar for Kids is written in a very acceptable way accompanied by lots of pictures. I am recommending to read this book not only for kids, but also for everyone who wants to start playing the guitar in the right way." Tomas Schmidt, Guitar teacher & Recording artist (Slovakia)