Folk, Blues & Ragtime; Sacred Music For Fingerstyle Guitar; Stefan Grossman's Hot Fingerpicking Guitar Solos

Three new titles from the prolific Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop cover a plethora of playing styles and techniques. Folk, Blues & Ragtime by Dave Van Ronk, is the best of the lot, because it offers the largest number of tunes to learn in a wide variety of styles, including "Green, Green Rocky Road," "Kansas City Blues," "Sunday Street," "That Will Never Happen No More," and "Cocaine Blues." A masterful guitarist and distinctive singer, Van Ronk is just as much fun to listen to as he is to learn from.Sacred Music for Fingerstyle Guitar, taught by El McMeen, offers a decidedly different tack from the more popular blues, folk, and ragtime guitar tunes. Here, McMeen guides viewers through mastering the lovely inspirational songs "In Christ There Is No East or West," "Be Thou My Vision," "This Is My Father's World," and exceptional versions of "Amazing Grace" and "Silent Night." Finally, Stefan Grossman's Hot Fingerpicking Guitar Solos, taught by the virtuoso picker and teacher himself, offers instruction on "Bermuda Triangle Exit" and "Blues for the Mann," a pair of difficult tunes that Grossman has put together melding existing tunes and his own additions. The tape also includes performance footage of Grossman and fellow guitarist's John Renbourn and Duck Baker.Each of the programs utilizes the split-screen, enabling viewers to follow the movements of both hands, and are suitable for intermediate to advanced players. Folk, Blues & Ragtime is highly recommended. Sacred Music Fingerstyle and Stefan Grossman's Hot Fingerpicking Guitar Solos are recommended. (Available from: Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop, P.O. Box 802, Sparta, NJ 07871.)