Learning Guitar For Dummies

Button-up shirt and plastered grin in place, award-winning guitarist and author Jon Chappel is the deadpan-joking host for Learning Guitar For Dummies, which features nine step-by-step introductory guitar lessons that are simplified just enough to warrant the "beginner" aspect of the title without actually making the viewer feel like a dolt. Initially, viewers learn the different makes and models of guitars, and breakdown of the parts (body, frets, pickups, etc.), as well as proper seating, tuning, music notation, chord diagrams, and finger positioning. Although viewers don't learn the first song until lesson five, I found that Chappell's coverage of the fundamentals rivaled the entire semester of my high school guitar class. Easy-to-follow demonstrations (coupled with repetition) of switching chords, strumming patterns, fingerpicking and more make this high-quality instructional program valuable to both total novices and those looking to improve their skills. Helpful features include close-up views of correct finger placement, as well as traditional "Dummies" attributes, such as pop up tricks, myth busters and reminders. The DVD format is the optimal choice, since it allows viewers to go straight to a particular lesson. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (J. Williams)