Styles of Playing Guitar
The guitar is the most versatile musical instrument and can be used to play virtually all music styles including Classical, Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, Country, Funk, Metal, Folk, Rock ‘n’ Roll etc. There are many different styles of playing guitar and all these styles can be played on any type of guitar. You would usually play lead on an electric guitar but you could play lead on a classical guitar or you could play fingerpicking style on an electric guitar. It all depends upon the sound you are looking for.
There are many guitar books available in the Progressive series some of which are listed on the following pages. Available at all good music stores or available from our website at www.learntoplaymusic.com.
Previews: On the accompanying recording of this book you will be able to hear selected previews taken directly from the recording of each of the following books. Each preview will give you an insight into each of the many styles that can be played on the guitar.
Note Reading
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD BOOK 1
The Progressive Guitar Method is a series of books designed to take the Guitar student from a beginner level through to a professional standard of playing. All books are carefully graded, lesson by lesson methods which assume no prior knowledge on your behalf. Within the series all styles and techniques of guitar playing are covered, including reading music, playing chords and rhythms, lead guitar and fingerpicking.
Progressive Guitar Method Book 1 assumes you have no prior knowledge of music or playing the guitar. This book will teach you the notes on each of the six strings, together with basic elements of music theory including time signatures, note values, sharps, flats and the chromatic scale. This theory is essential to help you understand the guitar and can be applied to solve practical problems, hence speeding up your progress. This book also has special sections on tuning, how to read sheet music and a chord chart. Upon its completion you will have a solid understanding of guitar. All guitarists should know all of the information in this book. A tab version of this book is also available.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: SUPPLEMENT
Progressive Guitar Method Book 1: Supplement is designed to be used in conjunction with Progressive Guitar Method Book 1 and contains an extra 70 songs to play, and 8 more lessons including information on major scales, keys, triplets, ) time, sixteenth notes, syncopation and swing rhythms. All guitarists should know all of the information in this book.
In conjunction with this book you can use other books in the progressive series to learn about tablature reading, lead guitar playing, fingerpicking, bar chords, slide and classical guitar styles as well as music theory and different styles such as Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Metal and Funk.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: THEORY
A comprehensive, introduction to music theory as it applies to the guitar. Covers reading traditional music, rhythm notation and tablature, along with learning the notes on the fretboard, how to construct chords and scales, transposition, musical terms and playing in all keys.
Chords
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR CHORDS
Progressive Guitar Chords contains over 180 pages and is the ultimate reference manual for guitar chords. This book contains thousands of chord diagrams including open chords for beginners, bar chords for the semi-advanced player and moveable chords for the advanced player. Includes a wealth of information on music theory for guitarists providing a thorough knowledge of scales, keys, chord construction etc. Also includes a selection of chord progressions using many of the chords shown in the book.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: CHORDS
Progressive Guitar Method: Chords is a chord dictionary containing the most useful open, bar, and Jazz chord shapes of all the most commonly used chord types including major, minor, seventh, sixth, major seventh, minor seventh, suspended, ninth, etc. Also contains special sections on tuning, how to read sheet music and the use of a capo. It also includes an easy chord table, chord formula and chord symbol chart.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: BAR CHORDS
Progressive Guitar Method: Bar Chords introduces the most popular and most useful bar chord shapes used by Rock/Pop/Country and Blues guitarists. All the important chord types are shown including major, minor, seventh, sixth, major seventh, minor seventh, suspended, ninth, etc. Root 6 and Root 5 bar chords are discussed in detail along with suggested rhythm patterns including percussive strums, damping and sixteenth note rhythms. Also covers Rock/Power chords, rhythm techniques and basic Jazz chord shapes.
Rhythm
PROGRESSIVE RHYTHM GUITAR
Progressive Rhythm Guitar contains over 140 pages and is the complete instruction manual for Rhythm guitar. Covers Rock styles, Rhythm patterns and techniques, playing in a group, chord substitution, reading sheet music and theory as it relates to the Rhythm guitarist. Uses the most useful open, bar, and Jazz chord shapes of all the most commonly used chord types including major, minor, seventh, sixth, major seventh, minor seventh, suspended, ninth, etc.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: RHYTHM
Progressive Guitar Method: Rhythm assumes you have no prior knowledge of music or playing the guitar. Starting with the different types of guitars available and the different styles of playing you are introduced to all the important open chord shapes for major, minor, seventh, sixth, major seventh, minor seventh, suspended, diminished and augmented chords. Learn to play over 50 chord progressions, including 12 Bar Blues and Turnaround progressions.
Lead
PROGRESSIVE LEAD GUITAR
Progressive Lead Guitar will provide you with an essential guide into the scales and techniques used by Lead guitarists. Within the three sections of this book, a lesson by lesson structure has been used to give a clear and carefully graded method of study. Covers Major, Minor, Pentatonic scales and lead guitar techniques such as the hammer-on, pull-off, slide, bends, vibrato, pick tremolo etc. Features several great sounding solos incorporating the scales and techniques studied throughout the book.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: LEAD
Progressive Guitar Method: Lead will show you the 12 bar Blues progression, using riffs and variations incorporating, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes and triplets, along with ties, rests, shuffle and syncopated timing. Teaches scales and patterns over the entire fretboard so that you can improvise against major, minor and Blues progressions in any key. All the common lead guitar techniques are taught and includes special sections on jamming progressions, music notation, scales and notes on the entire fretboard.
PROGRESSIVE LEAD GUITAR LICKS
Progressive Lead Guitar Licks features over 110 lead guitar licks incorporating the styles and techniques used by the world's best lead guitar players. The licks are set out in order of difficulty to assist lead guitar players of all levels. The emphasis in this volume is to provide a vast variety of music styles to enable you to fit in with any music performing or recording situation.
The first four sections cover Rock, Blues, Heavy Metal and Country. At the end of each section is a lead guitar solo, showing how the licks and techniques throughout each section can be used to create a lead guitar solo.
PROGRESSIVE BEGINNER GUITAR
An easy to follow Guitar method for the complete beginner. Covers both melody and chord playing using standard notation and tablature. Introduces all the essential techniques and music fundamentals. Includes chords and melodies of many well known songs in a variety of musical styles.
PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC GUITAR
An innovative approach to learning the electric guitar which incorporates the volume and tone controls, the pickup selector switch, effects and amplifier settings into learning music from the very beginning. Explains and demonstrates all the essential chords, scales, rhythms and expressive techniques such as slides, bends, trills and vibrato. Also contains lessons on understanding the bass and drums and how to create parts which work with them. This book will have the student ready to play in a band in next to no time.
PROGRESSIVE SCALES AND MODES
A complete system for learning any scale, mode or chord and makes it easy to memorise any new new sound as well as building a solid visual and aural foundation of both the theory and the guitar fretboard. Shows you how to use each scale as well as how and why it fits with a particular chord or progression. Also contains jam along progressions for every scale and mode presented in the book.
Rock
PROGRESSIVE ROCK GUITAR METHOD
Progressive Rock Guitar Method will introduce you to the exciting world of Rock guitar. It will not be necessary to have any previous knowledge of the guitar, as this book is suitable for the beginner. This book deals with the two main classifications of Rock guitar, rhythm and lead. You will become familiar with both subjects as you work your way through the book.
Rhythm guitar, being the technique of strumming chords, is explained clearly and simply throughout the book, with the help of an Easy Read system involving arrows.
PROGRESSIVE ROCK GUITAR LICKS
Progressive Rock Guitar Licks incorporates the many different techniques, scales and patterns used in modern styles of Rock guitar. There are five sections throughout the book, each dealing with one of the five popular Rock lead guitar patterns. The licks in each section are examples of how each pattern can be applied to each pattern. At the end of each section is a Rock guitar solo, which fully shows how the licks and techniques learn throughout each section can be usedto create a Rock guitar solo.
PROGRESSIVE ROCK GUITAR TECHNIQUE
This book continues on from Progressive Rock Guitar Method, dealing with all the Rhythm and Lead guitar styles of Rock. Rhythm guitar will be developed further by learning Bar chords, Rock progressions and advanced rhythm techniques. Lead guitarists will learn scale patterns, licks and solos using techniques such as Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, Slides, Bends, Vibrato and Double Note Licks. All licks and solos are clearly notated using standard music notation and ‘Easy Read’ guitar tab.
Blues
PROGRESSIVE BLUES LEAD GUITAR METHOD
Progressive Blues Lead Guitar Method takes a unique approach to learning Blues lead guitar. The most common scale used in Blues – the minor pentatonic scale, is used immediately to create great sounding Blues licks and solos. The minor pentatonic scale is learned in five basic positions which cover the whole fretboard, along with a variety of licks and solos demonstrating all the important techniques such as slides, vibrato and note bending, as used by all the great Blues players.
PROGRESSIVE BLUES GUITAR
A great introduction to the world of Blues Guitar. Covers all the essential rhythms used in Blues and R&B along with turnarounds, intros and endings, and gaining control of 12 and 8 bar Blues forms. Also explains and demonstrates the Blues scale, major and minor pentatonic scales and 7th arpeggios in a logical system for playing over the entire fretboard. Contains all the classic Blues sounds such as note bending, slides, and vibrato demonstrated in over 100 licks and solos in a variety of Blues styles.
PROGRESSIVE BLUES GUITAR LICKS
Packed full of Blues guitar licks and solos incorporating styles and techniques used by the world’s greatest Blues players. Includes sections on turnarounds, intro’s and endings, call and response, dynamics and learning from other instruments. The licks cover a variety of styles such as shuffles, traditional slow Blues, Boogie, Jazz style Blues and R&B and Funk grooves. Also includes examples demonstrating how different licks can be put together to form whole solos, opening up endless possibilities for improvisation.
PROGRESSIVE BLUES LEAD GUITAR TECHNIQUE
A comprehensive introduction to all the sounds used in Blues lead guitar playing. Demonstrates all essential scales and arpeggios in a system which covers the whole fretboard and enables you to easily understand what you are playing. You will also learn all the important rhythms used by Blues players and systems for analyzing both rhythms and scale degrees. The book includes several solos demonstrating how the licks and techniques in each section can be used to create whole solos. Also includes several Jam along progressions.
PROGRESSIVE BLUES GUITAR SOLOS
Features a wide variety of Licks and Solos incorporating styles and techniques used by the world’s greatest Blues players. Licks are set out in a progressive manner to assist Blues guitar players of all levels. The book includes sections on turnarounds, intro's and endings, playing over stops, call and response, and the use of dynamics. Covers all the important scales and arpeggios used in Blues. Styles include shuffles, traditional slow Blues, Jazz style Blues, along with R & B and Funk grooves. Many of the licks and solos are written in the styles of Blues legends like BB King, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
PROGRESSIVE BLUES RHYTHM GUITAR METHOD
A comprehensive introduction to the world of Blues rhythm guitar playing. Uses a variety of left and right hand techniques to help the student gain control of timing and rhythms which are essential to creating good Blues rhythm parts. The book contains a study of both open and moveable chord shapes, before moving on to single and double note riffs which include many of the classic Blues sounds.
Country
PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY GUITAR METHOD
Progressive Country Guitar Method covers all the basic essentials of Country guitar. It will not be necessary to have any previous knowledge of the guitar, as this book is suitable for the complete beginner. Experienced guitarists however, who perhaps have not tackled this style before, will find this manual invaluable as an introduction to the basics of Country guitar. From this book you will learn how to play basic chords, country progressions and rhythms, bass note picking, basic Country lead guitar licks and techniques. Upon its completion you will have a solid understanding of Country guitar and be ready to further your study of this style.
PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY GUITAR TECHNIQUE
Progressive Country Guitar Technique is a continuation from Progressive Country Guitar Method. This book will cover more advanced chords, rhythms and lead techniques used in Country guitar. For rhythm guitar playing the most common Bar chords and rhythms are introduced throughout the book. For Country lead guitar players the most common lead guitar patterns are introduced and several interesting Country lead guitar solos are featured. The final lesson covers Fingerpicking and Slide guitar.
Funk
PROGRESSIVE FUNK R&B GUITAR METHOD
This book demonstrates many of the classic Funk sounds, using both rhythm and lead playing, since a good Funk player needs to be equally comfortable with both. A variety of chord forms are introduced within a framework that quickly allows the student to play confidently over the entire fretboard. Features an innovative approach to learning rhythms and applying them to riffs and grooves.
PROGRESSIVE FUNK R&B GUITAR TECHNIQUE
Covers a range of exciting chord sounds essential to Funk, along with the Dorian and Mixolydian modes and the use of harmonic intervals such as 6ths, 3rds, 4ths, octaves and tritones. Also features a thorough study of rhythms and right hand techniques such as percussive strumming and string muting. A range of Funk styles are examined, as well as some great Soul and R&B sounds.
Jazz
PROGRESSIVE JAZZ GUITAR
Progressive Jazz Guitar is a simple and logical introduction to Jazz chord playing for the beginning Jazz guitarist. Covers all important chord types including Major, Minor, all types of Seventh chord, Ninth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Altered chords. Each chord type is presented separately along with its formula and relationship to the major scale. Typical chord progressions are given with each new chord type, gradually building up a whole system for Jazz rhythm playing either solo or in a group situation.
Fingerpicking
PROGRESSIVE FINGERPICKING GUITAR
Progressive Fingerpicking Guitar will provide you with an essential guide into the most common fingerpicking patterns used by modern folk and acoustic guitarists including alternating thumb and arpeggio styles. A lesson by lesson structure has been used to give a clear and carefully graded method of study. Features many interesting chord progressions and great sounding solos in a variety of styles. The fingerpicking patterns taught are universal in that they may be applied to other chord progressions involving bar or 'jazz' flavoured chords.
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: FINGERPICKING
Progressive Guitar Method: Fingerpicking will introduce you to right hand fingerpicking patterns that can be applied to any chord, chord progression or song. Playing chord shapes with these patterns will allow you to provide accompaniment for any song. Covers fingerpicking in the styles of Folk, Country, Rock, Pop, Blues and Ragtime. Extra sections include Notes on the Guitar Fretboard, How to Read Music, How to Transpose and a Chord Chart.
PROGRESSIVE FINGERPICKING GUITAR LICKS
Progressive Fingerpicking Guitar Licks features over 50 Fingerpicking licks, riffs and solos which can be applied to Rock, Blues, Country, Folk styles etc. Incorporates licks based upon chord shapes and shows how the licks can be applied to popular chord progressions. Covers the most common fingerpicking styles including the alternating thumb style, monotonic bass style and includes several popular open tunings. Features both standard music notation and tablature.
Slide
PROGRESSIVE SLIDE GUITAR TECHNIQUE
Progressive Slide Guitar Technique introduces you to the techniques involved in playing slide guitar. This book will be useful to modern guitar players who wish to incorporate slide into an electric rock and blues style as well as being a useful aid to guitarists who want to explore the traditional acoustic aspects of slide guitar. The types of slides available and the setting up of a slide guitar is explained. Throughout the book you learn popular slide scales, licks and solos, damping, fretting, sliding and vibrato.
Classical
PROGRESSIVE GUITAR METHOD: CLASSICAL
A comprehensive, lesson by lesson method covering all aspects of basic classical guitar technique such as proper hand techniques, progressing throught the most common keys and incorporating some of the world’s most popular classical guitar pieces in solo or duet form. Music theory including the introduction of several different time signatures, open and bar chords and scales are also part of this easy to follow classical guitar method.
PROGRESSIVE POPULAR CLASSICS OF THE GREAT COMPOSERS: VOLUMES 1 - 6
There has always been a need for a series of books to provide the classical guitarist with a repertoire, long available to the pianist, of the music loved by both players and listeners alike. In the Popular Classics Series music written by the classical greats such as Chopin, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart etc. has been brilliantly arranged especially for the classical guitar.
PROGRESSIVE FINGERPICKING CLASSICS: VOLUMES 1 - 2
The Progressive Fingerpicking Classics Series is designed to accommodate both classical and modern fingerstyle guitarists of all standards, through the use of standard music notation and tablature. Each piece has been thoughtfully arranged to retain the best harmonic and rhythmic intent of the original composition whilst keeping each piece as easy as possible.
