Playing the Guitar: A Self-Instruction Guide to Technique and Theory

Rating:
Summary: Don't start here
Review: About 1996 I began to teach myself classical guitar. I had a musical background, so reading music was not difficult. This was the book I chose as my primary resource. Unfortunately, this book did not help me as much as other books by the same author (and others), so I cannot recommend it for the beginner. Beginners will find that this book moves too fast, is not thorough, and does not give very detailed descriptions of many important concepts that the beginning classical guitarist must master, such as the upward and downward slur. And unfortunately, chords are introduced early, despite the fact that chords are really not of primary importance in classical guitar. As an absolute beginner you will likely hit a brick wall with this book, as I did, which may discourage you from going any further. The book is most useful for someone who has already gained the ability to play in most of the principle keys, has mastered the second position, and now wants to learn the entire fingerboard. If you want to study and play chords, go buy yourself an acoustic guitar.

Rating:
Summary: Caution! Classical only!
Review: Be advised this book only covers classical and flamenco playing. It is of much less use for acoustic steel string or electric players.

Nevertheless, one can't properly play any guitar without a basic study of the classical. This book is complete--it covers construction styles to look for, proper woods and finishes for good tone, judging the condition of a used instrument, and basic hold and technique (that so many "rock" players abandon for the sake of slinging an axe low and looking cool, while damaging their wrists and hindering their playing).

I agree with other reviewers that it moves VERY fast--there are tricks such as tambor and percussives discussed in here, along with octave harmonics and complex chords that are beyond most beginners. I'd recommend learning a few basics before picking up this book, and using it in concert with other texts to keep perspective. Do bear in mind that Noad is biased toward the classical guitar--I don't agree, for example, that a radiused fingerboard makes no difference to playing and should be avoided. This is traditional wisdom about a gut or nylon strung instrument, and absolutely false with regard to steel string or electric, the latter of which sometimes have compound radii and staggered frets to improve action and play.

A good book not despite but because of its focus on the classical.

Rating:
Summary: Caution! Classical only!
Review: Be advised this book only covers classical and flamenco playing. It is of much less use for acoustic steel string or electric players.

Nevertheless, one can't properly play any guitar without a basic study of the classical. This book is complete--it covers construction styles to look for, proper woods and finishes for good tone, judging the condition of a used instrument, and basic hold and technique (that so many "rock" players abandon for the sake of slinging an axe low and looking cool, while damaging their wrists and hindering their playing).

I agree with other reviewers that it moves VERY fast--there are tricks such as tambor and percussives discussed in here, along with octave harmonics and complex chords that are beyond most beginners. I'd recommend learning a few basics before picking up this book, and using it in concert with other texts to keep perspective. Do bear in mind that Noad is biased toward the classical guitar--I don't agree, for example, that a radiused fingerboard makes no difference to playing and should be avoided. This is traditional wisdom about a gut or nylon strung instrument, and absolutely false with regard to steel string or electric, the latter of which sometimes have compound radii and staggered frets to improve action and play.

A good book not despite but because of its focus on the classical.

Rating:
Summary: A Tresure House of Knowlege
Review: I own (and still study) the first edition of this book. It was first published in 1963. It was a tresure then as it is now. A well writen book is never outdated. This is a book that every guitar player, beginer or experienced needs in his library. Bad habits are easily picked up and hard to loose. This book helps keep one on the path.