Rating: 
Summary: From baby steps to the fandango in 266 pages
Review: I'm a largely self-taught 50's "folkie" (i.e. full of bad habits and stalled at open string chords and simple pattern picking), so this book's orderly, logical yet rapid progression from first baby steps to fancy footwork in flamenco and classical techniques was perfect. I could skim past the stuff I already knew, while appreciating that it would be very helpful to the novice.It has good illustrations of the parts and nomenclature of various guitars, tells you how to buy a guitar, how to hold it, how to sit, how to position your hands. It quickly gets you playing basic chords, but keeps you working on technique--how to make rest and free strokes properly, how to count time and learn to read and play different rhythm structures, how to make barre chords without buzzing, or killing your fingers. Along the way, it shows you how to read tablature, and then how to read music notation, all the while, practicing simple familiar songs. The last half of the book is where it gets into more advanced techniques of folk and country picking styles, and an introduction to making some of the characteristic sounds of flamenco, finishing with brief treatments of Latin, blues and classical styles. A pretty full package, well done, well illustrated, at a pretty cheap price. With this book and 20 hours practice a week for the rest of your life...you too, could be a star.
Rating: 
Summary: This is not a book for beginners.
Review: It would be better to pick up a guitar and learn for yourself than to try to learn to play guitar following the error-filled pages of this manual. The examples and theory lessons are incorrect in places, and unless you are somewhat familiar with musical theory, you won't know which instructions are correct and which are not. This book could start you off with some handicaps if you are just starting to play guitar for the first time.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad for cursory reference. Strongly recommend a teacher
Review: Not a bad book, but a bit frustrating for the complete beginner. I realize that writing a book for beginners is difficult, because you are taking many complex topics and trying to cover them in a few pages, but this book did not intially "click" for me. However, two years after I bought this book, I have found this book to be good review material. I was a bit puzzled by the direction to grow fingernails out and begin playing finger picking. I found much greater success learning the basics with a pick first and fingers later on. The much quicker progress with a pick encouraged me during the difficult and frustrating first year. My advice: Get a really good teacher for the early basics (I cannot overemphasize how important this was for me). Buy this book for cursory reference. Get Fretboard Logic (Bill Edwards) to get a really simple, straight forward set of building blocks. Buy a songbook of music that you really want to learn to play. Be persistent! I fumbled for the first 1 1/2 years and then at 2 years it finally started to click. It is well worth it! Good luck.
Rating: 
Summary: The missing details
Review: The interested reader will find in addition an introduction to Flamenco (including how to play a complete Farruca) and solos from Spain, Peru and Mexico. Latin rhythms include the Bossa Nova. Solo guitar technique is covered in detail, offering a number of favourite solos including the Romance Anonimo, one of the best-loved pieces in the guitar repertoire. In addition there are complete examples of Blues and Country as well as Rock and Popular styles. There is challenge here, but I have tried to introduce some of the excitement of the guitar with examples from Bach to Boogie so that the enthusiast may find the area that is of the most interest. Yes, there are simple accompaniments from chord symbols, but fortunately there is much, much more! I hope you enjoy this book
Rating: 
Summary: Forget about it!
Review: This book IS good, if you want to play an nylon-stringed acoustic guitar and already have a few years of music lessons under your belt. The author supposedly teached you to play any guitar but the instructions only work well for acoustics with nylons. It reads like an overview for a fellow music teacher and it's just cryptic enough to make you frustrated. Now I'm stuck with a $[money]book and a migrane. It may be an idiot's guide but it's not supposed to make you feel like one. Stick with the online lessons
Rating:
Summary: What beginner would choose not to use a pick?
Review: This book is not for beginners. I've been playing guitar for about one year and am still taking professional lessons. I bought the book just to have as an extra source. The book starts off by having the player grow his fingernails so he can play with his fingers. What is that all about? FORGET THIS BOOK IF YOU PLAN TO USE A GUITAR PICK LIKE 99% OF ALL PLAYERS DO. I just don't understand the author's theory here.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Guide
Review: This is one of the best books about guitars. Every guitarist should own a copy.
Rating:
Summary: So-So
Review: Well... it was a little disappointment for me that this wasn't the book I expected. As far as I read the preview of this book, it encouraged me to imagine the various styles of playing with good pieces. Since I wanted to know more about the other styles of playing, besides classical guitar which I play, I was determined to buy this book. (And, just trusted the big-name of the author). However, there's not deep enough study for each style, but they were just "introduced". Maybe, it's just impossible to cover various styles in one book, but I wish they were little more worth to try. So, don't expect to "learn" such styles of playing, you just get the feel of them...
Rating:
Summary: This book will make you a better guitar player!
Review: While it takes practice and patience to learn the guitar, this book will make the learning process for ANY student much easier. My technique and playing have both been sharpened...Thanks to Mr. Noad!
Rating:
Summary: This is a splendid way to learn to play the guitar.
Review: Years ago, I tried my hand at folk guitar, memorizing the few necessary chords to accompany myself, but never advancing any further. Recently, I decided to take the next step and really learn how to play the guitar. In examining several "How To" books I came upon Frederick Noad's, "The Complete Guide to Playing the Guitar." What a find! It has made learning to play the guitar easy, painless, and more importantly for me, fun. His book has taught me to read music, using both tablature and conventional notation, proper finger placement and various other techniques. Each step was carefully and clearly explained, and the book covers a broad range of styles of guitar playing as well as priceless bits of information about the instrument. It is a splended book.
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