Green's level of consistency is of a high level, with continuity of terminology throughout each unit, and with much appreciated summary bullets throughout. An inquiring student will need to discover their own resources. Likewise, the guitarist is encouraged to adopt good and healthy posture, but no guidance is given as how this is achieved. Elsewhere omissions are covered by suggestions to gain further insight on a topic at specific websites and will be much appreciated by the reader. Green will have an opportunity to add a sentence which indicates that the symbol is a fancy letter 'G' with curled portion curling around and pointing to the second line 'G'. An example where clarity is lacking occurs in Unit 1 where the 'G' or treble clef is introduced without an explanation at to why it is a 'G' clef. In nearly every instance and unit both the prose and verbal presentation in videos are given in a lucid and encouraging manner.

The material is relevant for guitarists of any sort and interested in any genre. This might help eliminate lingering questions as to why a 'whole note' is and others are fractions of the whole. Also, while the 'whole note' can be explained as filling the measure, focusing on its function as duration and is tied to meter (e.g. A suggestion - these should rightly be called 'durations' in that they represent lengths of time. Some confusion might result from use of the word 'rhythms' in Unit 1 where one only single symbols are introduced. By the same token, the text assumes an understanding of best and healthy practices regarding how shifts along the fingerboard are navigated how the left hand fingers approach and attack the strings how the right hand, arm and fingers are utilized in plucking the strings.Īttention to repetition 'closing the loop' in summarized bullets is thoughtfully given at the end of each unit. Each unit exhibits a deliberate, progressive, and step-by-step process suitable for guitarists who have some experience with the instrument, but, little to no experience in reading standard music notation. Delivery is through both text and embedded video presentations. Green has created a textbook which provides an excellent introduction to reading music, notes on the guitar, rhythms, and how most symbols one would encounter in music notation are interpreted.

Reviewed by Robert Trent, Professor of Music (Guitar), Radford University on 7/29/22

Journalism, Media Studies & Communications +.

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