The guitar is a wonderfully versatile instrument. It is portable, needs no accompanist because
it provides harmony as well as melody, and has an intrinsically beautiful tone which is
sensitive to human touch. The higher levels of solo playing take time and practice, as with
any instrument, but the guitar can be a pleasure from the first day and the first successful
sounding of a chord.
I have deliberately departed from conventional teaching methods in this book to try to give
you a quick start at enjoyable music without too much theory. I have done this by relying on
the help of the tablature system—an easy way to show where to place the fingers which
avoids some of the trickier aspects of standard notation such as sharps and flats. This does
not mean that these topics are bypassed. They’re all there, but thanks to tablature you don’t
have to hold back from playing interesting pieces while you learn the fundamentals of
music.
I have presented the material in a step-by-step approach, with each chapter building on the
one before it. Ideally you will make steady forward progress, gradually increasing your
knowledge and skill. However, human nature being what it is, many of you will jump ahead
to try the more advanced pieces. If you are one these, bookmark where you left your step-bystep
study so that you can come back to the same place and not fall into the trap of dipping
aimlessly here and there.
A word on styles. This book teaches you how to read music and tablature, concentrating on
the fingerstyle (as opposed to pick) guitar. Later you may decide that the electric guitar is
your preference, and that you would like to play lead or backup with a group. This is obviously
a different field, but what you have learned here about rhythm, harmony, and notation
will speed your progress; in fact a basic knowledge of the original instrument is a great
advantage.
For many of you, this is going to mean a whole change of life and a tremendous source of
enjoyment. The study of the guitar is exciting because there is always something new to
discover and achieve, and as long as you live there will always be more. For some it becomes
a social activity through local guitar societies, with the chance to play duets or ensembles
with other enthusiasts and perhaps perform for the group. For others it becomes like a
meditation, a quiet hour after a day’s work which lifts the mind gradually from the humdrum
to the sublime.
Like the many other useful volumes in this series, this book is written with the absolute
beginner in mind. You are not expected to know anything about music in general or the
guitar in particular. However, chances are you have an interest in music and would like to
explore the possibilities of the guitar in a way that is not too complicated. If so, this is the
book for you. So now, to work and good luck.