The vision behind Blazing Solos for Flatpicking Guitar for One Player or More was inspired by the simple beauty of two instruments playing in harmony. In order to harmonize, the lead note and the harmony note need to be in harmonic agreement with one another, as well as with the background chord and the key of the song. Steve found that in most cases, but not always, that thinking in thirds will usually achieve the desired sound. The book also contains a section on how to read tablature plus discography. In notation and tablature. Intermediate level. Includes access to online audio.

This mandolin edition includes the same 16 tunes found in Kaufman's out-of-printTwin Pickin' flatpicking guitar book, soon to be available as Blazing Solos for Flatpicking Guitar for One Player or More. The tunes in both editions are in thesame keys so the books can serve as a foundation for fabulous twin-picking jam sessions in which either guitarists or mandolinists can take the lead and harmony parts. In addition to the tunes, Kaufman includes performance notes, guidelines for reading standard notation and tab plus his take on the harmonization process. A play-along audio with three tracks for each tune (Lead, Harmony, and Lead & Harmony) completes the package. Includes access to online audio

In this book, journalist, composer, songwriter, teacher, and 2003 Winfield Flatpicking Guitar Champion, Jeff Troxel, delivers a masterclass in arranging fiddle tunes for flatpicking guitar. These 20 themes and variations on favorite bluegrass melodies are designed to improve overall musicianship and augment your own arranging skills. Ideal for the intermediate to advanced flatpicking guitarist, the author reveals techniques for enabling readers to create their own theme and variations settings. Suggested rhythm guitar chords and light left-hand fingerings are also provided. Troxel points out that one of the unexpected benefits of learning and memorizing themes with variations is that the process will ultimately facilitate linear and harmonic improvisation. It would be a painstaking process to learn this skill from a teacher or a harmony textbook, but once memorized, the scale and arpeggio patterns within these tunes and variations will set you on a viable path towards original improvised lines. As a bonus, the author includes a generous appendix containing several of his Flatpicking Guitar Magazine articles that deal with aspects of musicianship that every guitarist should know. While written in standard notation and tab, if you have relied solely on tablature and recordings in the past, this book can provide the key to understanding essential music theory and reading standard notation. If you’re not quite ready to learn to read standard notation, you can still use the tab and the author’s excellent online recordings to learn these delightful arrangements. In any case, it will be fun to get these settings of standard bluegrass tunes “in-hand” and use them in future jam sessions.

Many great Scottish traditional tunes can be traced back to 17th century lute music. In this collection, multi-instrumentalist Rob MacKillop has transcribed and arranged 25 popular tunes derived from various lute manuscripts. While idiomatic to the guitar, some of these arrangements include fast runs and chord changes, so are best suited to the intermediate-level flatpicking guitarist. This guitar collection consists of the same melodies in the same keys found in its mandolin counterpart, Tunes From 17th Century Scotland Arranged for Mandolin (Mel Bay Publications). In both books, suggested chords are provided wherever appropriate. Consequently, the settings work fine as either mandolin/violin and guitar duets, or as solos for either instrument. Until now, most of these appealing dance tunes and airs have not been available as guitar arrangements. Here, except for two tunes in drop-D tuning, all are in standard guitar tuning. With MacKillop’s spirited online recording, generous performance notes and standard notation and tablature for each selection, get ready to explore a wonderful new take on an old repertoire! Includes access to online audio.

Guitarist, composer, songwriter, and Mel Bay author—Jeff Troxel has been successful in the flatpicking contest world as well as being a sought-after college and summer camp instructor. In this book, he shares a lifetime of knowledge about one specific role of the bluegrass guitarist— that of accompaniment or “backup”. Beginning in Chapter One, Troxel lays the foundation for what is to come in rendering alternating bass lines, chord progressions, ornamentation, intros, endings, bass runs, chord-melodies, pedal tones, and other essential concepts that contribute to effective rhythm guitar playing. Five appendices address: Basic Music Theory, Capos and Transposition, Tuning, Guitars, Picks and Strings, and Lead Sheets for the dozen bluegrass tunes featured in the book. All music appears in standard notation and tablature with 69 audio tracks. By the time you finish reading and playing the examples in this book, you’ll be ready to jam or perform with the best! Includes access to online audio.

Lively Guitar Tunes is a collection of 38 lively, up-tempo tunes arranged for guitar. The collection includes fiddle tunes, reels, hornpipes, jigs, sea chanteys, bluegrass, old-time melodies and some original compositions–an ideal collection for adding to repertoire, improving picking technique or just having fun playing the guitar. Backup chords and tablature are included, and each tune is recorded with melody and guitar accompaniment. Includes access to online audio.

This book contains original and standard tunes performed by two-time National Flatpick Guitar Champion Gary Cook. Borrowing from many styles of acoustic guitar playing, this book will provide an insight into Gary's guitar technique. the selections in this book range from fast paced flatpicking to western swing music; you will learn many fun and unusual arrangements. the notation and tab to each song and the accompanying CD allow players of many skill levels to learn these songs. Included in this book are examples of Gary's contest selections, original compositions performed on several instruments, and other familiar tunes performed in Gary's unique style.

Presents a comprehensive encyclopedia of rock guitar legends examining over three hundred artists beginning in the 1950s and covering a wide range of styles and includes performers such as Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Duane Eddy, Buddy Holly, Keith Richards, and more.

This comprehensive study of contemporary flatpicking guitar technique presents numerous solos for the beginning through advanced flatpicking guitarist along with tips on creating your own flatpicking arrangements. The book addresses the tablature system, tuning, right and left-hand technique, use of the capo and themicrophone, transposing using the Nashville numbering system, bluegrass back- up, arranging flatpicking solos and instrumentals. If you're into country or bluegrass music, or if you just want to develop outstanding flatpicking technique, this book is for you. Written in standard notation and tablature. The stereo play-along audio online features Steve Kaufman's rousing performance of each flatpicking solo! Also includes a videio online containing some of the solos andtechniques presented in the book. Audio and video download available online