Comments on: A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 1: Book/DVD-ROM Pack

By: Lauren L. Lavine

Lauren L. Lavine — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:14:36 +0000

The Leavitt “Modern Method for Guitar” is a superbly written, well thought-out approach to playing the guitar. I am a performer and teacher and make extensive use of this book. Whether you’ve just begun to study guitar or have been at for years and now want to learn to read music, this is the book to have.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Paul Rashid

Paul Rashid — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:53:23 +0000

I have played various musical instruments throught my life and this is BY FAR the Best Beginner Book I have EVER Used, I give it 5 Stars!!!
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Scott McFarland

Scott McFarland — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:12:22 +0000

I really enjoyed this book and found it helpful. I can’t wait to get the DVD version!! Jam on!
Rating: 4 / 5

By: D.M.

D.M. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:22:05 +0000

I thought I would buy this to finally learn to read notation. What a mistake that was! The instruction consists of one line of notation with the notes on top of page four. That’s it. You are supposed to be be reading music notation after that single line. Go ahead and check it out in Amazon’s free sample of the book. Click on First Page, and go forward one page to “Notes in the first position” as the heading. See where it reads Frets and Fingers? That’s it. That’s all you get. Now, go to the next page, and the next. No references to notes at all, and you are supposed to be playing full pages of music after page 4! The numbers you see only tell you which finger they want you to use, not what string or fret.

The Complete Idiot’s guide takes NINE! pages to fully explain music notation, and runs you through single string exercises to learn notation. The Modern Method? One line! Does the Modern Method mention Every Good Boy Deserves Favor (EGBDF), or FACE? Nope. No need to include any memorization tools taught by every singe teacher in the world, to every single student.

How this gets so many high reviews is beyond me, unless they are from students who have proper instruction to go along with the book. Larry Baione’s halting, stammering, video presentation is about what I’d expect from a 1980’s era metal guitar instruction video, not from the Chair of Berklee’s guitar dept. Basically, don’t expect actual “instruction” from this video. You’ll get examples and displays. and little of value to a beginner.
Rating: 2 / 5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:38:23 +0000

I would be grateful when you would sell only the CD. I have purchaced this copy from sheffield, but it didn’t include a CD!
Rating: 5 / 5