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One of the most valuable skills a guitarist can have is a knowledge of all the positions on the guitar. What is a "position"? Each fret is a position, and we say you are "in" that position if your first finger is lined up with that fret. So, if I am playing the 5th fret, 1st string with my 1st finger, I am in 5th position, but if I play the same note with my 2nd finger, I am in 4th position, because my 1st finger will then be lined up with the 4th fret. But the important thing about knowing your guitar in terms of "positions" is that each position is best suited for certain keys, and the scales that contain the notes of that key. So, for instance, you will learn that the 2nd position is best suited to play the key of G and D. C and A are good too, with only one out of position note. You will learn that the 3rd position is good for flat keys such as Eb As you progress through the book, the mysteries of the guitar neck will gradually unfold. When you have finished the book, you are in a much better position to understand fingerboard harmony, meaning all the hundreds of chord forms used throughout the neck in more sophisticated playing. You will have also experienced a lot of practice in applying the 4 most fundamental major scales in all keys, as well as plenty of practice reading various rhythms. The material is not graded. The book throws complex rhythms at you in the beginning, and simple ones in the middle of the book, where it begins 5th position, a "dividing line" in the guitar neck. So, it is best if you have a teacher work with you on this book, who can help you and make sure your rhythm is accurate. By the time I put someone through this book, I have prepared their technique so that they can control their fingers without excess tension. It must be understood that if this is not done, there WILL be trouble playing these exercises comfortably and with accurate rhythm, but that is generally true of everything anyway. So, I recommend this book for anyone wishing to gain entrance into the higher reaches of guitar playing. It is, for the most part, a well thought out and well put together approach to the subject it treats. |
