Guitar Methods & Instruction

Teachers keep coming back to Morty Manus's Alfred's Basic Guitar Method 1 (Third Edition) and Ron Manus's Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course 1, both foundational texts for their respective age groups. Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, Method Book 1 remains a popular choice for structured group instruction. Scott Tennant's Pumping Nylon (Second Edition) and Aaron Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique, Volume 1 (Third Edition) continue to be standard references for classical technique.

Dietrich Kessler has contributed two German-language guitar methods to the collection: Kesslers Gitarrenkurs Band 1 and Leichter Weg zum Gitarrenspiel.

Morty Manus shaped Alfred Music's direction as president from 1952–2016, and his pedagogical influence remains visible throughout the collection. His Alfred's Basic Guitar Method 1 (Third Edition) is the single most widely adopted title here, used by teachers across skill levels and age groups.

Ron Manus, the third generation of the Manus family at Alfred Music, has authored 37 titles in this collection and serves as Chief Business Development Officer. His work extends Alfred's reach into digital formats and new media while maintaining the methodical, stage-by-stage approach that defines the Alfred's curriculum. Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course 1, co-authored with L. C. Harnsberger, has been especially popular for young learners.

Scott Tennant and Aaron Shearer represent the classical guitar lineage in this collection. Tennant's Pumping Nylon (Second Edition) and Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique, Volume 1 (Third Edition) remain essential references for teachers focused on proper technique and hand development, drawing from decades of conservatory-level teaching.

Jody Fisher brings jazz expertise to the collection with The Complete Jazz Guitar Method: Complete Edition, offering a comprehensive resource for teachers introducing jazz idiom and improvisation to guitarists.