Basix®: TAB Guitar Method 1: Easy Guitar
By Ron Manus and Morton Manus
Item: 00-PB-0002172
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Description
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Sample Audio
Au Clair De La Lune
Sample Video
Additional Details
More about this title
About the Composer: Ron Manus

Ron Manus represents the third generation of his family to shape Alfred Music's direction. Since joining the company in 1988, he has served as Chief Business Development Officer and pioneered the expansion of music instruction beyond traditional print into digital formats, managing the creation of Alfred's New Media division in the late 1980s and overseeing the company's transition to software, enhanced media, and streaming platforms.
Manus played a central role in Alfred's structural evolution during the 1990s, helping establish the team-based organizational model that accelerated the company's market responsiveness. His work culminated in a landmark 2005 acquisition of Warner Brothers Publications, bringing into Alfred's catalog the catalogs of Duke Ellington, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, and numerous other foundational artists across multiple genres.
Why we love this
The Basix series strips away unnecessary complexity without sacrificing genuine instruction. By anchoring learning to recognizable songs across multiple genres, students actually stay engaged long enough to internalize fundamentals, and the included audio tracks let them hear exactly how each concept should sound before attempting it themselves.
What to expect
Immediate progress wrapped in accessibility. Students encounter blues grooves, rock riffs, folk melodies, and jazz standards right away, so practice sessions feel like learning real music rather than drilling exercises. The production quality of the recorded tracks sets a professional standard that motivates careful listening.
Who it's for
Beginning guitarists of any age who learn best through familiar songs and need a straightforward path from absolute basics through intermediate techniques. Teachers seeking an affordable, well-sequenced method book that includes audio support without requiring separate purchases or subscriptions.
How to get the most out of it
- Have students play along with the recorded accompaniment from day one. Hearing their part fit within an actual musical context immediately clarifies whether they're reading the TAB correctly and maintaining steady time.
- Work through one song completely before moving to the next technique. This method book rewards depth over rushing, since each piece reinforces concepts from earlier pages while introducing new material gradually.
- Encourage students to sing the melody while reading the TAB as a bridge between notation and physical execution. This auditory anchor helps prevent sloppy finger placement and disconnects between what they're reading and what they're hearing.
How to use it
Deploy this as your primary text for group guitar classes or private lesson foundations, where the included audio allows students to work independently between lessons. The genre variety also makes it valuable for beginners in jazz combos or rock ensembles who need to shore up fundamental reading and technique before tackling ensemble repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Reading TAB and understanding its relationship to standard notation
- Fretting accuracy and finger placement across the fretboard
- Steady tempo and rhythmic accuracy with recorded accompaniment
- Basic blues, rock, jazz, and folk vocabulary for guitar
- Left and right hand coordination specific to guitar technique
- Listening skills through guided playalong experiences