Beginner's Guide to Electric Guitar: Guitar Book & CD

Immediate and empowering. You're learning the actual language of rock, metal, and alternative music from day one, pulling riffs straight from iconic recordings. The tone is casual and encouraging, never condescending.

Beginning electric guitarists who want to play songs they recognize without getting bogged down in music theory or gear specifications. This works for self-taught learners, private students, and anyone intimidated by traditional method books.

• Use the accompanying CD to lock in with a full band sound; this transforms isolated riff practice into something that feels like actual performance.
• Start with single-string riffs before moving to power chords; this builds finger strength and fretboard familiarity without overwhelming hand coordination.
• Pay attention to the drop-D tuning section once you've mastered standard tuning; it opens up entire styles and deepens your understanding of how tuning shapes sonic possibilities.

Assign this to private students as a supplementary resource alongside formal instruction, or use it as an optional enrichment for band or music class students interested in exploring electric guitar outside ensemble settings. The included CD makes it work equally well for independent home practice.

• Reading guitar tablature
• Single-string riff execution
• Power chord fingering and switching
• Pentatonic scale shapes and application
• Drop-D tuning and alternate tuning concepts
• Rhythm accuracy when playing along with recorded accompaniment
• Recognizing and replicating riff-based song structures