Guitar Today, Book 2: Guitar Book & CD

Snyder designed this method with real classroom experience, balancing both picking and fingerstyle approaches so students develop genuine versatility from the start. The inclusion of duets, folk arrangements, and classical pieces keeps engagement high while building solid technique, and pairing it with Bass Today creates natural ensemble opportunities for mixed instrumental classes.

A steady progression through folk melodies and classical pieces arranged with care for the guitar's voice, balancing technical study with the reward of playing actual music. The duets invite collaboration and lift the method above rote exercise, creating moments where students hear themselves as part of something larger.

Students who are moving beyond first-year fundamentals and ready to tackle note reading across the fretboard, both pick and fingerstyle techniques, and arranging concepts. This book works for individual learners, class guitar settings, and ensemble contexts where mixed ability levels need structured material with built-in duet options.

• Record yourself playing the duet parts separately, then layer the recordings together so you hear how the voices interact before rehearsing with a partner.
• Study the chord diagrams and photos closely before attempting a passage; Snyder's visual instruction is designed to prevent bad habits that become difficult to unlearn.
• Alternate between pickstyle and fingerstyle versions of the same melody to build muscle memory and dexterity in both techniques.
• Use the included CD to hear how each exercise and arrangement should sound, then slow it down mentally and match the phrasing rather than just the notes.

Pair this with Bass Today in a mixed ensemble class to build cohesion and interdependence across fretted instruments, or use it sequentially in a guitar-focused curriculum where the duets and folk arrangements become informal recital material. The clear progression and diverse repertoire make it suitable for late fall through spring instruction in classes that need structure without rigidity.

• Reading standard notation across multiple positions on the fretboard
• Pickstyle and fingerstyle technique with acoustic and electric guitar
• Major and minor scales, chord construction, and voicing options
• Arranging and adapting melodies for solo and duet performance
• Ensemble listening and rhythmic coordination in duet settings
• Classical and folk repertoire interpretation