Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, Method Book 2: Guitar Book

Snyder's dual-section design solves a real pedagogical flexibility problem: students and teachers can begin with chords and accompaniment right away, then layer in note reading when ready, or tackle both simultaneously. The 84 accompanying songs and 21 reading pieces mean you're not relying on supplementary materials; the method itself is self-contained and designed for genuine classroom use rather than theoretical completeness.

The method feels accessible and immediately musical. Rather than drilling isolated concepts before playing, students hear themselves making real sounds on page one through chord accompaniment, building confidence that reading notation and expanding technique naturally follows.

This method serves classroom guitar programs, private lesson studios, and self-teaching guitarists who want a structured path through both accompaniment and reading. It works equally well for beginners in group settings and individual students working at their own pace, making it ideal for mixed-ability classes or multi-age instruction.

• Start with the accompaniment section if your students want to play songs immediately; this keeps early motivation high while building the ear foundation that makes note reading easier later.
• Use the 15 accompaniment patterns as anchor points throughout the book; returning to these patterns across different songs reinforces hand muscle memory and transfers learning to new material.
• Explore the moveable chord forms early and apply them across multiple keys within the same lesson; this trains students to recognize chord shapes independent of position, accelerating repertoire growth.
• When transitioning between sections, let individual students move at their own pace rather than waiting for the entire class; the method's structure allows advanced readers to continue while others solidify accompaniment skills.

Use Book 2 as the core text for a class guitar course, pairing the accompaniment section with singalongs and ensemble playing early in the year, then integrating note reading as students gain independence. The 96-page structure fits naturally into a semester or full-year sequence without requiring supplementary books.

• Chord voicings and progression changes
• Strumming patterns and accompaniment techniques
• Standard notation reading on treble clef
• Finger placement and fretting accuracy
• Transferring chord shapes to multiple positions on the neck
• Music literacy (rhythmic and melodic reading)