A guide to learning the basic tools for becoming a good player and musician. Includes Al's own lesson plan system, tunes, blues patterns, jazz chord exercises, playing and practicing tips, and a complete guide to chords, scales and arpeggios.

A unique graphic guide showing the chord positions and fingering of 120 important chords in all keys.

This comprehensive book is a study of chords (normal and extended), tunings, keys, transposing, and the capo. It includes informative and clear photos, diagrams and instructions, and addresses the questions: Are there really thousands of guitar chords?; Which chords are important to the beginner?; Must you learn all the different ways to play a C chord?; If a song seems too difficult to play, can you make it easier by changing the key?; Is a capo worth the trouble?; and more!

The purpose of this book and its accompanying CD is to give the student not only a method from which to learn the oud, but also an overview of the history, folklore and origins of this beloved ancient stringed instrument. This book teaches the fundamentals of standard Western music notation in the context of oud playing, and serves as an introduction for absolute beginners as well as those experienced on other instruments. The book covers: types of ouds, tuning the oud, playing position, how to string the oud, music notation, scales, chords, arpeggios, tremolo technique, studies and exercises, songs and rhythms from Armenia and the Middle East, and a CD with 25 tracks for demonstration and play along.

This book is a complete compilation of scales, modes, exotic scales, and theory. It covers the most common and exotic scales, theory on how they're constructed and practical applications. No prior music theory is necessary since every section is broken down and explained very clearly.