Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course 1: The Easiest Guitar Method Ever!, Book & Enhanced CD Staple Bound – May 1, 2003

This is one of THE BEST methods out there for the young guitar student learning to play pick style guitar. The book and enhanced C.D. are excellent instructional tools. I've used this book for a few years in private instruction and just started using it in my young beginners group guitar class with great success in both areas.The text starts with three-string chords and progresses through various rhythmic combinations (though never using eighth notes) with the C,G,G7, and D7 chords. Along the way the student will play some original and folk songs (i.e. three blind mice, etc). The melodies are provided on the accompanying C.D. and are quite easy to pick out.The second half of the book focuses on learning to read standard notation. (NOTE: there is not TAB) The text covers notes through the first three strings. As with the chord section the child will play various original melodies as well as famous classical and folk melodies (i.e. Ode to Joy, Jingle Bells, etc). In this section the student will play the chords they have learned previously along with the notes they are learning.If you are using this book in private or group lessons you may want to introduce standard note reading alongside the introduction of chords, instead of moving sequentially through the book. As stated earlier there is NO TAB in this book which may turn some teachers off. After completing this book the student would understand the material roughly through the first half of Book 1 of either the Hal Leonard or Mel Bay Guitar Methods.If you are looking for a method for classical guitar for the young this is NOT for you! I would highly recommend getting Classical Guitar for the Young by Jay Traylor. An even better book though difficult to get in the U.S. is The Guitarist's Way by British guitarists Peter Nuttall & John Whitworth.

After reading the positive reviews on this book, I ordered it to help me get my kids (8 and 11) started on guitar. They are learning on a steel string acoustic, so they are both still working on properly fretting, but this method is a great way to get kids started. I had never before seen the three-string chords presented, and these are great. Three of the most commonly used chords can be played by fretting only one string! Once the kids learn a few of these, there are many songs they can play along with, even outside this book, and that kind of positive result will keep them interested. Drawbacks? This book teaches chords before playing any individual notes, which is like a cart before a horse. I'm jumping around in the book to introduce some single notes first. Also, I wish the songs for them to strum chords to also showed a melody, to allow me to play along and also give them more basic melodies to play. The CD, however, does play along with them, so that part isn't too bad. I'd buy again for any student under about 10-12.

I'm a music teacher, but with little guitar experience. My son and I started this book just before his 6th birthday and it amazes me how accessible the book has made chords and notes for a young learner. The three string chords are wonderful for hands with developing motor muscle skills. My son has heard himself playing like the big kids, and has enough chords to play and sing his favorite song from Vacation Bible School.This book covers the 3 string versions of the C, G7, G, and D7 chords, notes on those top three stings, the basics of counting rhythm and rests as well as a few other symbols, letter names, hand positions, and how to read chord diagrams.Parents: If you have some musical knowledge and a coupla guitars so that you can play along, I can recommend this book for any kid large enough to reach the frets on their half size guitar (3 string D7 being the hardest chord). A warning is in order though - my 6 year old is already looking through catalogs and coveting new guitars, behavior I usually see in 16 year olds!

I bought this book for my 7 year old son. We got a guitar for his 7th birthday and he was just "playing around" strumming "nothing" sounds. I thought if he had a book and some basic instruction he may learn something, before paying for lessons. I really wasn't sure what to expect. It took about a week for my son to pick it up and actually try it. Once he did, he was REALLY trying all on his own! He works alone AND with my husband. It teaches simple chords, and tuning your guitar etc. I was very impressed at the simplicity and clarity of the instruction. My son now plays "London Bridges" (albeit a little awkwardly). I think that is just cool! My husband who hasn't played much in MANY years is also re-learning on his old guitar!! I think it is worth giving it a try if you aren't sure where your child is with regards to wanting to REALLY play.

I bought this and book 2 for my daughter. The lessons start easy and progress at a good pace without being too boring or suddenly too hard. The CD includes a program that visually demonstrates the music being played on the strings and shows the music sheet hilighted as the music plays. The tempo of the demonstration can be adjusted and the volume of different parts (metronome, guitar, accompaniment, percussion, etc.) can be altered to suit your preferences. It looks good and is well done. (I'm clueless about playing the guitar myself, so if I can understand it, it must be helpful.)The only down side which I don't count against the value as a teaching tool, is that the CD doesn't install completely on the computer -- the CD has to be inserted whenever you want to run the programs. I find that annoying. (Sidebar: The software is meant for Windows, but I have it working just fine on a laptop running linux -- openSuse 11.3 and VMWare workstation 7.)

Bought this for my son but not interested in learning anymore. A shame as this is a good book and the DVD is excellent too. KIDS!!!

Useful and easy to follow

Great thank u

great item really easy to use and understandable it make teaching a young child to play the guitar much easier.

Very good starter book for children gets them playing straight away.I would highly recommend this for anyone whose child wants to learn the guitar