Chord Tone Soloing: A Guitarist's Guide to Melodic Improvising in Any Style (Musicians Institute: Private Lessons)

I wish I had discovered this book a long time ago as it is the real starting point for anyone after learning open and barre chords.I am now actually learning chords, scales, keys, and how to improvise - I’m learning to play the guitar. I now know all the fretboard notes and can transpose from one key to another.The system is so easy after you’ve learnt the key fretboard notes of the 6th, 5th and 4th strings and on only the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th frets, as then you can navigate the whole fretboard which is an essential skill.David Mead's system starts with dropping CAGED system letters for the numbers 1,2,3,4&5 and then the scale notes for 1(root), 2,3,4,5,6&7. Then things actually start to happen because it is now simple patterns and everything is put in such an excellently simple way and with a common reference; instead of learning the notes for each scale, one learns the number of each note within the scale and their intervals. Now you can immediate count out all five scale patterns on the fretboard. The website for the session tracks is also great, with the ability to loop the session where you want the drums and rhythm and then pan the lead out so you can play over it.This book is only 118 pages and cost me £12.00 but it is a complete teaching system, even outlining how to practice, what to practice and a little psychology on why to stick within your practice session each day and why not to go over it.I began guitar by trying to learn, on the cheap. I would try very hard to learn my favourite songs from tab; pink floyd, Metallica, smashing pumpkins, white stripes.Firstly, I was only ever able to play parts of songs. Also, even what I could play made no sense and was difficult. I did not ‘feel’ the notes and I had no idea how to improvise. I could not even strum over any random song.I was really thinking I would give up because it was not fun and if this was learning, I could not see where the ‘freedom’ of expression was - I was beginning to hate guitar.Luckily, I found the Justin Guitar theory course which introduced the CAGED system. I investigated this and, through another excellent theory site cagedguitarsystem dot net, a recommendation for this book was made and I am so excited now that I’ve made so much progress but more that I’m learning how to express myself with a guitar. I’m not playing my favourite songs yet but I’ve got a fantastic hobby now that is rewarding, truly creative and is starting to sound like I know what I’m doing - I can actually rock out too.I know we're not all the same. I can only share my experience of this book from what I want to get our of it, which is to understand music and be able to play it on guitar. I do not want to study classical or read music. I just want to rock to a backing track and now I understand the time involved to develop the skills and have a real achievable plan for getting there and it is because of David Mead and this book.Thank you David Mead. Because of you, I've stopped watching impossible guitar how-to YouTube videos and have made more progress in 1 week than in the entire year.

Ive been playing guitar for years, 32 years since I first picked up the instrument; being self taught you miss out all the important bits; like timings. It is only the last few years I have taken to playing seriously and I have even payed for lessons at £22.00 for 45min tuition, to get small results.I have always struggled with timing and the chapter on timing 2nd paragraph stood out like a sore thumb; Quote " you can play for years without learning to count and be only slightly better than when you start". Unquote.Barrett if I wore a hat I would take it off to you. The book is well written, well thought out and well explained. If you are serious about learning to play with conviction then I can't recommend this book enough.

Very serious book - would particularly suit a young person wanting to learn studiously - has tips on self discipline - organising practice routines - lots of scales, theory and exercises. The CD is well produced - I'm getting on a bit so I'm just cherry picking - the CD has a fair range of tracks that I can jam along to - some blues, rock and light jazz

This is a terrific book! Very well presented. I also found the author's philosophy accessible! Nicely written and guitaristic (which makes a lovely change). Thanks mate!

This book will not be finished to quickly. As I am just starting the book I have no idea how long it will take to work my way thought it but at a guess I would say about a year . It comes with a cd packed with backing tracks to practice with.If you think you have the patients to practice over and over then this could be the sort of instruction book your looking for.

The method is good and thorough, and will help a player work out some interesting solos from the chord construction. Of course it still needs a lot of application to learn the progressions but there are helpful hints for proper practice and rest periods. The book leaves a lot of interpretation to the guitarist, it does not prescribe solos but gives the structure to create your own.

This is an amazing book, all guitarists learning on their own should have this. It is a MUST!!1.Everything is explained in details, clearly and easy to understand2.There are hundreds of exercises and backtracks on the CD provided3.If you follow the practising guidelines given you will eventually learn to play amazing guitarWell done Musicians Institute

THIS BOOK TAKES AWAY THE MYSTERY OF WHICH CHORD TO PLAY AND WHICH SCALES FIT OVER THEM--- THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL LEARNING TOO; AND THE BASIS OF EVERY GOOD GUITARIST TRICK BOOK BE IT ROCK COUNTRY BLUES OR METAL JAZZ ETC........................