Guitar at Sight

Duncan has done it again - this is a terrific book for those who are SERIOUS about learning how to read guitar music notation. It's a workbook and text at the same time. It starts off with a review of the First Position and you are immediately required to start penciling in your answers. The answers to all the questions are given on the left-hand side of the page and I had to cover them up while working since I have a tendency to cheat by looking. Since you cannot yet "see inside" here is the table of contents: PART I Review of Music Fundamentals Reading Music in the First through Third Positions 1.) The guitar fingerboard, First Position (frets 0-5) 2.) Review of the first position 3.) Review of Key Signatures 4.) Rhythm Review 5.) The guitar fingerboard, Second - Third Positions (frets 2-6) 6.) Notes in the second - third positions 7.) Position scales (major keys) 8.) Position scales (minor keys) 9.) Harmonic intervals in the second - third positions. PART II 1.) The guitar fingerboard, Fourth-Fifth positions (frets 4-8) 2.) Notes in the Fourth-Fifth Positions 3.) "Modern" Melodic and Harmonic Shapes 4.) The guitar fingerboard, Seventh-Tenth positions (frets 7-13) 5.) Notes in the seventh position. 6.) Notes in the Ninth-Tenth positions 7.) The Guitar fingerboard, Twelfth Position and Beyond (frets 12-19) 8.) Playing the twelfth position and above. 9.) Using the whole fingerboard 10.) Matteo Carcassi's Etude No. 25 in A major (measure 29-end) last page: CUT-OUT STRIPS This is very extensive and you should keep at it doing a little everyday. If you complete the book then you will have greatly increased your understanding of the fretboard, music theory, and ability to sight read.

I ordered the text hoping that it would be a graded set of sight-reading studies for an advanced guitarist which isn't the case. While I was initally let down, as a teacher I realized it's value. The text is perfect for the beginning guitarist that has learned to read the first position and wants to move on into other positions. The book begins with a chromatic review of the open position and is full of examples and small exercises on fingering, notes, and even theory. The text takes the same course throughout working its way up to the 16th position. The examples and exercises also review reading thirds, chords, and various scale types. The book is not a sight reading exercise it is more or less a increadably good note speller for early guitarists. If you are looking for a good sight reading method (especially with a melodic focus)try Bruce Arnold's New York Method;Ensemble book.