Learning Guitar for Dummies

Learning Guitar for Dummies

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DVD Reviews of Learning Guitar for Dummies

DVD Review: A shallow treatment with a misleading cover.
Summary: 1 Stars

The back cover includes the phrase "Play in a variety of syles, including folk, blues, rock, and jazz." (Yes play these styles, but this DVD won't help you.) And it includes the phrase "Play open-position chords and jazz chords." This is the one that suckered me. Most musicians consider a "jazz chord" to be something more complex than a seventh chord - a ninth, eleventh, or thirteenth, perhaps with a flatted or augmented member. This presentation includes three or four major triads, three or four minor triads, and one or two seventh chords. This goes at least one step beyond the usual truth-stretching ubiquitous in advertising.

Jon Chappell does an adequate job of demonstrating a handful of basic chords and changing between them. He uses the same "Row, row, row your boat" kind of songs found in hundreds of other introductory music books. This is understandable, and the new musician should take pride and pleasure in playing simple things. But there is nothing fresh or thoughtful about the approach of this presentation. It is a rehash of the simplest things common in so many of these run-of-the-mill introductions.

If you have never picked up a guitar before, go ahead and get this DVD. It's cheap enough. Listen to Jon and take what he says to heart. I would like to think there is something better for the beginner, but this will work. If you already know a couple of chords, and can strum along with any song already, there is little for you here.