Beginning Your Guitar Journey with Greg Horne
Often I am asked about books to help someone that wants to begin on their own before studying with a private teacher. I am always reluctant to give any answers to this question. Not because I am a private teacher but because I truly believe that studying with someone that can give you feedback is extremely important. It is essential for a beginner to begin good habits of playing from the beginning in order to prevent having to return to basic technique later on in their playing.
In some cases, people just have to adventure on their own until they discover the above truth. Therefore, I am currently happy to suggest the book by Greg Horne published by Alfred Publishing and associated with the National Guitar Workshop. Horne has a firm foundation in American roots music but also finds time to power in some bluesy rock. This diversity and a clear way of presenting ideas finds its way into every aspect of the book. He takes the student through the basics with clear explanations and builds on playing songs from the beginning. Each chapter reveals a new technique and eventually leads to blues playing after walking a bit through some fundamentals including American roots music basics. The book ends with the infamous barre chord. By then, the student should be ready to take on the barre without reservations. With Horne’s advice and teaching, moving from chapter to chapter is very rewarding for the “self-studying beginning guitarist.”
I will, once again, say that a student runs a chance of developing bad habits in their playing when studying on their own. However, if a student wants to go for it, then beginning with Horne’s series of books will help them to move efficiently through the basics with good instruction.
