Review of Maran Illustrated Guitar (Paperback)

Back in high school (a LONG time ago) I dabbled in guitar, but haven't touched one in decades.I've been seriously thinking about taking up this instrument again when, lo and behold, a review copy of "Maran's Illustrated Guitar" showed up in my mailbox -- probably because I've reviewed other books with creative graphics layouts.It certainly wasn't because of any expertise on the guitar!But God works in strange ways, they say...

This book is absolutely the best beginner's guide I've seen, and the one I'm actually using to learn the guitar.It covers everything from the history of the guitar, famous guitarists, types of guitars (classical, acoustic, electric), how to buy, clean, repair, change strings, perform adjustments and maintenance -- and of course, how to play it.Not only does this book have the usual chord charts, it has actual photos showing how to place the fingers on the frets.And it doesn't just cover basic chords.It also includes a section on reading music and playing single notes -- something I did not find in other beginner's books.After learning the basics, you can turn to specific chapters for pointers on Rock, Blues, Country, Folk, or Classical guitar, with different picking and strumming styles clearly explained.(For each section, the model holding the guitar is dressed appropriately for the genre -- a nice touch!)There is also a chapter on amplifers and other equipment for electric guitar players, and a section on setting up a home recording studio.

One of the best things I learned is that there are now electronic tuners for guitars (and most other instruments) -- something that did not exist in my high school days.I immediately bought one. As with everything else in this book, there was a clear description of the types of tuners, the pros and cons of each, etc., complete with photos.

The graphical layout is very well done and pleasing to the eye.The photos are interspersed with the text to get away from the boring "Gutenberg box" effect.Another plus is that the binding is flexible enough for the book to lay flat while playing -- a major convenience when both of your hands are busy holding the guitar.In short, this is a beautiful book and a pleasure to use.Highly recommended!


Product Description
Produced by the award-winning maranGraphics group, Maran Illustrated Guide to Guitar is a valuable resource to a wide range of readers - from those who want to play a few songs with their family around the campfire to those who aspire to become serious musicians or rock stars. Maran Illustrated Guide to Guitar shows you the best way to perform each task, while the full-color photographs, music examples and clear, step-by-step instructions walk you through each task from beginning to end. Thorough topic introductions and useful tips provide additional information and advice to help enhance your guitar experience. Maran Illustrated Guide to Guitar is packed with essential information for readers who are picking up a guitar for the first time, and will provide more experienced players with a refresher course on the basics and the opportunity to add more advanced techniques to their repertoire. Maran Illustrated Guide to Guitar will cost less than the price of one private guitar lesson, and will be a permanent resource that will provide years of enjoyment.

About the Author
maranGraphics Development Group combines the efforts of many talented people. An industry expert in the field of each book and Maran's own writers work together to produce books that are highly visual, technically sound, easy for readers to understand, and adhere to maranGraphics' standards of structuring to provide the best learning experience.

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