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Beginning Guitar: Play Songs You Know & Love (E-Book)
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Beginning Guitar: Play Songs You Know & Love (E-Book)

$30.00

Beginning Guitar offers a refreshing approach to learning guitar that emphasizes joy, accessibility, and immediate results. Unlike traditional method books that start with scales and theory, this guide gets beginners playing recognizable songs within their first few weeks by teaching foundational chords first.

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Description

Beginning Guitar: Play Songs You Know and Love (E-Book)

Product Summary

Author: Jonathan Shue
Publisher: Osteon Press
Publication Date: June 2025
Pages: 48

Overview

What Makes This Book Different

  • Play Songs Immediately: Learn three chords (G, C, D) and start playing beloved classics like “Amazing Grace” and “Bad Moon Rising”
  • Chord-First Approach: Focus on what matters most in popular music—chords and progressions—rather than overwhelming theory
  • Holistic Philosophy: Emphasizes relaxation, natural movement, and making music a joyful part of daily life
  • Clear Beginner Roadmap: Week-by-week guidance for the first month, with realistic goals and expectations

What You’ll Learn

  • Essential open chords (G, C, D, A, E, Em, Am, Dm)
  • Barre chords (F, B, Bm, F#m, C#m)
  • Color chords (7th chords, suspended chords)
  • The I-IV-V progression and Circle of Fifths
  • Strumming patterns for 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures
  • Proper technique for holding the guitar, hand positioning, and tuning
  • How to practice effectively without burnout

Key Features

  • 48-page comprehensive guide covering everything from guitar setup to advanced chord progressions
  • Progressive difficulty that respects the learning curve, especially with challenging barre chords
  • Extensive song repertoire featuring 70s singer-songwriters and American roots classics
  • Practical advice on choosing guitars, accessories, and developing a sustainable practice routine
  • Musical foundation including essential terms, symbols, and rhythm concepts
  • Appendix with 60+ song recommendations organized by difficulty and chord usage

Ideal For

  • Absolute beginners with no musical background
  • Former players returning to guitar after years away
  • Anyone who wants to play campfire sing-alongs and popular folk songs
  • Students seeking a gentle, encouraging approach to music learning
  • Teachers looking for a thoughtful curriculum for group or private lessons

Teaching Philosophy

Jonathan Shue brings over two decades of teaching experience and a background in theater and Americana music to create a method that treats music-making as a natural human activity. The book emphasizes that guitar playing should feel like “relaxation and release” rather than a mechanical skill to master, encouraging students to let go of perfectionism and connect with the joy of creative expression.

What Students Will Achieve

By following the 4-8 week beginner roadmap, students will be able to play dozens of classic songs using basic chord progressions, understand how songs are structured, and have the foundation to continue growing as guitarists for years to come. The book is designed to be both a starting point and a lifelong reference that players return to as they advance.

“If you know three chords, you can play a song.” — Woody Guthrie (as paraphrased in the book)