( 4 reviews )
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( 3 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: Dec 23 2005
The good thing about this book--and about this songbook series in general-- is that it includes many popular songs that are good for a guitar player to learn, both to learn basic chord technique and build repertoire. The bad thing is that they are rife with errors, including unconventional and sometimes frankly incorrect music notation, some incorrect chord changes, and even some wrongly transcribed melodies (and it includes far too many of Shipton's own compostions, which are of minimal value). If you can find another songbook or songbooks that include most of the songs you want to learn, it is probably a more faithful and useful reproduction than this book. However, it does give good practice in basic chord changes, and has a good amount of good (and bad) songs, mostly folk and pop from the 60s and 70s, with some traditional tunes.
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Posted: Jun 27 2004
With this book you can find a song you want to play and, well, play it. Lyrics, chords, and guitar tablature are all there and are complete, so that, short of hearing the song itself, there's not much else you could want. Great if you're looking for easy songs to sing&play on the guitar that everybody knows. Defenitely will help you next time you're playing guitar at the campfire! A must have.
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Posted: Apr 4 2004
If you're a beginner and looking for some great songs to play while you learn, this book is probably the best investment you can make. It might single-handedly keep you going past the point when a lot of people lose interest and give up. This book is filled with classic songs of the '60's and '70's that most beginners will be able to play after learning their first chords. Be aware, however, that there are no lessons in this book - it's strictly songs with chord charts and melody lines- but it will make learning a lot more fun when you find you can play songs like "Me & Bobby McGee" and "Imagine" almost immediately. Use this as a supplement to your lessons and it will make them a lot more interesting. This book is also highly recommended for beginning songwriters who will learn a lot from these simple yet classic songs. There's also enough here that's not simple and basic, to keep you going through the intermediate stage. Obviously, this book is not recommended for those who won't appreciate the songs - i.e., metal heads or teens who think "classic rock" is Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Don't buy this for your 16 year old son, unless he happens to be into the same music you grew up with. Buy it for yourself and pick up his guitar when he's at school!
