Instruments Books

Check out this guide to rock guitar technique If you’re ready to start playing some rockin’ tunes on the guitar, there's no better teacher than Rock Guitar For Dummies. This is the ultimate guide to playing rock ’n’ roll on six strings, even if you’ve never picked up a guitar before! Master the riffs and melodies of your favorite songs and artists, or make up a few of your own. Find out how to choose the right amplifier, strum power chords, and maintain your guitar. Moving over from another style of guitar playing? You’ll love this guide’s deep dive into rock guitar technique. You’ll even learn to differentiate the sounds of classic rock, heavy metal, grunge, progressive rock, and beyond. Plus, you’ll get access to online resources, including audio and video clips, to bring your rock ’n’ roll education to life. Get step-by-step instruction on playing rhythm and lead guitar in a variety of rock styles Practice with countless exercises and songs to add to your repertoire Download and stream over 150 audio and video tracks demonstrating the exercises and techniques in the book Find essential tips and tricks for tuning up, changing strings, and maintaining your guitarIf you’re a novice or intermediate guitarist wanting to rock ‘n’ roll, this is the friendly Dummies guide for you.

The ideal hands-on reference for piano students who want to strengthen their skills and refine their technique--and the perfect companion and next step to the bestselling Piano For Dummies. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Discover the magic of classical guitar with this fun and easy guide The perfect starting point to learning classical guitar, Classical Guitar For Dummies, walks you through the steps, techniques, and styles you’ll need to finger-pick your way around some of the most beautiful songs ever written. Whether you’re a first timer looking to add your very first classical guitar to your collection or you’ve already made the jump to the classical style want to pick up some priceless tips, this book is the easy-to-read companion you’ll want at your side. You can even play along with audio and video examples at dummies.com that will help you on your journey toward classical guitar mastery. In Classical Guitar For Dummies, you’ll find: Foundational and advanced techniques, from adapting your playing posture to coloring your tone with vibrato Tips and tricks on playing classical guitar favorites, like Cavatina by Stanley Myers Explorations of classical scales, up and down the guitar neck Classical Guitar For Dummies is an essential aid for new and aspiring classical guitarists just beginning to learn their craft. More experienced guitarists seeking to improve their fundamentals and learn some new strategies for creating amazing music will also find a ton of useful info inside.

Make your guitar sing with insight on music theory brings your instrument to life  There’s a universe of incredible music living in your guitar. You just need to discover how to let it out. In Guitar Theory For Dummies, expert guitarist and instructor Desi Serna walks you through the music theory concepts you need to understand to expand your musical horizons. From deciphering the mysteries of the fretboard to adapting chord progressions to a song’s key, you’ll master techniques that will help you move past simple, three-chord songs to more complex and creative pieces.  Build on your existing knowledge of open and barre chords and simple progressions with practical instruction that demystifies scales and chord voicings and shows you how to bring them together to create impressive music. You can also jump over to dummies.com to hear audio samples of the examples featured in the book.   You’ll also learn:   How chords, keys, and scales are built and how they interact with one another  Powerful concepts, like intervals, chord extensions, modes and modal scales, that grant access to a world of musical possibilities  How popular songs apply elements of guitar theory and how you can apply the same techniques  Free yourself from the confines of tab sheets and simple chords and start enjoying all the musical potential of your guitar. Guitar Theory For Dummies is for anyone who wants to unlock the next stage of their musical journey. 

Strum a tune on your ukulele—no Hawaiian shirt required! Picture it now: the sun sets over the shimmering sea, and, as the beach bar falls quiet, you begin strumming Queen Liliuokalani's "Aloha 'Oe" to a mesmerized crowd. ... Okay, while this doesn't happen every day for ukulele-players, you'll still have a lot of fun learning your favorite tunes on your ukulele. Widely associated with Hawaiian music, the ukulele has exploded in popularity in recent years as kids and adults alike have started their music education with a uke or added it to their collection of instruments. Learning to play this versatile instrument is made easier for the experience and inexperienced alike with this new edition of Ukulele For Dummies. Following its straightforward instructions, you'll pick your way from the basics of purchasing your ukulele and accessories to confidently strumming through simple chord progressions and jamming through various styles and standards, including pop, folk, and those much-loved holiday favorites. Aloha, Santa Claus! Buy the right ukulele for you Perfect your pick and fret Practice with downloadable audio Get the best ukulele apps Whatever you want from your ukulele adventure—strumming on the beach or adding its island style to your distinctive new pop sound—Ukulele For Dummies will have you making a big splash with this tiny instrument in aloha no time at all!

A one-stop resource to the essentials of owning and playing the guitar  If you’ve just bought a guitar, or you’ve had one for a while, you probably know it takes some time and effort to learn how to play the popular instrument. There’s so much to know about owning, maintaining, and playing a guitar. Where do you even begin?  In Guitar All-in-One For Dummies, a team of expert guitarists and music teachers shows you the essentials you need to know about owning and playing a guitar. From picking your first notes to exploring music theory and composition, maintaining your gear, and diving into the specifics of genres like blues and rock, this book is a comprehensive and practical goldmine of indispensable info.  Created for the budding guitarist who wants all their lessons and advice in one place, the book will show you how to:  Maintain, tune, and string your guitar, as well as decipher music notation and guitar tablature   Understand guitar theory, sounds and techniques to help you learn new songs and add your style to classic tunes  Practice several popular genres of guitar music, including blues, rock, and classical  Access accompanying online video and audio instructional resources that demonstrate the lessons you find in the book  Perfect for guitar players at any skill level, Guitar All-in-One For Dummies is a must-have resource for anyone who wants to get the most out of their own guitar and make great music. 

Learn how fretting and picking can entertain friends! The mandolin is making a big comeback among music enthusiasts. A longtime staple of bluegrass, folk, jazz, and country music, this fast-pickin' favorite featured heavily in traditional music from around the world is now seeing a resurgence in global pop. In Mandolin For Dummies, accomplished composer, performer, and mandolin guru Don Julin breaks down the history and fundamentals of this versatile instrument, showing how you too can fret, pick, and strum with the best in the business. Packed with photos and diagrams to help you perfect your hand positioning, you'll make your way through a plethora of mandolin-friendly musical styles and learn how to take good care of your instrument—paying it back for all the pleasure it brings to you and your friends. Buy the right mandolin for you Pick up key musical styles Play along with downloadable exercises Restring your instrument Whether this is your first instrument or you're adding to your repertoire, this little number has everything you need to get the most out of your mandolin!

Take a (violin) bow and let your inner musician shine!  You don’t have to be a genius to start fiddling around! Violin For Dummies helps budding violinists of all ages begin to play. If you’ve never read a note of music, this book will show you how to turn those little black dots into beautiful notes. Start slow as you learn how to hold the instrument, use the bow, finger notes, and play in tune. Watch yourself blossom into a musician with tips on technique and style. When you’re ready to go further, this book will help you find the people and resources that can help you get just a little closer to virtuoso!  Your own private lessons are right inside this book, with the included online video and audio instruction, plus recordings that will help you develop your “ear.” This book takes the guesswork out of learning an instrument, so you’ll be ready to join the band when the time comes!  Choose a violin and learn the basics of holding the instrument and playing notes  Start reading music with this fast-and-easy introduction to musical notation  Improve your musicianship and start to play in groups  Explore different music styles and legendary violin composers  The violin is a beautiful thing—adding melody everywhere from orchestras to folk and pop tunes. With Violin For Dummies, you can make the music your own, even if you’re a total music beginner.  

Here’s the quick way to get pickin’ with the best of ‘em  The banjo is both a staple of old-time music and an instrument that makes frequent cameos in today’s chart toppers. Whatever your musical leanings, Banjo For Dummies will show you how to pick your way around your instrument, even if you have zero musical background! With a little practice—and the easy-to-follow instructions in this book—you can learn your way around the banjo, try out various musical styles, and discover what banjo culture is all about.  Think of this For Dummies guide as your personal banjo tutor, as you learn how to buy, tune, hold, play, and have fun with your five-string. You can also go beyond the book with online video lessons and audio files that will get you picking even faster. Follow the guidance of respected banjo performer Bill Evans and soon you may find yourself jamming with a band or rubbing elbows with the pros at your local bluegrass festival.   Learn the basics of banjo: how to strum chords, pick notes, and read tablature  Add new styles to your repertoire, including clawhammer, three-finger styles, vamping, and classic banjo  Play bluegrass music and learn how to network at festivals  Choose the banjo and accessories that work for you, and discover how to keep them in good shape  Banjo For Dummies is for anyone who want to learn to play the five-string banjo or brush up on banjo-playing skills. No experience required! 

Wail on your harmonica! The harmonica is one of the most popular and versatile instruments in the world. There are several reasons harmonicas are awesome—you can play them anywhere, they’re inexpensive, and you can show off in dozens of musical styles. The friendly and pleasingly tuneful Harmonica For Dummies is the fastest and best way to learn for yourself! You’ll find an easy-to-follow format that takes you from the basics to specialized techniques, with accompanying audio and video content included to make learning even more simple and fun. Before you know it, you’ll be playing jazz in your living room and the blues on your way to work or school—and that’s just the prelude to mastering classical riffs. That’s right, the humble harmonica has graced some of the grandest concert halls on planet Earth! Choose the right harmonica  Enhance your sound with tongue technique  Develop your own style Perfect your live performance The harmonica is awesome to learn, but even more awesome to&nlearn well, and Harmonica For Dummies will get you on the road from being an occasional entertainer to becoming an accomplished live performer. P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you’re probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Harmonica For Dummies (9781118880760). The book you see here shouldn’t be considered a new or updated product. But if you’re in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We’re always writing about new topics!