11/27/2025
ALL OF THE GREAT GUITARIST I’ve met and worked with had 3 things in common: 1) They truly enjoyed playing Guitar 2) each one played for years with no formal music training 3) they learned by playing the “hits of the day. Riffs by the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Eagles etc. I learned this way. I played seven years before I Could read a note of Music or understand Music Theory. I used to be ashamed till Both Mike Stern (award winning Guitarist and Grammy winner) and Frank Gambale (award winning Guitarist and Grammy winner) both told me to my face that playing by ear those seven years was the best thing that could have happened to me. They were absolutely correct. I even had my fellow Symphony players say the same thing.
So how would today’s Guitarist do this? I had friends show me licks and I played in a Band. Not an easy thing to find today. Guitar methods, up to this point, present boring and tedious studies that discourage you from practicing! I’ve searched for years to find books to teach with that replicate the “old school” method of learning.
Finally, this year, the Hal Leonard Corporation has developed a Music Book that does exactly that! The ACOUSTIC GUITAR TAB METHOD.
This book is actually usable for Electric Guitar too. It’s a good stand alone book but is stellar when used with a qualified Teacher. This is the first book I been excited about in 30 years. I’m now including it in my teaching program. The book includes on-line support and downloadable “Backing Tracks” that you can jam to with your teacher or alone at home. This, my friends is a “home run”!
Contact me if you would like to explore this awesome method!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
