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Complete Method Books

The Curious Guitarist is a 251-page comprehensive method book designed to guide students from complete beginner status to an advanced level of guitar playing. Written by Dan Dresnok, this course covers the physical mechanics of playing, music theory, and practical application using guitar tablature (tab) and standard notation.

This book is organized to help you build a strong musical foundation. You will begin with the absolute basics, including guitar anatomy, how to change strings, warm-up exercises, and your first chords.

Core Guitar Skills This method focuses on five main areas of musicianship to ensure a well-rounded education:

• Rhythm and Strumming: Learn how to count and read rhythm, tapping, picking, and strumming patterns. This section covers rhythm theory, Carter Style strumming, and chord walking.

• Chords: Master a wide variety of chord types. The book covers basic open chords, barre chords, extended chords, scale chords, slash chords, and power chords.

• Arpeggios: Understand how arpeggios work within music. You will learn fretboard shapes and positions for basic triads as well as extended and altered arpeggios.

• Scales and Modes: Learn to map the fretboard for soloing. This includes major and minor scales, the 7 relative modes, pentatonic shapes, and how to connect these scales to specific keys and chords.

• Song Repertoire: Apply what you learn with a song list of traditional folk, blues, and patriotic songs.

Music Theory and Technique Unlike simple songbooks, The Curious Guitarist connects physical playing with necessary music theory. You will learn:

• The Nashville Number System: A standard method for charting and playing songs by ear.

• Intervals and Keys: How to identify musical distances and find the key of a song.

• Reading Music: A dedicated section on reading sheet music specifically for the guitar.

• Ear Training: Exercises to help you identify sounds and pitches without looking at paper.

• CAGED System: A method for visualizing chord shapes across the neck.

Advanced Concepts For players ready to move beyond the basics, this book includes detailed instruction on:

• Blues chords and soloing techniques.

• Harmonics and double stops (dyads).

• Chord tones and tone clusters.

• Pedal tones.

• Soloing over complex chord changes.

Included Song List This book provides tabs and arrangements for the following songs to practice your skills:

• Amazing Grace

• Auld Lang Syne

• Blackberry Blossom

• Happy Birthday

• Ode to Joy

• Old Folks at Home

• When the Saints Go Marching In

• The Star-Spangled Banner

• Whiskey Before Breakfast

• Yankee Doodle

Whether you are teaching yourself or working with an instructor, this book provides the roadmap to master the guitar fretboard and understand the theory behind the music.

"Blues for the Curious Guitarist" is a 51-page workbook written by Dan Dresnok. It is designed to take students from the very basics of the instrument to advanced blues applications. This book focuses on the "why" and "how" of blues music. It combines music theory with practical playing on the fretboard. The lessons are progressive, meaning each chapter builds directly on the one before it.

This workbook is strictly educational. It avoids filler and focuses on the concrete skills required to play rhythm and lead blues guitar. It is suitable for beginners who need to learn to read tablature and for intermediate players who want to master improvisation.

Part 1: The Fundamentals Before diving into complex solos, you will establish a strong foundation. This section covers the mechanics of playing and understanding the guitar.

• Reading Tablature: Learn how to read guitar music notation quickly and accurately.

• Fretboard Knowledge: A guide to finding every note on the neck and naming the strings.

• Chord Construction: Learn open chords and barre chords essential for blues rhythm.

• Rhythm Basics: Instructions on strumming patterns and keeping time.

Part 2: Blues Structure and Rhythm The core of blues music is rhythm. This section breaks down the famous 12-bar blues progression and how to play it in different keys.

• The 12-Bar Blues: Detailed explanations of the progression in the keys of E, A, and C.

• The I-IV-V Change: Understand the theory behind chord changes.

• Dominant 7th Chords: Learn the specific chord shapes that give the blues its signature sound.

• Swing Feel: Techniques for creating the "shuffle" rhythm used in traditional blues.

• Techniques: Step-by-step guides on walk-ups, walk-downs, and turnarounds to connect your chords smoothly.

Part 3: Soloing and Improvisation Once you understand the rhythm, you will learn how to play lead guitar. This section provides a "toolkit" for soloing over any blues track.

• Pentatonic Scales: Master all five positions of the pentatonic scale to navigate the entire fretboard.

• The "Blue Note": Learn exactly which notes add the emotional blues sound to your playing.

• Modes and Scales: An introduction to the Major Scale, Mixolydian mode, and Natural Minor scale.

• Major vs. Minor Blues: Clear explanations on how to approach major blues versus minor blues.

• Arpeggios: How to use chord tones to create melodic and professional-sounding solos.

Part 4: Song Studies Theory is best learned by playing actual music. This workbook includes tablature and breakdowns for several standard blues songs and styles. You will apply the techniques you learned in previous chapters to these tracks.

Part 5: Advanced Concepts The final sections of the book help you refine your skills and expand your musical vocabulary.

• Relative and Parallel Modes: Understand how different scales relate to one another.

• Connecting Positions: Strategies for moving up and down the neck without getting lost.

• Stylistic Variations: A look at different regional styles of blues playing.

This workbook is created for the guitarist who wants a structured path. If you want to understand what you are playing rather than just memorizing random tabs, this method provides the logic and the practice material to help you improve.

Jazz for the Curious Guitarist is a 92-page reference workbook designed to teach jazz guitar through a step-by-step curriculum. Written by Dan Dresnok, this book guides students through the transition from standard guitar playing to jazz musicianship. It covers rhythm studies, music theory, reading notation, and complex harmony. Both standard music notation and Guitar Tablature (Tab) are used throughout the book.

Fundamentals and Rhythm The course begins by establishing the necessary skills for jazz performance. You will review open and barre chords before moving into specific rhythm studies.

• Rhythm Studies: Learn about beats, rests, and how to play triplets.

• Reading Music: A dedicated section teaches you how to read standard notation for the guitar.

• Technique: Covers essential physical techniques required for cleaner playing.

Chord Harmony and Voicings A major focus of this book is understanding how jazz chords are constructed and applied. You will move beyond basic triads into extended harmony.

• 7th Chords: Learn the different types of 7th chords and how to apply them.

• Extensions: Instruction on building and playing 9th, 11th, and 13th chords.

• Chord Progressions: Detailed study of the "ii-V-I" change, the most common progression in jazz.

• Advanced Voicings: Learn about chord tones, tone clusters, dyads, and the numbering system.

Advanced Theory and Composition This section explains the "why" behind jazz music, helping students analyze and re-harmonize songs.

• Substitutions: Learn how to use tritone substitutions and secondary dominants to add variety to your playing.

• Passing Chords: How to use passing diminished 7th and dominant chords to connect phrases.

• Intervals: Understanding musical distance and its role in harmony.

• Cycling 4ths: Exercises on moving through the circle of fourths.

Arpeggios and Fretboard Navigation This book teaches you how to map out the entire fretboard using arpeggios rather than just scale patterns.

• Full Fretboard Mapping: Learn shapes and positions for major and minor arpeggios.

• Complex Arpeggios: Covers arpeggios for 7ths, 6s, 9s, 11s, 13s, and altered chords.

• Soloing Application: How to use arpeggios to solo over specific chord changes.

Scales and Improvisation You will learn the specific scales used in jazz improvisation and how they relate to chords.

• The Modes: A complete guide to the 7 relative modes and how to use them in the Key of C.

• Jazz Scales: Includes the Bebop scale, Whole Tone scale, and Diminished (Whole-Half) scale.

• Altered Scales: Instruction on the Super Locrian mode and altered chords.

• Pentatonics: How to apply pentatonic scales within a jazz context.

Application and History To ensure you can apply these concepts, this workbook includes:

• Jazz Progressions: Two full-length jazz chord progressions to practice accompaniment and soloing.

• Jam Sections: Designated sections for jamming over relative C chords and altered chords.

• Jazz History: A brief overview of the history of the genre.

This workbook is intended for guitarists who already know the basics and are ready to tackle the complex harmony and improvisation techniques found in jazz music.

"20 Christmas Songs for the Curious Guitarist" is a 49-page instrumental collection arranged by guitar teacher Dan Dresnok. This book is designed for guitar players of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced students. The arrangements are suitable for any six-string guitar, including acoustic, electric, and classical models.

The Dual-Arrangement System This book uses a unique format to accommodate different playing styles and ability levels. Every song in the collection is presented with two distinct versions.

• Basic Arrangements: These versions focus on the single-note vocal melody. They include standard music notation, guitar tablature (tabs), and chord symbols. These are designed for beginners learning to read tab, guitarists who want to play the lead line while a friend plays chords, or for accompanying a singer.

• Full Arrangements: These versions combine the melody and the harmony into a single solo piece. This style is often called "chord melody" or "fingerstyle." These are designed for intermediate to advanced players who want to perform complete songs without the need for vocalists or backing tracks.

Included Songs The book features 20 classic carols and holiday songs. Each track includes both the Basic and Full arrangements:

• Angels We Have Heard On High

• Auld Lang Syne

• Away in a Manger

• Come All Ye Faithful

• Deck the Halls

• Go Tell It On the Mountain

• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

• Good King Wenceslas

• Hark the Herald Angels Sing

• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

• Jingle Bells

• Joy to the World

• O Holy Night

• Oh Christmas Tree

• Silent Night

• The First Noel

• The Twelve Days of Christmas

• We Three Kings

• We Wish You a Merry Christmas

• What Child Is This

Technical Features In addition to the sheet music, the book provides helpful references to ensure you can read and play the music accurately.

• Notation and Tab: All music is written in both standard notation and guitar tablature.

• Music Theory Review: Includes a review section on time signatures, repeat signs, and alternate endings to help you navigate the charts.

• Flexibility: The arrangements allow you to switch between playing simple melodies and complex solo pieces depending on your needs for a performance or practice session.

This collection provides a practical way to build your holiday repertoire, whether you are playing for a family gathering, a recital, or your own enjoyment.