Mark Phillips (1) (1947–)

Admittedly, I may have rounded up this rating if I didn't read The Idiot's Guide to Guitar Playing first. Reading them one after the other makes it hard to review them beyond comparing and contrasting.

Guitar For Dummies seems to be designed with the same audience in mind as most YouTube beginner guitar tutorials. It's relatively understandable and mostly focused on strumming songs in popular American and British rock and country music, which is likely what the average American beginner guitar player wants in their learning experience. Music notation is in the appendix rather than the main book--standard notation is often seem as an annoying obstacle on the way to actually playing. Most techniques are relevant to rock and country--techniques for less-popular genres were left out or briefly and ineffectively mentioned in a later chapters on folk, classical, and jazz. Not to make fun of the stereotype, but this is for the ol' fast and lazy American approach. Embrace it if that's what'll motivate you. I personally prefer the classical emphasis of the Idiot's Guide alternative. That said, I always enjoy picking up options in both series for kicks and catch whatever the other left out.

I would say the Idiot's Guide and Dummies have a 50% overlap in this case, so you definitely can't go wrong with trying either. Dummies is more mainstream genre and dummed down (of course!), whereas Idiot's is more nerdy, frankly. Wording wise, I have found the Dummies to try too hard to spell things out like a casually-spoken textbook while Idiot's has this more overarching understanding, which I tend to learn better from. Both books also use an almost completely different set of practice songs, furthering the fun of studying both. I just want it known that both are good books, but for my own style the Idiot's Guide shines and the Dummies was an expansion of content.… (altro)

The bestselling guide now updated with video demonstrations and audio tracks online The guitar is one of the most versatile instruments in the world, which is why it's so appealing to musicians. Guitar For Dummies, 4th Edition gives you everything a beginning or intermediate acoustic or electric guitarist needs: from buying a guitar to tuning it, playing it, and caring for it. Fully revised and updated, with online video and audio clips that help you learn and play along, you'll explore everything from simple chords and melodies to more challenging exercises that are designed to satisfy players of all levels. Additionally, new players can dive into the basics of guitar and accessory selection. Whether you prefer the cool sounds of the acoustic or the edgier tones of the electric, your guitar will get a lot of use as you play your way through the lessons presented in this integral book. But your journey doesn't stop at the last page! With an updated multimedia component, you have access to more than 80 online videos and 35 audio tracks that help build your talent. Play along with online videos and audio tracks to develop and reinforce your new skills Tune your guitar, change strings, and make simple repairs to keep your instrument in working order Choose the right guitar and equipment for your needs Explore numerous musical styles, including rock, blues, jazz, and country Guitar For Dummies, 4th Edition guides you in the development of your strumming talent--and who knows where that can take you!… (altro)