Additional information
by Charles E. Brewster (Author)
This price is a temporary price reduction of $10 off until the associated web site (HookedOnBLuegrass.com) is up and running. (They set a minimum price that assures a minimum of one cent royalty in every outlet.) At that time the price will return to the normal retail price of $59.95. When you "Look Inside" be sure to use the "Surprise me" link to see some of the sng formatting and the Tablature. This book is intended to take even a beginning guitarist from the basics to competency in Bluegrass Guitar - taking the student through more than 120 songs, many of which have accompanying Tablature. At the College level, the book would cover about 12 semester hours. The Tablature is specially designed by the Author to be intuitive and easily readable. The Tablature uses Red Numbers and Red Arrows throughout to signify upstrokes with the plectrum. So the entire book is in full color, with many illustrations and diagrams (which has made this book more expensive than a black and white book). There are also many historical facts and anecdotes pertaining to the songs sprinkled throughout the book. Most people will find it to be a treasure-trove of information. The songs themselves are formatted with very large fonts so that they will be visible in in low-light level areas such as will be found in normal venues. The Author has included suggested phrasing in many cases so that band members can harmonize together in synchronization. The chords the Author uses are placed directly above the syllable on which the chord changes occur. For voices higher or lower, the student can move the capo to suit his own voice range. A diagram explaining the Circle of Fifths will help the student when it is necessary to use a different chord series. The student will advance progressively as he works through the songs in the book. Techniques include picking, strumming, "scratching" and Dedepicking. Transitions, kickoffs, and Fills are covered early in the material. Tablatures are included for Dobro on two special Dobro songs. A section is included explaining how chords are constructed, the Standard Music Scale, The Nashville Method, and the Fret Method. Jamming techniques and Bluegrass etiquette is explained as well as tagging, kickoffs, and breaks. The associated Hooked on Bluegrass web site is slated to have video links and teaching aids. The videos will be done in a very different way to aid the student in using the Tablature. The Author has extensively researched and collated verses from various sources. In some cases, he has written new verses, revised the lyrics, and removed "Mondegreens." Except for one song, all the songs are in the public domain so that the book owner is free to copy the formatted work in the book for use by his band members. The songs in the public domain can be performed in any venue without having to worry about a cabaret license.
