ÊThis is the flagship book in Mel Bay's new Achieving Guitar Artistry series. Herein you will find an extensive collection of linear pieces with interesting melodic content. Frequent performance of these etudes will not only enhance technique, but offer the guitarist a wonderful opportunity to improve tone, touch and lyrical phrasing. We suggest playing each etude at a slow tempo at first, the goal being to achieve a clear and beautiful tone on every note. The next objective is to develop a sense of lyrical completeness to each musical phrase. Make the phrases sing! Once you have achieved the desired quality of tone and expression, increase the tempo to work on the technique. Mel Bay's Guitar Journals - Mastering the Fingerboard: The Reading Book (MB20903) would make an ideal supplement to Linear Guitar Etudes as it presents etudes in all keys and positions. The pieces in Linear Guitar Etudes are multi-positional. That is, the player will be required to move from position to position on the fingerboard. The music is presented in standard notation only, with left-hand fingering included on the more complex passages, and circled numbers to indicate the strings where certainnotes and passages are to be played. These etudes sound good on both nylon and steel-string guitars, and will be a valuable addition to the music library of any guitarist, enhancing their abilities regardless of the style of music played.

This collection of original, contemporary, concert-style compositions for plectrum or flatpicked guitar includes 15 preludes, 4 sonatas with multiple movements, and 12 nocturnes. The solos present a colorful spectrum of tonality, harmony, rhythms and moods ideal for concert or recital performance. All solos are written in standard notation only with appropriate fingering and string markings.

Odd-time signatures are often an enigma to the Western musician and present specific challenges when it comes to phrasing and feeling. This book will improve any musician's ability to intuit odd-time signatures, through 48 etudes in 5/8, 7/8, 9/8, 10/8 and 11/8 time. "Mixed etudes" are also included, which feature different traditional and odd-time signatures within each piece. All of these studies will facilitate note-reading and position playing abilities, and are applicable to jazz, classical and contemporary guitar genres. The Mel Bay Achieving Guitar Artistry series is designed to condition and guide the developing guitarist to an advanced level of proficiency, regardless of the style of music performed.

The arts flourished in the Baroque period. Music from that time is still performed worldwide by symphonies, opera companies, choirs, chamber ensembles and soloists on many instruments. The period was characterized by the works of such great artists as J. S. Bach (b. 1685), Handel (b. 1685), Telemann (b. 1681) and many others. These composers defined the rich, ornate and melodic Baroque style of music which we categorize in the classical realm. There was another genre of music flourishing during this period, and that was the "common" or folk music style characterized by such composers as Ireland's legendary harpist, Turlough O'Carolan (b. 1670). In composing music for this book the author recreated harmonic and melodic elements of this great musical age, while adding some contemporary twists. All of the etudes are original and will serve to enhance guitar technique, phrasing, expression, note- reading ability, and knowledge of the entire guitar fingerboard. Fingering and string markings are included where appropriate. In addition to facilitating the many technical and aesthetic aspects of performing at an advanced level on the guitar, these etudes may be used successfully in concerts or recitals. This book is an ideal companion for the other books in the Mel Bay "Achieving Guitar Artistry" series, which is designed to condition and guide the developing guitarist to an advanced level of proficiency, regardless of the style of music performed.

This book includes a multitude of beginning to intermediate studies, designed to build right-hand picking technique and coordination between both hands. The material includes vertical picking exercises across various string combinations, linear picking studies, tremolo studies, warm-ups, picking etudes, triplet exercises and picking solos–essential material that will supplement any guitar method. Written in standard notation and tablature.

This collection of 36 solos, etudes and technique studies was written especially for the developing intermediate guitarist. A variety of musical styles and genres are presented, along with a colorful assortment of flatpicking techniques and melodies. In addition to their appealing sound and being fun to play, many of these pieces are suitable for performance in recitals or concerts. Every effort has been made to be sure that these musical selections “lie well under the fingers,” and are very guitaristic or idiomatic in nature. Guitar Solos for Improving Technique is ideal as a standalone solo collection or as a technique-building text. The collection also works well as a supplement to any intermediate guitar method. Includes access to an online audio recording of each piece.

"Achieving Guitar Artistry - Concert Solos" is a collection of 56 solos reflecting a wide array of colors, textures and moods. These were originally written for plectrum or flatpick guitar but may be played by the classical or fingerstyle guitarist. The solos range in difficulty from intermediate to advanced and will work wonderfully in recital or concert settings. Many of the solos encourage creativity with tone, expression and phrasing. Others are up-tempo and utilize Latin, jazz, bluegrass and Celtic rhythms. An ample amount of fingering and string markings are presented on each solo. This is the third book in the Mel Bay "Achieving Guitar Artistry" series. It follows "Linear Guitar Etudes" and "Triads". The goal of this series is to present material able to develop the serious guitar student into a very accomplished player.