The world's premier course for learning basic contemporary guitar and essential music theory.

Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 is the foundational standard for aspiring guitarists worldwide, with millions of copies in print. Designed explicitly for beginners, this course introduces the fundamental mechanics of playing contemporary guitar alongside practical music theory.

Students are guided step-by-step through first-position note reading string-by-string, proper hand and pick placement, and performance adjustments using standard musical notation. The book introduces vital foundational techniques, including picking direction dynamics (downstrokes and upstrokes), rhythmic note durations (whole, half, quarter, eighth, and dotted notes), and relative key structures. Learners will build a diverse early repertoire, studying classic etudes, solos, duets, and essential chord changes across the keys of C Major, A Minor, G Major, and E Minor.

Features

Comprehensive first-position string studies
Core music theory and staff reading basics
Downstroke and upstroke pick movement mechanics
Open-string piano pitch tuning reference guides
Dotted values and tie link note explanations
Essential chord shape layouts (C, F, G7, Am, Dm, E7, B7)
Graded technical etudes, solos, and duets
Total of 49 instructional text pages

Requirements

PDF viewer application (Adobe Reader or equivalent)
No prior musical experience required
Standard 6-string acoustic or electric guitar