| Instructor John McCarthy provides a solid foundation in blues playing with this set of one-on-one lessons. This accelerated program, packed with a spectrum of techniques, will get you playing immediately. McCarthy guides you through essential blues chords, lead patterns, scales and rhythm techniques, as well as a host of solo skills like string bending, vibrato, hammer-ons and pull-offs. The one-on-one lessons are complemented by a set of play-along tracks so you can discover the energy and excitement of a real blues backing band. You'll enjoy a compelling history of the blues guitar, with details of pioneering performers and master bluesmen of the past. Includes a 32-page lesson book and web membership for lesson support online. Authored for Zone 0. 1 hour, 15 minutes |
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 Brilliant |
| Review Date: August 12, 2006 |
| Reviewer: L. Moseley, Berkeley, CA |
I could start my own blues guitar instructional business with all of the videos, dvds, and books that I have bought trying to learn blues guitar. I'm a very methodical learner and need the big picture first and then information organized into digestible chunks of data--and then repetition. This is the first time that everything came together in a complete lesson series. The teaching pedagogy of this Blues Guitar Level 1 is outstanding--well organized and comprehensive. I bought Level 1 & 2 but will spend the next 4-6 months being happy with just Level 1. I didn't even take the shrink wrap off of Level 2 after previewing Level 1. I'm also an educator and recognize and deeply appreciate the time, learning techniques and excellent navigation that went into making this dvd. To take a basic (and old) folk guitarist like myself and have me understand how to play blues lead guitar within 90 minutes is a real testament to the quality of this instructional dvd. I have months of practice to do now, but at least this dvd puts in front of me clearly what I'm reaching for and how to get there. When I'm ready, I'll be able to go to an outstanding private teacher I know to refine my technique. For $19.99 you will not have wasted a dime of your money buying this Blues Guitar Level 1. Hats off to John McCarthy and the instructional team that put this dvd together.
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Fun and thourough
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| Review Date: February 13, 2006 |
| Reviewer: N. Richardson, Grand Rapids, Mich. |
I was very impressed with the information and how it was presented. I have been playing guitar for 25 years and I picked up some things I didn't know. This is not for the complete beginner, but maybe for someone who has a few chords and songs under their belt and wants to learn to play some leads. The instructor makes if very fun to learn, with slow close-ups of what he is doing.
The backing tracks are great to jam along with (you can download then from the Website too) and the DVD has chord charts that give the fingerings and play the notes. I wish I had this when I first started out, so if you want to learn the blues and begin to understand how to improvise solos, this is a great place to start. |
So happy to play the blues!
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| Review Date: June 4, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gregory Burger, |
I've been learning guitar for about 10 months now, but my learning has lacked focus and jumped from one method to the next, and one genre to the next, trying to find something that "clicked". Like another reviewer, I also have a stack of "Learn to Play Guitar" books about a foot high. But, this is the one the finally "clicked".
It not only comes with a CD, but also a DVD, which really makes a difference in my learning - being able to see as well as hear is really important. Also, not only is the method structured, with previous lessons being drawn upon for subsequent lessons, but right from the first few lessons you can actually improvising blues lead lines. (I'm sure it'll take a bit longer for someone that's just starting out - you need to have some level of left-hand coordination.) But basically, it's just the right mix of theory and "jump-in-get-your-hands-dirty" for me.
If you think blues or blues-rock are what you want to play, you can't go wrong with this book/cd/dvd combo. I'm learning so much so fast with level 1 that I can't wait until I can finish it and go on to the level 2 book. It feels as if I'll be able to jam with the best of them in no time!! (Well, maybe the "pretty-damn-good of them" at first...) |
Excellent instruction - well worth it
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| Review Date: October 27, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mary Anne, |
This is well paced and the instructional materials are well organized. The instructor on this video does a good job demonstrating and the filming of the demos makes it easy to understand what you are expected to do to get the same result. The chapters on this instructional dvd allow easy review so you can get to exactly what you want to practice or hear again to confirm your practice results or refine them. There's enough on this instruction volume to make it well worth the price but there is also a site at House of Blues where you can register your dvd and get session tracks to go with the materials for practice. These downloads are ok - don't get me wrong, it's a nice touch and I was impressed they had a support site for the instuctional series, but to REALLY pump up your practice and move along more effortlessly, get the "I Am The... Blues Lead Guitarist" blues session dvd WITH this HOB's dvd. You'll have the 5 blues scales pressented in this dvd memorized in no time practicing them against a variety of blues style session tracks, without any of the tedium of trying to do it through self disiplined metronome sessions, or the juggling of downloaded mp3's and so forth. This is a great series.
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Learn to play the blues, Level 1 by John McCarthy
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| Review Date: January 27, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Burgman, Ontario, Canada |
| These house of Blues, & Rock House Method's are the best on the market, Instructor John McCarthy, is the best, with the follow along DVD's & enclosed booklets, along with access to backing tracks which include rythem, bass, drums backing, which can be downloaded onto a CD, & you can play along at your own speed & ability. I have tried many instruction methods over the years, & just gave up, along with classroom instruction , which also didn't work. This is the next best thing to private guitar instruction. |
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