A Modern Method for Guitar - Volume 1 Beginner Guitar Songbook for New Learners Learn Music Theory, Chords, Scales, and More Berklee Method Guitar Tec

By William Leavitt

Book Overview

A Modern Method for Guitar - Volume 1 by William Leavitt is a complete guide for anyone beginning their guitar journey. This trusted method from the Berklee College of Music offers a structured path for learning guitar the right way, helping students, teachers, and self-learners build a strong musical foundation. It is ideal for adult beginners or younger players who want to develop clear and lasting skills.This beginner-friendly method teaches how to read music, understand rhythm, and play melodies with confidence. It includes essential exercises in scales, chords, and arpeggios, all designed to strengthen both hands and improve overall technique. The lessons progress naturally from simple studies to more complex patterns, ensuring steady improvement in reading, timing, and coordination. Each exercise reinforces accuracy and musical understanding for long-term growth.In addition to fundamental techniques, this book introduces practical accompaniment skills that prepare students to play songs across many styles. Clear notation and helpful diagrams make learning efficient and engaging, whether used in lessons or independent practice. Teachers value its logical structure and adaptability for both classroom and private instruction.A Modern Method for Guitar - Volume 1 remains one of the most respected guitar learning resources worldwide. It supports consistent progress while motivating new players to explore music with discipline and creativity. Perfect for home study or guided instruction, it helps every guitarist gain the confidence to perform and enjoy playing.Bring music to life. A thoughtful gift for aspiring musicians and an enduring resource for teachers guiding the next generation of guitarists.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876390130
• ISBN13: 9780876390139
• Release Date: November 1986
• Publisher: Berklee Press Publications
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 9.0" x 11.9"

Customer Reviews

Great book

Great book Thank-you. My cat puked in my book and ruined a few pages so Im ordering another one

Excellent (with a few caveats)

Levitt's 'Modern Method' has been the foundation stone upon which many great guitarists have built their careers and reputations. It's pretty much beyond criticism for many players, but it's worth noting some observations: 1) It's not recommended if all you want is to learn how to strum a few chords 2) If you simply want to read TAB and chord charts, this is not the book for you 3) This will not help you perfect your string bending, hammer ons, pull offs, fingerpicking or even sweep picking So, why the five stars? Because it's essentially boot camp for guitar. Spend a year with the book (and the accompanying DVD) and you will come away with a good basic understanding of how music works and how to apply that understanding to the guitar. You'll also be on the way to be able to sight-reading 'the dots'. Plus, in the process you will improve; playing slowly, carefully and methodically to the unstinting beat of a metronome can reveal many weaknesses in technique. The DVD is hugely useful, too. Not only does it demonstrate the exercises well, but Larry Baione adds a human touch that the text is sometimes missing. In short, if you want to take guitar seriously, there's no better starting place than William Levitt's books.

Excellent Book..Excellent DVD!!

I bought the complete MOdern Method for Guitar , and I have been using for auto instruction. Though I loved it from the start something was missing..some things were uncleard and I really had doubts..so finally I bought the DVD.Geez I am impressed! the book and the DVD is a killer!! Larry Baione is an excellent instructor in the DVD. He clarified some doubts I had ,but the best of all is that he gives many tips that are not included in the book.I sincerely recommend this book with the DVD..And Mr Baione,please release the DVD companion for the books 2 and 3 - I think this is the best Guitar Instruction DVD !! I really thank Berklee and Mr Baione for this excellent idea. So get them now!

Awesome

This book is awesome. I recently finished but I'm in the process of review currently. The book takes you from the very basics and has you reading in 4 positions by the end of the book. It also gives you 5 or 6 major scale fingerings as well as tons of chord forms, chord reading etudes, picking etudes, etc. The book is a complete system for becoming complete player and every aspect of beginner playing is covered here. Everything is planned out in a genius way thanks to William Leavitt, one of the greatest guitar teachers in history. This book is heavy and I honestly wouldn't reccomend it to the straight beginner because it's too brainy and hard. If you've been playing for awhile and you're ready to get serious and learn to read then this is the perfect book. In my opinion this is the greatest book you'll find out there and I can't recommend it enough. I'll warn you though, it's no cake walk and takes time and dedication (which will be worthwhile!).

excellent (like anyone else NEEDS to say it...)

Six or more stars, really. I finally bought this book after "thinking about it" forever. (I have a problem with the thinking thing.) Well, just as has been said before... drop everything else and go through these books. You'll be WAY ahead if you do. I studied classical guitar for a year in college (though I'm primarily a jazz-rock-etc. player), and this SHOULD have been the book they used back then. The exercises are melodic enough that anyone with an ear should be able to follow them with little difficulty, and still you'll learn everything you need to learn. The progression of exercises is sensible, and everything holds together as a meaningful whole, an attribute lacking in most guitar instruction books. (Though you may want to add Arnie Berle's "New Guitar Techniques for Sight Reading" as well. Not that there's a gap in Leavitt's books, just that Berle's approach may broaden your approach a bit. Berle's other books are good as well, in my opinion.) So don't think (as I did) that this is a method for "that kind of player over there, but not me," as I did. Regardless of your intended style, what you will get here will put you years ahead if you just do it. After that, you'll be ready to tackle anything - it'll still be work, it always will be, but you won't spin your wheels as hundreds of thousands of players do. Guitar players owe something good to Leavitt for this book, really. It's obviously the product of a sensible, disciplined, knowledgable and concerned mind.

you will get much better

Working through this book has made me so much better. You don't realize how much better you are getting until you have a jam or a rehearsal and find yourself gliding effortlessly into previously unchartered musical territory. If you can read music and are serious about playing guitar, I would say this is a must-have book for you.