Masters of the Plectrum Guitar

**ten left thumbs** · 12-07-2013, 04:44 AM

Mel Bay and Leavitt cover similar ground in different ways. Leavitt is inspiration on every page, but he goes so fast no genuine beginner could keep up. Mel Bay offers material for consolidation. Arrangements of folk tune, classical themes, some genuine compositions - the material is probably best described as 'patchy'. Some brilliant, some not so.

Together they are a winning combination, imo.

**Rob MacKillop** · 12-07-2013, 05:02 AM

TLT, that's the same series I linked to...

**cmajor9** · 12-07-2013, 11:48 AM

Rob MacKillop ~

I've been meaning to give you a big "Thank you" for awhile now for introducing us to this terrific book. It really lets you "connect the dots" back to the Eddie Lang era as well as giving some fun and satisfying pieces to play. I've been slowly working through the 30s-40s sections and its a real pleasure to get some of these pieces under your fingers.

Thanks!

**Rob MacKillop** · 12-07-2013, 12:41 PM

Glad to hear it. Many thanks, and keep at it!

**RudyWarren** · 12-09-2013, 04:01 AM

great

**caulker68** · 12-24-2013, 05:00 AM

They reveal that wonderful crossover between jazz, blues and classical music, which Harry Volpe continued in his studies and arrangements.

**Rob MacKillop** · 12-24-2013, 05:02 AM

I agree - it can be a wonderful mixture of many styles.

**JSanta** · 12-26-2013, 10:19 AM

I received Masters of the Plectrum Guitar yesterday (my sister in law was quite kind). My guitar room is currently in use as a guest room, but I worked my way through a couple of the Bucky tunes in the book. I think it's quite obvious that the music in this volume is mostly above my playing ability, but this will be a great resource moving forward I think. Thanks for creating this thread Rob, I never would have known about this book without it.

**TheGrandWazoo** · 12-26-2013, 10:42 AM

JSanta, start at the beginning with Volpe. I think you'll find them at an appropriate level. Also, don't be afraid to change what is written with notes or fingerings that may be easier. Best lesson I ever learned from a friend.

**JSanta** · 12-26-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by TheGrandWazoo

JSanta, start at the beginning with Volpe. I think you'll find them at an appropriate level. Also, don't be afraid to change what is written with notes or fingerings that may be easier. Best lesson I ever learned from a friend.

Thank you for the advice! When I have a few moments to sneak in there later today I will start there.

**Rob MacKillop** · 12-26-2013, 11:20 AM

So, Santa receives as well as gives! Have a good time with the book. Any questions, just ask. Someone here will probably know the answer.

**JSanta** · 12-26-2013, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

So, Santa receives as well as gives! Have a good time with the book. Any questions, just ask. Someone here will probably know the answer.

Once in a while I do get lucky

**JSanta** · 01-01-2014, 06:39 PM

Rob,

I've finally had time to properly sit down with this book and have started with the first tune. Listening to your recording has helped immensely to ensure I have the correct feel for the song. While not terribly difficult, it is something I will enjoy revisiting as a work my way through the book.

**Rob MacKillop** · 01-01-2014, 07:16 PM

Good to hear. You have a seven-string, don't you? Will you be adapting the pieces as you go, utilising the low bass when appropriate? I sometimes felt a seventh string would be helpful, while reading through this book. It would be good to know what you feel about that.

**JSanta** · 01-01-2014, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Good to hear. You have a seven-string, don't you? Will you be adapting the pieces as you go, utilising the low bass when appropriate? I sometimes felt a seventh string would be helpful, while reading through this book. It would be good to know what you feel about that.

That is correct, and it's actually my only archtop at this point. I do take lessons and my teacher is a very proficient 7 string guitarist, and that is a weekly challenge he poses to me. Take the sheet music and utilize the low A when working through chord charts. This does pose the problem that you cannot use a pick at all times which perhaps goes against the aim of the book. I very much like to hybrid pick, and will use that technique to incorporate bass notes, even though it might not be strictly "by the book."

In more general terms though, I think having the additional range of this instrument has helped me approach chord work in an exciting way. I recently saw Bucky Pizzarelli and Howard Alden in concert together (both extraordinary I might add), and seeing two masters use a 7 string guitar really showed me what the instrument is capable of providing me as a student. Right now it's more simple to me, when I come across a chord that has the A string as a root, I use the low A instead. This makes me adjust my playing technique and look at the relationships of the notes in different ways. As a kid, I really ignored theory, and playing with this guitar is really helping me on my journey. I hope to buy some recording gear in future and post some videos as I work through this book and others as well.

**Rob MacKillop** · 01-01-2014, 08:05 PM

I look forward to your videos!

**JSanta** · 02-03-2014, 09:36 AM

Rob,

I just wanted to again thank you for posting your videos of the tunes that you've worked through. Once I felt really comfortable with Romantic, I started on My Cherished Prelude, and what a wonderful source we all have in you for getting a feel on what the song should sound like. My wife said maybe in a few months I can get some recording software, so I will post songs someday.

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-03-2014, 09:44 AM

Hey, JSanta, I really look forward to hearing how you play this beautiful music. My way is certainly not the only way, but if it helps you get the music off the page, then I'm very pleased. Keep it up!

**ronjazz** · 02-03-2014, 09:50 AM

There is free audio software available, by the way. Audacity works well, and the hardware needs are minimal as well. It's good to record yourself, you'd be surprised at what you hear, and you will learn a lot!

**JSanta** · 02-03-2014, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Hey, JSanta, I really look forward to hearing how you play this beautiful music. My way is certainly not the only way, but if it helps you get the music off the page, then I'm very pleased. Keep it up!

It really is beautiful music. I brought the book over to a lesson a few weeks back and my teacher was thrilled that these tunes were compiled the way that they were. For now it's something I study on the side. I'm working on a lot of theory and these are fun for me to do as a break.

**JSanta** · 02-03-2014, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by ronjazz

There is free audio software available, by the way. Audacity works well, and the hardware needs are minimal as well. It's good to record yourself, you'd be surprised at what you hear, and you will learn a lot!

Thank you for the information. While that would help for now, I still need a microphone of some sort. The package I am looking at is not very expensive, but as guitar is just a hobby for me, it's hard to justify purchasing anything most times.