Basic Guitar Workout (Basic)

This isn't a 'learn these great rock licks' book or 'here's a thousand chords and scales to turn you into Steve Vai'. It is a set of exercises to give some structure to your guitar practice.

The basic idea is to open it a random exercise from each of the 3 sections "Warm-up", "Co-ordination", and "Ear Training" and play those exercises for 2 minutes each. You still have to have some discipline and not just say "That ones too hard" but you will find that these exercises are very useful in developing various aspects of your playing.

The book gives you a set of measures for each exercise so that you can monitor your development.

Just use it each time you practise. 3 exercises at 2 minutes each isn't going to take up much of your time is it? - Each time I use it I find myself looking for more exercises to try...


Quick and Easy method to structure your technique   November 5, 2003
Trelloskilos
23 out of 23 found this review helpful

It may only be a pocket book, but "Basic Guitar Workout" is an easy method of developing your technique, particularly if you're stretched for time. If combined with David Mead's other book, "10 minute Guitar Workout", you are looking at a complete and efficient training programme for you and your guitar.

The idea is simply to flick to any page and perform an excercise for two minutes. The book itself is divided into three sections Warm-ups, Co-ordination and ear training, so theoretically, all you need is just six minutes a day. Even better, it's designed for complete beginners as well as seasoned guitarists by providing different benchmarks to attain.

It's not going to turn you into a Guitar God overnight, nor is it going to provide any in-depth analysis into various techniques and styles. What it does do, however, is to improve basic motor skills and ear training, without making practise become stale and repetetive.

"Basic Guitar Workout" is a simple, effective and fun training programme that should be stored in any guitar case.