The Folksinger's Guitar Guide Vol.1: An Instruction Record

Having previously offered instruction in how to play the five-string banjo, Pete Seeger here provides the basics on playing guitar for folksingers. The basics are very basic, he explains, noting that, while playing a musical instrument can be as difficult to learn as one makes it, the simplest lessons are so simple that they are like walking, keeping in mind that a child takes years to learn to walk. That said, Seeger gets the listener playing songs after learning only one chord and, along with two more chords, notes that now "you can play most of the folk songs you know." The rest might be considered advanced learning: capos, strumming, bass runs, counter-melodies, fingerpicking, non-standard tunings, unusual rhythms, etc. Of course, this isn't so much an album to listen to straight through as it is one to practice with until the various elements are mastered through extensive practice. In the accompanying booklet, Seeger discusses how to read music and lists many more chords, as well as some records for further listening. (He also suggests ways to modify one's record player to get the tracks on the album to play over and over.) ~ William Ruhlmann