An excellent method book by George Van Eps, one of the pioneers of solo jazz guitar.

This method focuses on developing a thorough harmonic knowledge of the guitar. 82 examples develop the students ability to create smooth voice leading, harmonize scales, and develop right hand picking technique. Incidentally, Van Eps recommends using a picking technique very similar to the Gypsy Picking style of Django Reinhardt. 40 pages with fingerings, pick stroke markings, and photos.

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Transcriptions of Charley (sic) Christian’s 1941 jam session at Minton’s Playhouse. This live jam session is revered by Charlie Christian fans as his best work ever recorded. This book contains the solos only, heads are not included.

The following 4 tunes are included:

Swing to Bop (Topsy)
Lips Flips (Stomopin’ at the Savoy)
Guy’s Got to Go (I Got Rhythm) Up on Teddy’s Hill (Honeysuckle Rose)

17 pages.

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He’s here! Aidan David Horowitz, born on July 8th weighing 5lbs 14oz. Little guy heard my Favino guitar nearly every day in the womb….figured I’d start him early!

For those of you who ordered the week of July 5th, I apologize for the delay in mailing your orders. We were a little busy that week!

-Michael

This is the second volume of the celebrated Bickford Mandolin Method. An excellent way to improve your rest stroke picking technique (i.e. Gypsy Picking) on the mandolin.

Table of Contents

Like the first volume, there is heavy emphasis on learning the rest stroke picking technique. Bickford has analyzed this technique in great detail. He explains many of the virtuosic techniques possible with rest strokes: Gliding (or sweep picking), various tremolo effects, alternate strokes, string crossing techniques, etc.

Mandolinists with a background in bluegrass and celtic music will be pleased to find numerous hornpipes, reels, and jigs throughout the book (with picking notation).

86 pages with over 100 examples

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Johnny Smith was one of the great pioneers of jazz guitar. His impeccable technique, tone, and musical sensibilities set him apart from his peers. One of his great innovations was the development of the chord-melody technique for solo guitar. His beautiful arrangement of “Moonlight in Vermont” is among his most famous performances in this style. His recording titled Legends consists entirely of brilliant unaccompanied chord-melody arrangements.

This book features six Johnny Smith arrangements of classical themes for solo guitar. The titles are:

Suite in B Minor

Theme

Air for a G String by J.S. Bach

Dance of the Reed Pipes by P. Tschaikowsky

Theme from Piano Concerto in A Minor by R. Schuman

Londonderry Air

19 Pages with detailed fingering and pick stroke suggestions. A few nice pictures as well.

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