The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique Summary and Reviews

The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique
by Christopher Parkening, Jack Marshall, David Brandon

The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique
List Price: $12.95
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

Author: Christopher Parkening, David Brandon, Jack Marshall
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1997-08-01
ISBN: 0793585201
Number of pages: 112
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

Book Reviews of The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique

Book Review: Easy and Fun Method for Learning Classical Guitar
Summary: 4 Stars

It's interesting to have the chance to read what Mr. Parkening considers a productive way to learn classical guitar. I bought this book because I was impressed by the quality of the music compositions within reach of a beginning classical guitarist. I use it as a compliment to Frederick Noad's Solo Guitar Playing 1 method book.

Mr. Parkening introduces each string and it's notation when played open (no pressing on the fret board). From there he gradually introduces more notes and their corresponding position on the staff and fretboard. There are several exercises and studies to reinforce recognition of each note learned and then several short compositions to apply what you've learned to "real" songs. Also from the beginning there are suggestions for practicing the studies and exercises with different finger alternation patterns along with suggestions of when (and which notes) to practice playing rest and/or free strokes. The nice thing is that Mr. Parkening seems not only to be teaching proper technique but also what to listen for and critique yourself so you can continue to improve. As he mentions in the Practicing section, "Always keep in mind it is better to play one piece well than many pieces poorly."

There are some fascinating insights throughout the book into how Mr. Parkening thinks a beginner should approach things such as correct practice, tone production, optimal fingernail shape and attack of the strings, selecting a good classical guitar and it's care. This book also gives the most photos and detailed instruction I've yet seen in any book on EXACTLY how to sit, place your feet and legs, drape/weight your arms and hands in relation to the guitar body and fretboard and correct placement of both the left and right hands and their proper positions. Photos are plentiful although some are better quality than others. My favorites are the antique-ish photos - especially the one of a very young Segovia listening to the elder Miguel Llobet play.

As the back cover says there are 50 solo pieces (some examples: Ode to Joy, In the Hall of the Mountain King, Malaguena, Fur Elise, Jesu:Joy of Man's Desiring) and over 14 duets. He also includes the necessary fundamentals of note reading, beginning music theory of sharps, flats, naturals, music keys, the circle of 5ths, chords, at first, are taught in traditional music notation and also discusses bar chords. Fretboard diagrams showing basic chords (and some bar chords) are found toward the back. All the compositions, duets and exercises are playable in the First Position - that is, they can all be played within the first 4 frets. Occasionally he will include a 5th fret note with instruction on which string to find it. This is fairly uncommon however and is only done when it ends up making the piece easier to play.

There are pages explaining music notation terms as well as a large fretboard diagram toward the back showing each note name on each fret (all the way up to the 12th fret) and it's corresponding position on the staff. There are a number of chromatic scale studies, arpeggio studies, finger technique exercises although I wish there had been more of these included (this is actually my ONLY quibble with Mr. Parkening's book and one he fortunately rectified in vol. 2).

The final section of the book includes supplementary pieces to learn and add to your repertoire. They aren't strictly graded although he does mention that the easier key compositions are first. At this point he mentions you can begin studying Vol. 2 of his Method while still learning and practicing the supplementary pieces from book one.

Overall this is a fine book and I don't think anyone will be disappointed with it. It has some of the nicest selections of musical pieces to learn I've ever seen in any beginning classical guitar study book. The main difference I've noticed between it and Solo Guitar Playing 1 is that the composition pieces ramp up in difficulty faster in Mr. Parkening's method. The reason for this however is that it is shorter than the Noad book. Combine it with Mr. Noad's Solo Guitar Playing 1 and you have an unbeatable combination for learning how to play classical guitar.

Entertainment Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Classical Guitars
Music People FS7850B Guitar Foot Rest ImageMusic People FS7850B Guitar Foot Rest
Music People; Music People; Music People; Electronics; Musical Instruments
Best price: $6.89
Price in other shops: $14.10
Musicians Gear Deluxe Classical Gig Bag ImageMusicians Gear Deluxe Classical Gig Bag
Musicians Gear; Musicians Gear; Musicians Gear; Musical Instruments
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops: $59.95
D'Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte Classical Guitar Strings Normal Wound Clear Nylon ImageD'Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte Classical Guitar Strings Normal Wound Clear Nylon
D'Addario; D'Addario; D'Addario; Musical Instruments
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops: $15.99
Dunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo, Black ImageDunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo, Black
Dunlop; Dunlop; Dunlop; Musical Instruments
Best price: $14.20
Price in other shops: $21.84
Planet Waves Planet Waves Tuning Fork- Key of E ImagePlanet Waves Planet Waves Tuning Fork- Key of E
Planet Waves; Planet Waves; Planet Waves; Release date: 2009-01-12; Electronics; Musical Instruments
Best price: $4.43
Price in other shops: $14.99
The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique ImageThe Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique
by Christopher Parkening, Jack Marshall, David Brandon
Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 1997-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops: $12.95
Dean - Espana Classical Guitar Package with Gig Bag, Pitch Pipe and Foot Stool ImageDean - Espana Classical Guitar Package with Gig Bag, Pitch Pipe and Foot Stool
Dean; Dean; Dean; Musical Instruments
Best price: $149.99
Price in other shops: $175.00
Takamine Concert Classic 132S Acoustic Guitar ImageTakamine Concert Classic 132S Acoustic Guitar
Takamine; Takamine; Takamine; Musical Instruments
Best price: $899.00
Price in other shops: $1,289.00
Yamaha C40C Full-Size Classical Acoustic Guitar ImageYamaha C40C Full-Size Classical Acoustic Guitar
Yamaha; Yamaha; Yamaha; Musical Instruments
Price in other shops: $227.94
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Andres Segovia - 20 Studies for the Guitar: Book/CD Pack ImageAndres Segovia - 20 Studies for the Guitar: Book/ CD Pack
by Andres Segovia, Fernando Sor
Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 1995-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.31
Price in other shops: $18.95
Guitar Fretboard Workbook ImageGuitar Fretboard Workbook
Musicians Institute Press; Published: 2003-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.22
Price in other shops: $16.95
Classical Guitar Method (0762) ImageClassical Guitar Method (0762)
by M. Carcassi
Appa the Association of Higher Education Faci; Published: 1962-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.95
Classic Guitar Technique, Volume 1 ImageClassic Guitar Technique, Volume 1
by Aaron Shearer
Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.; Published: 1987-03-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.84
Price in other shops: $12.50
100 Graded Classical Guitar Studies Image100 Graded Classical Guitar Studies
by Frederick Noad
Music Sales; Amsco Publications; Published: 1985-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.09
Price in other shops: $22.95
Solo Guitar Playing: Bk 2 (with CD) ImageSolo Guitar Playing: Bk 2 (with CD)
by Frederick Noad, Frederick M. Noad
Amsco Music; Published: 1999-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.43
Price in other shops: $29.95
Pumping Nylon ImagePumping Nylon
by Scott Tennant
Alfred Publishing Company; Published: 1995-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.86
Price in other shops: $11.95
Fifty Easy Classical Guitar Solos ImageFifty Easy Classical Guitar Solos
Amsco Publications; Published: 1999-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.15
Price in other shops: $17.95
Solo Guitar Playing/Book 1 with CD (Classical Guitar) ImageSolo Guitar Playing/ Book 1 with CD (Classical Guitar)
by Frederick M. Noad
Amsco Publications; Published: 1994-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.77
Price in other shops: $29.95
The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 2: Guitar Technique ImageThe Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 2: Guitar Technique
by Christopher Parkening, Jack Marshall, David Brandon
Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 1998-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.42
Price in other shops: $12.95