CIGRG Ch 1: The Completion Backward Principle

"Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to start!"

Wrong!  Sorry Julie Andrews, this isn't the Sound of Music - it's rock guitar! 

We're going to jump to the end of the book - the afterword.  Why?  For some words of wisdom from the author!

"This is, hopefully, the start of a lifelong adventure for you," writes David Hodge.  I thought that was a great way to get things rolling, so I'm bringing it up front.

He then encourages the reader to play with other people.  I agree with that wholeheartedly.  I know that my time playing in the band at church has really helped me improve on both bass and guitar.  Not just playing the instruments, but also developing a better understanding of music and song structure, too.

The book ends with the following gem:

"Play well.  Play often."   Doesn't get more succinct than that!  

So there you have it, the end of the book.  Now we can get started.

Can't Buy Me Love

Money can't buy love, but it can buy a nice new copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rock Guitar!

If you decide to purchase it, why not help out the Guitar Noise site by clicking this link to Amazon:
CIG Rock Guitar

Guitar Noise gets a few pennies, and it doesn't cost you any more than buying it directly from Amazon.

Win-win!

Cyber-Space Truckin'

Before we get started, here are a few places around the internet that will be helpful to the emerging rocker:

Guitar Noise where you can find many of David Hodge's guitar online lessons, as well as the talkative and friendly GN Forums.

Free Jam Tracks  is a place where you can find good guitar and bass backing tracks at a great price (free!)   Pull up a chair, crank up a backing track and start jamming!  

Thunder Row is for bass players, home of the fantastic Teach Me Bass Guitar DVD series featuring studio professional Roy Vogt.  Lots of great articles, interviews, and the Thunder Row Forum.  You'll need to be a registered member to get the most out of it.  I hear there's going to be a Teach Me Lead Guitar DVD set sometime next year ...

Now, how about a little music to set the mood?  Come on!

An Old Dog

So I've got this copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rock Guitar by David Hodge, and I'm thinking "yeah, I'm an idiot." 

I already play guitar (and bass) in a church band, but it's mostly strumming and light finger picking, or some ambient electric guitar.  But I want to rock!   Thus, the book and this blog to keep me accountable.  Maybe I'm not quite the beginner for whom the book is intended, but I still consider myself a novice or possibly an "advanced beginner" when it comes to rock guitar.