![]() It’s puzzling because, alas, OLGA no longer offers lyrics, which were removed for legal reasons.Īfter the first 26 lessons, the CD-ROM directs the user to the OLGA to download the chords of about 30 songs. The audio icon (the “speaker”) is pressed, the song begins and the animated fret board springs to life graphically showing the G7 chord.Ī puzzling but still welcome addition is the inclusion of suggested songs from the On-Line Guitar Archive (). Good speakers would be more comfortable, for sure, and would make the lessons a more pleasurable experience. I kept the headphones on one ear with the other ear exposed so I could hear my own playing and attempt to harmonize with the artists’ vocal renditions of the songs as well as the guitar playing. It’s all done in “baby steps,” in a logical manner, and most people should be able to follow the course easily and learn all of the 70 songs included in the 160-plus lessons, graduating from the old-timey traditional stuff to rock hits such as “Rock N’ Me” by The Steve Miller Band and “Uncle John’s Band” by The Grateful Dead. The lessons continue with Professor Garry slowly introducing more complex chords and rhythms and songs. ![]() But one still needs to use the included Tuner to match the sounds in the lesson. Relative tuning, explained in the last part of Lesson Four, is required reading and is a quite simple technique to use. ![]() Some guitars, beginner’s guitars especially, need to be tuned often. Unlike a piano, which requires a professional’s touch, most guitar players are expected to keep their own instruments in tune. While the course effectively explains tuning its importance cannot be understated. Keeping the guitar properly tuned is essential. The animations of the fretboard (see example B) coincide with the red highlights moving over the songs’ lyrics to indicate where to play. The teacher gives plenty of time for practice and review. For those with even the minutest rhythmic ability, picking up these tunes should be very easy. By one finger, I mean, literally that the student only needs to press one finger on to the fretboard and strum a few strings to make a chord. I call it “ Fun with The One-Finger Chord.” Professor Garry leads the beginner through the first songs, “Freres Jacques” and “Skip to My Lou,” calmly and effectively. For songs with lyrics, just follow along with the red-highlighted lyrics on the main screen. The animated fretboard is your guide, your “bouncing ball” to follow through the songs and chord practices. The animated fretboard appears once the audio (the audio icon is illustrated by a speaker) is started. The program’s main screen provides the basic contents of the lesson, supported by a QuickTime movie (icon illustrated by a movie camera) and simple written instructions. He starts people out with the most basic elements of guitar playing: the simple G and C chords. Professor Garry presents each lesson succinctly in the form of QuickTime movies (see Example A). The instructor’s name is Kevin Garry, Ph.D. It makes for better learning to have the same type of instrument as the instructor. The songs are all demonstrated on an acoustic guitar. The lessons indicate you may use an electric guitar, and you may, but I recommend going the acoustic route and trying to match harmonies with the included music on the CD-ROM. Of course, for this beginner’s course you’ll need a guitar. The program is installed after opening the program you get to the Table of Contents and from there begin the lessons.Ī split screen QuickTime movie shows Professor Garry explaining the simple G7 chord. Just insert the CD-ROM, click to install the program (it’s available in Mac OS 9 and X formats and Windows) and away we go. It’s nice to have a printed manual, which was absent, but in this case it’s not necessary. The Box came with a CD-ROM in it, basic instructions for installing the software on the CD-ROM, and some promo materials. ![]() Like most all infomercials the good side gets a hard sell but the glitches get nary a mention. (Let’s just say I respect a lot of guitar players.) The Guitar Method product Frampton touted looked very good on the tube, too, but the positive reports by the test monkeys in the infomercial seemed all-too-familiar and sort of cheesy. I’ve always respected just about any guitar player better than me. Frampton played with David Bowie for a while in the 80s, and I respect that. I’ve wanted to buy this software package since watching Peter Frampton lavish his praise for it on TV infomercials a few years ago. ![]()
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