Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method Complete: Russell Street Jazz Blues

From the best book for learning to read music for the Plectrum-Guitar style, a beautiful slow jazz-blues pieces by William Bay. I hope you like it. The Plectrum-Guitar style is wide and varied, from classical to jazz, and all sorts in between. I have many videos in this style - see my dedicated website: archtopguitar.net f you like what I do, why not "buy me a coffee" by making a donation to www.paypal.com... All donations go to help fund my free videos, research and websites - a sadly not-for-profit venture! Rob

[@RobMacKillop1]

Mistake in my talk at the 5-minute mark. I say the piece has 4 sharps - I meant to say 4 flats, which confuses guitarists all the more!

[@hawaiianshirtracer]

Circle of fifths or fourths? Depends which way you go, widdershins !

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@hawaiianshirtracer I was referencing the actual score.

[@lindasmith6668]

That was great. Thank you 😊

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@lindasmith6668 cheers, Linda!

[@iogeek60]

Rob, I really appreciate everything you’re sharing here. I began classical guitar studies formally many years ago and have done about 15 years of lessons so far with an excellent teacher. I also play plectrum style arch top, and the discipline of classical studies are making a huge difference. Keep up the good work!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Good post, bb. Keep at it!

[@ciprianopinto7208]

Thanks for reviewing this book,I’ve bought book 1and have started my journey.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Good to know, Cipriano. If you need any help, I do Zoom lessons. Best wishes, Rob

[@JustClaude13]

Whenever I hear the words "Plectrum guitar" I keep thinking of the four string guitars that were popular during the transition from the banjo era. The tenor guitar survived, bit the larger instrument has been almost completely forgotten.

[@BobPerrone]

That was my book when learning!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Good to know, Bob. Some really nice pieces in it.

[@BobPerrone]

@RobMacKillop1 to this day I thank my great instructor, Al Faraldi, for pounding those books, technigue and music theory into my head and hands.

[@joshuastlouis6241]

Always a nice listen. How ever, my mind is always looking foward to some more of your banjo works 😂 I like how crispy your sound is and hope to recreate it. I hate finger picks. One these days i hope to see you do a youtube live concert 🎉

[@RobMacKillop1]

Hi Joshua. It’s hard for me to keep all my interests bubbling away. I did a banjo video three months ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX-TeIqHqrSsqa8 and my new Mel Bay edition, The Sentimental Banjo, has recently been published. And I have over 100 banjo videos on KZbin…some under the name of classicbanjoRM. Cheers, Rob

[@joebeamish]

Lovely

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Joe.

[@Trombonology]

Rob, I really like that piece -- you play it beautifully. It reminds me somewhat of George M. Smith's compositions and also a bit of an intro that Allan Reuss plays on the Corky Corcoran small group side, "Minor Blues." I have a number of guitars: flat tops; hollowbody, semi-hollow and solid electrics, even a Rickenbacker 12-string, but acoustic archtop is where my heart is -- my Loar 700 is my favourite guitar. I love how the design of an archtop allows it to be a snare drum, for rhythm, and then a very expressive melodic instrument, as you show here.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Agreed, archtop guitars can cover a lot of ground. I even liked it when I played a Villa-Lobos prelude. Yes, George Smith and Allan Reuss are not far away. William Bay is an underrated composer and player, I’d say.

[@williamstanford7994]

Thanks, Rob. I think I'll get that. I have the original method books, but I'd like to have a look at Part 2.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Best wishes for your progress, William!

[@adriantann6406]

Wonderful! thanks Rob!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thanks, Adrian.

[@steveorion6185]

That's some mean looking Eastman Jazzer guitar ! Ps: I too have a Mel Bay Jazz Chord book at home ! Cheers ....🎸

[@RobMacKillop1]

Yes, it’s a stunning archtop, the Eastman AR 910C - all acoustic, no pickup in sight. 17” body, and a big ringing sound. I had to triple the volume of my voice when editing the sound file in order to get near the sound of the guitar.

[@georgemiller9212]

Thanks!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, George.

[@glennhart4267]

Wonderful Rob. I love it you could share some of yor wisdom and playing from Eddie Lang's method book.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Maybe someday, Glenn. So much music, so little time! Not that my demise is imminent, just that there is so much still to explore…

[@karinemarchitto6368]

Tres beau jeu.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Merci, Karine! J’aime le jazz 😎

[@Miekerijk]

😘 Nice!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Ta!

[@pawlowski6132]

I remember that book.

[@RobMacKillop1]

There’s a lot in it! I don’t think you have to play everything, but keep moving.

[@terrywebb5380]

Thank you for your book recommendations Rob. I always enjoy your plectrum style immensely. The recordings that you made of Harry Volpe’s compositions on your Loar 700VS from Mel Bay’s ‘Masters of the Plectrum Guitar’ remain my favourites Rob Mackillop recordings, particularly ‘My Cherished Prelude’ I brought this book based on your recommendation and am glad to say that I can play some of the easier pieces. Regards,

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Terry. Apparently I did those videos 13 years ago. How time flies! I was a better player back then, but I do what I can today, aged 64 (almost).

[@tommcguire6392]

This is a tantalising video. However, I'm confused as I purchased the Mel Bay Complete Modern Guitar Method from amazon recently (minus ring bound pages), largely as a consequence of this video. How does this differ from the Complete edition referred to above in the You Tube video? I believe the edition Rob is using also has online audio examples?

[@RobMacKillop1]

Hi Tom. I’ll need to look into this. Although they publish my books, I can’t speak for them, but I would like to get this sorted. So, I’ll get back to you. Rob

[@tommcguire6392]

@RobMacKillop1 Thanks very much Rob. Really good of you to respond and to offer to look into this. No need to go to this effort thanks, although very much obliged. Btw, I didn't mean to suggest that your video was misleading at all- it isn't. I just wondered if there was something obvious I was missing ( not unusual for me). I very much enjoy all your posts.

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@tommcguire6392 Hi Tom. So, you have this? www.melbay.com/Products/93396/complete-method-for-modern-guitar.aspx and I have this: www.melbay.com/Products/30505M/mel-bay-modern-guitar-method-complete-edition-part-2.aspx Both have very similar titles. I don't know exactly what is in your book, but see that it has 320 pages. Both Volumes 1&2 of the edition I have amount to 679 pages in all. There is even a combined version: www.melbay.com/Products/30506MEB/mel-bay-modern-guitar-method-complete-edition.aspx I think your version has much of the same music, but without all the scales & arpeggios, technical exercises, etc. William Bay added more new material to the version I have. So I think yours is an earlier version, and the version I have is an expanded version with technical stuff, plus some new pieces by William Bay. The lesson for prospective buyers is that there are differences between The Complete Method for Modern Guitar (which you have), and the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method Complete Edition. Maybe you could return it to Amazon for the other edition? If so, make sure you get Volume 2. Best wishes for your studies, Tom! Rob

[@frank1940L4]

Hey Rob, You mentioned Mickey Baker Volume 2 and I'd love to see an exploration of some of that material (if you're looking for video topics!). I had the book for years and it always struck me as an odd leap from volume one - almost as if it were written by someone else. I gradually came to know some of the standard tunes he plays around with. I know Baker studied the Schillinger System at one point and some of the chapters reference Schillinger topics such as Symmetrical Harmony and Multiple Tonics (T1, T2). I'd be curious to see what someone else has managed to glean from it. Cheers, Frank.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Hi Frank. I was actually contemplating a series of videos on it. We’ll see…I’ll have at least one viewer! 😎

[@zorkmarble]

“Solo Guitar Playing” - were you thinking of Fred Noad?

[@RobMacKillop1]

Yes, exactly that. It’s what I used to teach myself initially, and still use it with classical students, as well as the Sagreras books. I don’t use the technique outlined in either book, but the repertoire is all good.

[@4everPhloyd]

Hi, I need to know. I start a new lesson at 80 beats and as I memorize the piece I am able to increase the tempo to the point where I don’t need to read the music anymore. I eventually play the piece from memory. Is this how I should be progressing? Staying with one piece until I have it memorized before moving forward? Thanks in advance for your reply.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Well, there are SO MANY pieces in these two books, you wouldn’t want to hold all of them in your memory banks. So I used to memorise just those pieces that I liked, and use the rest for sight reading, analysis, or technical reasons, without attempting to memorise them. Be choosy!

[@4everPhloyd]

@@RobMacKillop1 thanks for that. I’m half way through the Mel Bay grade one expanded edition and it looks like a lot of scales are coming next. It has taken me 7 months to get this far but I am not in a hurry I just want to be the best I can be.

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@4everPhloyd I’ve learned that being the best you can be sometimes involves breaking the rules…being human doesn’t imply being perfect. So, learn and observe, but break out if you feel the need to.

[@ultraparadoxical7610]

Lovely! What model archtop are you playing?

[@RobMacKillop1]

It’s in the ‘credits’ at the end of the video 😊

[@zakbraverman]

I know I'm slow, but it took me a few years studying guitar just to *realize* how great Joe Pass is, never mind approaching him. :) (Also, it's good to see you back.)

[@RobMacKillop1]

He’s a frightening monster! And I mean that in an affectionate way…

[@zakbraverman]

@@RobMacKillop1 Your tone in this piece is also great. So soft and inviting. Funny how I thought your great tone was always the result of no-nails playing on gut strings, but this pretty much refutes such a simplistic explanation. I guess it's metaphorical "touch" and not (or at least in addition to) physical touch....

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@zakbraverman I think you first have to have the desire for a certain sound, which I do, and seek it out on all the instruments I play. Using a plectrum adds a factor that requires some attention. I've tried fifty or so different plectra, found one (Gibson EH) that I can use, but even then I had to find a way to best use it. I play with the rounded shoulder of the plectrum, not the pointy bit, and a play across the string at an angle to get that warm sound I like. I sometimes use the pointy bit for contrast

[@WhiteBoar1483]

Hello, just come across your video. Where are you based for lessons, and is mel.bay book 1 suitable for someone who would like to read music but can't ?

[@RobMacKillop1]

I’m in Scotland, Lee, but only teach on Zoom. I have students in many time zones, but always manage to find time together. Yes, Book 1 is a great primer for learning to read. The time I spent learning to read, well, I’m thankful for every day.

[@WhiteBoar1483]

@@RobMacKillop1 Thank you Rob for replying back to me. I will certainly be investing in vol 1 Mel Bay.. Hopefully going forward in the near future I can reach out for lessons with yourself. Thank you for your time Rob.

[@christopherstanford5599]

🎵🎶🤗🌹

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Christopher.

[@isaacbeen2087]

Wonderful stuff. Do you ever draw on plectrum-guitar repertoire for your classical students?

[@RobMacKillop1]

Yes, I do, and vice versa. It's all just music to me.

[@isaacbeen2087]

​@@RobMacKillop1 Indeed. All classical guitar teachers should know about the plectrum-guitar methods; often teachers, including myself, complain that there's not enough good repertoire for early guitar students, when you really just have to search harder for it.

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@isaacbeen2087 Mel Bay's arrangement of Tárrega's Adelita is very interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKHbhpSnpMx_nNU