Guitar Warm-Ups and Solos

This handy case-size Qwikguide book offers a baker's dozen effective warm-up exercises plus 31 progressive 'Warm-Up Solos'. The book is written in notation and tablature with above average backup chords suggested for the solos. While written with the flatpicking guitarist in mind, fingerstyle and classic players would also benefit from sight reading these pieces. The original solos present a wealth of bluegrass and swing material that can be played with a rhythm guitarist or the companion CD, which includes all of the tunes and exercises in the book.

The solos are presented in the keys of C/Am (no sharps or flats), the sharp-bearing major and relative minor keys through E major/C# minor (4 sharps), and in the flat-bearing keys and their relative minor keys through E-flat major/C minor (3 flats). The tunes offer a great introduction to swing eighths, triplets, and syncopated rhythms. Author and company president William Bay's gift for writing engaging tunes that offer insight to the fretboard is clearly evident here, making this book an excellent sight-reading resource.