Description
Rock Like The Pros Beginning Guitar Method Book – 3rd Edition
Learn guitar step by step with a complete 15-week beginner guitar method by professional guitarist and educator Terry Carter.
The Rock Like The Pros Beginning Class Guitar Method Book (3rd Edition) is a comprehensive beginner guitar instruction book designed to help new guitar players build a strong musical foundation while having fun playing.
🎓 Santa Monica College Students: This is the guitar method book used at Santa Monica College by Professor Jimmy Cheesman and other instructors.
Rather than focusing on just chords or just music reading, this guitar method combines chords, strumming, music notation, guitar TAB, blues, fingerstyle, scales, improvisation, rhythm, and songs into one progressive learning system.
Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time, taking a college guitar class, or you're ready to strengthen your fundamentals, Rock Like The Pros gives you a clear path for improving your guitar playing.
What You'll Learn
Throughout the 15-chapter guitar course, you'll learn:
- Beginner guitar chords and chord diagrams
- Major, minor, seventh, minor seventh, add and sus chords
- Basic and intermediate guitar strumming patterns
- Whole, half, quarter and eighth-note rhythms
- How to read standard music notation on guitar
- How to read guitar TAB (tablature)
- Blues shuffle patterns in A and E
- The blues form
- Minor pentatonic and blues scales
- Guitar improvisation
- Power chords, 5th chords and barre chords
- Fingerstyle guitar using P.I.M.A.
- Sharps and flats
- Rhythm patterns using rests
- Songs, exercises and guitar duets
- Music reading across all six guitar strings
A 15-Week Beginner Guitar Course
The book progresses from the fundamentals—including the parts of the guitar, basic rhythms, chord diagrams and simple chords—to more advanced beginner concepts such as blues guitar, fingerpicking, power chords, barre chords, scales and improvisation.
Music-reading exercises gradually introduce notes across all six strings, helping students develop their ability to read standard music notation while improving their technique and knowledge of the guitar fretboard.
The method also incorporates different musical styles, songs and exercises so students can apply each new concept in a musical setting instead of simply memorizing exercises.
Learn Guitar Chords, TAB, Music Reading, Blues & More
Rock Like The Pros takes a well-rounded approach to learning guitar.
You'll start with simple rhythms and beginner chords before moving into open-position chords, guitar TAB, eighth-note rhythms and blues guitar.
As you progress, you'll explore the blues form, blues shuffle, minor pentatonic and blues scales, power chords, barre chords, fingerstyle guitar, sharps and flats, improvisation and music reading across all six strings.
The goal is to develop not just your ability to play songs, but a stronger overall understanding of the guitar and music.
Great for Beginning Guitar Players, Students & Teachers
Rock Like The Pros is designed for:
- Complete beginner guitar players
- Santa Monica College guitar students
- Self-taught guitarists who want stronger fundamentals
- Students taking private or group guitar lessons
- Guitar teachers looking for a structured beginner curriculum
- Classroom and college guitar instruction
- Players wanting to learn both guitar TAB and standard music notation
- Guitarists interested in chords, strumming, blues, fingerstyle and improvisation
Book Details
Title: Rock Like The Pros Beginning Class Guitar Method
Author: Terry Carter
Edition: 3rd Edition
Length: 102 pages
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Format: Printed guitar method book
ISBN: 9780982615126
Skill Level: Beginner
Course Length: 15 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this guitar book good for complete beginners?
Yes. Rock Like The Pros Beginning Class Guitar Method is designed for beginning guitar players. The 15-week method starts with fundamentals such as the parts of the guitar, basic rhythms, chord diagrams and simple chords before progressing into music reading, TAB, blues, scales, fingerstyle and improvisation.
Is this the guitar book used at Santa Monica College?
Yes. Rock Like The Pros Beginning Class Guitar Method is used at Santa Monica College by Professor Jimmy Cheesman and other instructors. If you've been directed here for your Santa Monica College guitar class, this is the Rock Like The Pros method book.
Does this book teach how to read guitar music?
Yes. The method progressively teaches standard music notation across all six guitar strings. Students begin by learning notes on the first string and gradually expand their music-reading skills across the guitar.
Does the book teach guitar TAB and chords?
Yes. You'll learn how to read guitar TAB and chord diagrams, along with major, minor, seventh, minor seventh, add and sus chords. The book also introduces power chords, 5th chords and barre chords.
Does the book teach blues guitar and improvisation?
Yes. Blues is an important part of the method. You'll learn the blues form, blues shuffle patterns in A and E, the minor pentatonic scale, blues scale and guitar improvisation, along with songs and exercises that put those concepts into practice.
Does this guitar method teach fingerpicking?
Yes. The book introduces fingerstyle guitar and the P.I.M.A. fingerpicking pattern, helping beginning guitarists develop skills beyond basic strumming.
How long does the Rock Like The Pros guitar method take?
The book is organized as a 15-week beginner guitar method, with each chapter building on concepts introduced earlier in the course.
Start Learning Guitar with Rock Like The Pros
Build your guitar skills one step at a time while learning chords, strumming, guitar TAB, music reading, blues, fingerstyle, scales and improvisation.
Whether you're learning guitar on your own, using the book with a guitar teacher, or purchasing it for your Santa Monica College guitar class, Rock Like The Pros provides a structured path from the fundamentals to becoming a more confident guitar player.
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