Author Description

This book contains many new waltzes and ballads for pick-style acoustic guitar. The music notation is supplemented with tablature. Note reading, while desirable, is not required. The country waltz is a mainstay of folk festivals and anywhere else country music is performed. This collection will help to satisfy the current shortage of new waltzes for the guitarist. In popular music the ballad is generally regarded as a pretty or sentimental tune. In folk music, the terminology "ballad" is not restricted to the sentimental piece. For example, many folk ballads (Jesse James; Davy Crockett; Jed Clampett) are actually very upbeat tunes, suitable for adaptation to solo acoustic guitar. Each song is presented in three forms. First, there is a basic melody. Following this is a basic guitar arrangement of the melody ("version one"). Finally, a more developed or challenging arrangement ("version two") is provided. Novice players can enjoy their progress from the basic to the more advanced material. Intermediate players will find interest in studying the arranging concepts used to develop each tune.