Yueqi Li : Pluck by Pluck Books 1 and 2: Yet to be published

                                         Book 1

The first thing to say is that the first book’s initial introduction to playing and reading music is very detailed. Although I can see that that would be necessary it does take considerable reading.

Having said that the place where the player starts actually plucking the open strings is very carefully done and, with a teacher to oversee it all, I can see that it is a very useful way to begin. (I did however think that the section on page 13 of how to tune a guitar should have come nearer the beginning!)

But certainly the very detailed and well – written gradual way the book introduces new elements is very well done, and I can’t think of much that could improve it. It does cover just about everything you need to know about playing and reading music, and is a very cleverly arranged volume, and it does keep you interested throughout.

                                                                     Book 2

Book 2 begins with the introduction of accidentals and their use, and again immediately makes the playing very interesting, having now started using some well – known pieces that many will enjoy playing. From there on key signatures start to be used, and from there, the beginning of pieces written in new keys, another really important thing to do. By the middle of this volume, the pieces are (of necessity) more complex, and a great deal of fun to get your hands around, and by the end of volume 2 the pupil’s playing should be really quite reasonable ,and they should have a considerable amount of knowledge about the guitar and all its techniques.

I found this a really fine pair of volumes that would be extremely useful to a pupil, but I think he would always need a teacher to be there rather than try to go through the book by themselves.

Chris Dumigan