Guitar Players, Drummers and Other Budding Musicians Add Alfred to Christams Wish List

Press release
Source: Alfred Publishing

The holidays are here once again. Feeling more pressure than ever to shop till you drop? Alfred has your gift-giving (and getting) solution. With Alfred’s wide array of products that offer well-developed techniques while simultaneously making learning enjoyable, your friends and family will be thrilled to pick up Alfred’s music books and software this season and start playing the instrument of their dreams.

Eliminate the need for expensive lessons! Put the fun back into learning with Alfred’s comprehensive do-it-yourself methods. From Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play software series to the popular Complete Idiot’s Guide books to On the Beaten Path’s modern twist on drumming, Alfred offers a manageable way to give the gift of music this Christmas. We also can’t help but point out that while the holidays are all about giving, it never hurts to take some time for yourself, so add these books to your wish list, or pick up your own copy while you’re at it!

Don’t procrastinate any longer! Check out a preview of Alfred’s greatest gifts now, and shop the entire line for yourself at alfred.com.

Teach Yourself to Play Today…

Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play software series is designed to take novice musicians through all the steps of learning an instrument right in the comfort of their own home. Each package includes a CD-ROM allowing lessons to be more interactive and offering musicians examples of all songs they are learning to play.

Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play Guitar is the latest release from the series, and it has everything you need to start playing now. This step-by-step approach to learning guitar is perfect for beginners of all ages for use with acoustic or electric guitar. The deluxe set includes over 60 popular songs covering rock, heavy metal, blues, country, jazz, and folk songs, while other individual sets in the series include Acoustic Songs, Blues Songs, Rock Songs, and even Chord Xpress. The interactive GuitarView song player included in each set allows guitarists to see exactly how each song should be played, and all lessons are in full-motion video with high quality digital audio sound.

Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play series offers a variety of other titles including Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play Bass · Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play Harmonica · Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play Piano · Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Sing · and many more. Prices vary.

You’re Not a Complete Idiot…

We would never call you an idiot, and you can be sure nobody will after you pick up these books. The Complete Idiot’s Guide series is designed to get novice musicians playing immediately, and playing the songs that inspired them in the first place. Assuming one has never before picked up the instrument, the books walk students through all the basics including the instrument’s components, basic music theory, and ultimately how to play the instrument.

Alfred’s latest addition to the series is the popular The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Acoustic Guitar Songs. Each song in the book is preceded by a lesson that focuses on the most important technical and musical features. Fingerings, patterns, and techniques are discussed and broken down to help make learning smooth and simple, while guitar songs are relatively easy to play and arrangements are simplified enough to show just the core guitar part. Learning is made even simpler with each song written in standard music notation plus TAB and guitar chord diagrams. Thirty songs total complete this book with music from artists such as Eric Clapton · Eagles · Fleetwood Mac · Jimmy Buffett · Joni Mitchell · and many more.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide series offers a variety of other titles including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory · The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Rock Guitar · The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Drums · The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Songwriting · and many more. Prices vary.

Explore Alfred’s Newest Path for Drummers…

Alfred’s latest must-have book for every drummer, aspiring drummer, and drum enthusiast worldwide combines inspirational drumming transcriptions and lessons with insightful history of the greatest drum legends to ever pick up the sticks. On the Beaten Path: The Drummer’s Guide to Musical Styles and the Legends Who Defined Them is an exploration of the true passion of drumming, perfect for experts and amateurs alike. Pick it up today and learn to play the most legendary drum beats and solos ever recorded! This book is your essential guide to the biggest and best drummers to ever grace the instrument, the music they played, the gear they used, and the drummers that influenced them.

Special features include: Authentic transcriptions and easy-to-follow lessons for 85 of the most legendary beats and solos ever recorded · Insight into the history and development of Funk, Alternative/Punk Rock, Metal, Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Jam Band, Fusion, Jazz, and Reggae - plus a listing of essential recordings for each genre · An audio CD containing all the beats and solos presented in the book · Dozens of amazing photos · 250 pages!

Drummers include: Travis Barker · Carlton Barrett · Carter Beauford · Jason Bittner · John Bonham · Danny Carey · Billy Cobham · Tré Cool · Stewart Copeland · Lowell "Sly" Dunbar · Jon Fishman · Mickey Hart · Topper Headon · Bill Kreutzmann · Gene Krupa · Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste · Keith Moon · Vinnie Paul · Neil Peart · Mike Portnoy · Buddy Rich · Max Roach · Chad Smith · John "Jabo" Starks · Ringo Starr · Clyde Stubblefield · Lars Ulrich · Dave Weckl · Tony Williams · and more! On the Beaten Path: The Drummer’s Guide to Musical Styles and the Legends Who Defined Them retails for $29.95.

Check your local retail or store or log on to alfred.com to find out more about all our products. Pick up your copies today and kick off the holiday season in the most festive manner possible: with music!

About Alfred Publishing
Since its inception in 1922, Alfred Publishing remains dedicated to helping people experience the joy of making music. With hundreds of expert authors and composers backed by a talented staff in seven offices worldwide, Alfred publishes educational, reference, pop, and performance pieces for teachers, students, hobbyists and performers spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level.

Alfred currently has over 45,000 active print, DVD, software, general MIDI, audio CD and enhanced CD titles in circulation throughout the world. Titles represent a full range of musical tastes and styles, including the works of George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Madonna, Green Day, and hundreds more. In addition to its own titles, Alfred distributes works from the National Guitar Workshop, the Dover Music catalog, and Faber Music.

For more information about Alfred Publishing, please visit www.alfred.com.

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