More Easy Pop Rhythms: Correlates with Book 2 (Hal Leonard Guitar Method)

The songs in this book are really fun to play along with and are great for rhythm practice which is why I bought it in the first place. If you can play the basic chords this is a great book for learning to play them faster and with the correct rhythm. The only downside is that you have to figure out the strum pattern on your own.

Fun to play out of.

This book/CD pack is exactly as advertised. All songs are in 4/4 time and there are ten 4/4 strum patterns at the back of the book. They should be at the beginning and each student should master them before advancing. Something that Hal Leonard, and most other publishers, fail to mention is the importance of ear training. Listen to the songs repeatedly. Learn to feel the songs rhythm. Then find the strum pattern that works best for you. If you are still unable to find a suitable strum pattern, maybe you should find a good teacher or an "old timer" who is willing to sit down with you and pick a little. Someone who can teach you to listen. Learning any music instrument takes time. Mastering rhythm takes even longer.That being said, this book has a great selection of music. If used in conjunction with the Hal Leonard Guitar method Book 2 (or any other guitar method) one should be able to play all of these rhythms. Where the CD falls short, is that the rhythm track is not separated from the other tracks for isolation, and this has got to be the band that has played at every bad wedding that I have ever attended. Hearing the sax melody in every song is downright painful. Mixing it up between instruments would have been better.In this day and age, one should be able to find good videos online that can help fill in the blanks. Both by the original artists and a host of others willing to share their knowledge. Even instrument manufactures offer free videos. Get together with friends and share ideas. Find examples of the songs and listen, listen, listen! If it were all laid out in front of you on one piece of paper, (nothing for you the student to figure out) then you have learned nothing...I give this four stars because nothing can beat having a living, breathing teacher in the room with you. But this comes fairly close.

I have been taking lessons for about 6 months, adult beginner. Taking lessons from a teacher once a week and by myself on youtube with Marty Schwartz. These are all fun songs and some are still too hard for me. IN other words it's just right as I stretch myself a little. You can practice the chords by yourself and pick up speed until you're ready to play the rhythm chords with the cd accompaniment. well worth the $

Easy to learn and play early on in learning guitar. It is nice to have some songs other than Ode to Joy and Yankee Doodle.

A must have in your lesson tool box.Great investment in easy learning.