a1books from NJ, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $7.44 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

---superbookdeals from IN, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $7.61 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

smokymtnbooks from TN, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $7.62 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

a1books from NJ, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $7.74 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

thermite-media offers this stuff with condition New, new for:

Price : $8.35 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

bookrackrh from SC, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $8.36 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

pbshopus from NJ, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $8.66 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

pbshop from , United Kingdom offers this stuff for:

Price : $8.66 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

bigrock_media from NV, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $8.85 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

bigrock_media from NV, United States offers this stuff for:

Price : $8.98 Usually ships in 1-2 business days

What our customer's say!

"The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Vol. 1: Guitar Techique", This is a great book containing many familiar songs arranged in a very comprehensive way. I think everyone should get this book.

"Awesome Learning Tool", I have personally used a lot of different beginner guitar books to get a grasp on playing the guitar. 99% of them all lack a basic understanding of certain techniques, and information on properly playing the guitar. This book hands down is the best beginner book I've used. In conjunction with a teacher, you will very quickly understand many aspects of the guitar that most other books don't ever cover. And Parkening doesn't miss a step. Highly Recommended for any teenager or adult whom wants to learn the guitar. This book will teach proper technique for all guitar players (ie, electric, acoustic, classical (of course), etc.) The techniques in this book will save you hours of frustration later when you hit a road block, or need to re-learn proper guitar technique.

"Great Beginers tool", I have been playing the guitar on and off for over 10 years. I have never really gotten to a point that I can say that my skills were really great. Primarily I have taught myself to play. I have learned a few songs and played mostly cords, and tab.

I first got interested in arpeggio, or classical guitar, a couple of years ago. I have read a few lessons, from books mostly, and learned a little.
I bought this book a few weeks ago and have not stopped playing since. The key to learning the guitar, in my 10 years experience, is persistence. You have to keep practicing to build up your finger strength and the tips of your fingers. Prolonged absence of practice will weaken your finger strength slightly, but weaken your finger tips greatly.

This book brings you through some classic lessons and techniques that will help to build the use of your fingers. It also shows you the proper positioning and posture that should be used while playing. This is important because it helps you to play longer if you are comfortable.
This book also has some really great practice pieces. The songs are a mix of duets and solo pieces. The duets can be played solo just for the practice. I find myself going back to them often for two reasons. Practice is one and the other for note recognition. Some of these pieces are really very nice and sound really great.

I would recommend that anyone who wants a really challenging form of guitar playing to purchase this book. I would also like to state that I had read that this book should take a person 1 year to complete. I tend to disagree. I have made excellent progress in the book so far. I have had a few road blocks, but persistence had been its own reward. The point is, your progress will be determined by your dedication to practice. The only thing that has slowed me down, or prevented me from practice is the soreness of my fingers.

I am glad I bought both Volume 1 and Volume 2 at the same time. Before I know it I will be in the second volume.

"A very good method book", This is my first recommendation for students of the classical guitar who are approximately age 9 and up. It has many photos and illustrations and moves at a swift pace.

"Quality book--well worth the money", I was looking for some quick motivation, and this book has provided. It has an attractive layout and is well-written and organized. It contains much good information and advice for beginners--or those of us who may have played off and on for years but still don't feel like true "intermediates".

The most valuable thing is the nice selection of compositions. Several of them are new to me, and really fine, like the "Catalonian Song" and "Simple Gifts." Chances are you'll find things in here that you really like and want to work on. The arrangements are interesting but not too difficult. Left hand fingering is provided, which certainly helps.

I'm more motivated than I've been in years. This book is a great value.

Read this reviews before You buy...

"Good book for beginners and intermidiate guitar players", The book has a fair amount of classical guitar music pieces. I wish the book collect more guitar music and put the beginning guitar stuff to a separate book.

"serviceable", This is a fairly slim volume, with rather less than in it than some of the reviews below would lead you to believe. It is certainably serviceable as an instruction book, but there are other classical instruction books available, and better, in my opinion, classical instruction books available.

It is nice to have the photographs of hand positions, but most of the photographs here are vanity shots of the author and superfluous, in my opinion. In fact, I think this book's raison d'etre is to attach a celebrity guitarist's name to a method book. Sorry if that sounds cynical, but the most famous guitarists are not necessarily the best teachers.

I was dissapointed in the obvious and unrewarding "supplemental pieces" and the lack of specific guidance about when to use rest stroke or free stroke, for example.

No, if I had to choose one, I'd certainly recommend the venerable and time-tested Aaron Shearer method. Don't misunderstand me, however: the Parkening book will suffice.

"A Wonderful Method Book", This is a terrific method book that I encourage classical guitar teachers and students to buy. The photographs and explanations of his points are clear and complete. What I like most about this book is the selection of music and how it is organized. The pieces and exercises come in perfect order. This particular volume limits all notes to within the first five frets, so more advanced players will want to also get volume two. I'm an advanced level guitarist and I went through this book very carefully, page by page, so that I would be able to use it effectively with students, to develop sight reading ability, and also to have the feel of playing pieces that I had total control over. This book will be my main source when I teach my students. There is one minor flaw: in the beginning of the book he gives an alterante sitting position for women that should not be used. Women should sit the same as men when they play classical guitar (unless they're wearing a skirt). It's acceptable for women to sit the same as men now when they play classical guitar. Some reviewers have made negative commnets about his "bible thumping" in the book. There's only one page of bible references in the book, at the very end, and even though I'm not releigious, I'm fine with it. He just talks about how his releigion is an inspiration to his music and he gives a few bible quotes. Big deal. You'd have to be a fool to not get this book -- the best method book I know of -- because of these few bible comments. You can really see how much this great guitarist tried to reach out to others and teach them how to play through this book.

"The first of two great classical guitar method manuals", This book covers the basics of classical theory, use and application in the first position on the guitar. If you don't know what that means, that's ok, this book is still for you. Some sight reading is learned as well in this volume. With this and book 2, anyone can gain a medium knowlege of Classical method.

"Excellent introduction to the guitar", My teacher suggested this book and it is terrific, though I do agree with another reviewer that placing fingering suggestions next to the notes can get in the way of learning to read the music. It took me almost ten months to work through the entire book. In the beginning, I could not read guitar music and had no idea what I was doing. I can now play a good little repertoire or songs without sending my wife running to get the ear plugs! The layout of the book is very logical, continually building on the skills you have already learned. It also includes a good mix of exercises as well as popular classical pieces to learn. I look forward to continuing my studies in Volume 2.