Does anyone know of a very very simple classical guitar tutor book? We need something suitable for a slow learner - and preferably with fairly large music print. Does anything like this exist?

I've got an old edition of "A Tune a Day" but it is much too difficult.

Hi Aquarelle,

For the adult learner, the usual recommendation is Fred Noad's "Solo Guitar Playing Book One" which starts off very simple (plucking on open strings) and then slowly moves on from there. Many people have had good success with this one.

Although it starts simple, it takes you up to about Grade 5 level (playing "Lagrima" and "Adelita" by Tarrega and the ever popular "Romanza". I would say there's about two to three years of work in this book.

If you're looking for something even simpler (and with larger notes as the book above is standard size music) then possibly take a look at Fred Noad's "First Book For The Guitar" which is really aimed at the younger learner.

There are all kinds of supplementary pieces you can add to this from "The Young Guitarists Progress" and "The Guitarist's Way" books to Fernando Sor's "Opus 60" studies and some delightful studies by Dionisio Aguado and Mauro Giuliani. You would probably also find that some of the simpler Lute pieces would soon fall within the grasp of the student.

Hope the above is helpful.

Cheers,

Matt.

Many thanks. I will try to follow up. Maybe I wasn't informative enough in my first post - it was the end of a hard day!

I have a boy pupil aged 12 but very immature. He has been learning descant recorder with me - first in a small group, then when the others all went on to other things in individual lessons. Two years ago he got a Merit at Grade 1. Last year he failed Grade 2. He had a very disturbed early childhood and has reading, memory and concentration problems. However his extremely supportive (adoptive) parents are very happy with the sort of thing he has done with me this year 'Recorder from the Beginning" book 2 - hence the request for large print as this helps him read. He has a good ear and likes playing along with the CD accompaniment.

However he is about to go up to secondary school where we all know he will flounder. He has set his heart on learning the guitar. I contacted the local guitar teacher who is a sympathetic person, whose pupils play nicely. He arranged for my pupil and his mother to sit in on one of his lessons but he told them it was as difficult as learning the violin and that he expected regular progress . Having seen the kind of hand written music he uses I think he may find it difficult to get right down to this little boy's level of learning. Being French, the teacher uses a rather academic approach. I just wondered if I could find a very simple book for young beginners and show it to the guitar teacher, whether this might help. The last thing I want is for the boy to try the guitar and fail dismally. I hasten to add that I am sure the teacher wouldn't think I was trying to tell him what to do - we have a good relationship. I have looked at some French tutor books, but like those for piano and recorder they all move much too fast for this child.

I started with young person's way to the guitar by John W Duarte. It still seems to be available although the cover seems to have changed in the last 35 years, but it seems to be the same book. The pieces were very simple and there were some duets. I remember there were well known tunes, like "Lavender's Blue" and "what shall we do with a drunken sailor?"