(Rock House). Designed by John McCarthy, this Master Edition combines all three levels of this award-winning series in a complete course Learn all the essential techniques needed to play all genres of music for electric or acoustic guitar. Start with how to hold the guitar for comfortable playing and fast, effective learning. Next, learn picking and strumming techniques, chords, rhythm, timing, and how they are used to play popular songs. Learn melodies, scales and the basics of the blues. You will also learn lead techniques such as hammer ons, pull-offs and bends, and how to put them together to play leads and riffs Level 2 guides you to learn and apply scales such as Natural Minor, Pentatonic, Major and Blues scales. Learn to play the most used chords and progressions that will have you playing hundreds of songs quickly. Level 3 gives you all the guitar knowledge to stand toe to toe with the best guitar players in the world Learn advanced chords, scales, techniques and coordination building exercise that will have you tearing up the fretboard. As an added bonus, included are audio backing tracks and playing examples you can download that follow each lesson and let you apply them over full band backing tracks.