Search - DVD-Easy Flatpicking Guitar Arrangements-A Song for Every Holiday on DVD

A good direct approach to learning holiday tunes

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 08/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"80-minute DVD (with music and tab) - Three time National Flatpick Guitar Champion Steve Kaufman knows that guitarists like having "a song for every holiday." In this lesson that was originally released on video in 2000 (but is now available on DVD), Steve teaches eleven songs for various special days from Valentine's Day to New Year's Eve. The majority are in the key of C, but a couple others take us into the keys of D or F.

Emphasizing his technique of strumming through chords only up to the song's melody notes but not past them, Steve demonstrates an easy method to provide both rhythm and melody. The ear hears the highest tone in chord's voicing. Therefore, this is good direct approach to learn songs. On the songs for Hanukkah (Dayenu, Who Can Retell?), we're shown how to break out of the chord occasionally and how to provide light strums to fill gaps with time and chord coloring.

The videography is very professionally done, but Steve's loose wrist watch does provide a slight annoyance to the viewer trying to concentrate on the multiple screens illustrating both the right and left-hands. Adding holiday songs to one's repertoire is a wise thing to do. It's also good practice for learning new licks, chord shapes, phrasings and patterns. The songs taught include Let Me Call You Sweetheart, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, Dayenu, America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic, We Gather Together, Who Can Retell?, Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Auld Lang Syne. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)
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