Fred Sokolow's best-selling Fretboard Roadmaps guitar method and series has helped hundreds of thousands of guitar players. For the first time, this system is presented for the absolute beginner. While teaching the basic skills needed to play countless songs, Sokolow presents practical music theory that will enhance your playing. The visual fretboard patterns, used in all of the Roadmaps books, make it easier to understand the guitar and think like a musician. With chord grids, tablature, music notation and a recording, you'll immediately learn how to: play over 20 familiar tunes; strum and fingerpick songs with many different rhythms; play melodies in five different keys; play dozens of chords; use the "blues box" to play solos and to jam with other players; play power chords and barre chords up and down the neck; read tablature and music notation; and more! The accompanying recording includes the songs, scales and exercises that are presented in tablature and music notation throughout the book. The success of the Fretboard Roadmaps series is due to its practical, visual patterns, which help the guitarist learn to play - quickly!