Alfred teaches how to add a Japanese twist to your guitar playing

Alfred and the National Guitar Workshop have introduced a new title into their Guitar Atlas series. Guitar Atlas: Japan celebrates the culture, the tradition, and most importantly the music of Japan.

Guitar Atlas: Japan allows individuals to experience the rich and mysterious culture through its music. In addition to arrangements of classic folk tunes like “Sakura” and “Edo Komori-uta,” the book teaches Japanese scales, modes, and tunings, and traditional instruments such as the shamisen, koto, shakuhachi, and more. The curious and the enthralled can now learn guitar techniques to emulate the sounds of these exotic instruments, discover the fascinating world of Kabuki music, and uncover the unique style of shamisen playing called ozatsuma. The book even sheds light on the Bon odori, or bon dances, held during the summer festival of Bon.

This introduction to the music of Japan offers new and interesting music to add to everyone’s repertoire and teaches techniques, theory, and traditions that enhance guitar playing and enrich the spirit. Plus, the included CD demonstrates all the examples and compositions featured in the book.

Guitar Atlas: Japan is now available as a book and CD set for $14.95.