Mel Bay's Guitar Methods have been created with modern plectrum/flatpick style guitar, and have time-tested and proven successful in building the theoretic and technical foundation needed to play in any style. All grades of this method are written in standard notation to encourage better sight reading.
 
GRADE 1, Item#MB93200M:
Students will learn to play solos, duets, scales, and chords in the keys of C, A minor, G and E minor. An introduction to the chord melody concept of guitar performance is made. Includes access to online audio and video.
 
GRADE 2, Item #MB93201M:
Students will experience more complex rhythms in carefully graded solo and duet settings with parallel lessons in music theory- just enough to keep students up to speed in terms of what they are expected to play. The book begins with a review of playing in the key of C major but soon goes to F major/D minor followed by D major/B minor. Includes access to online audio that is recorded in split-track format featuring the guitars of Tommy Flint and William Bay. 
 
GRADE 3:
Students will begins with the key of A major and immediately introduces right-hand accompaniment concepts before moving on to the relative minor key of F#. Notes in the first position on the first four strings are reviewed before approaching scales, chords and etudes in keys of B-flat major/G minor, E-flat major/C minor, and A-flat major/F minor. Students will move right into theory lessons regarding intervals, harmonized scales, triads, expression marks and syncopation plus techniques of glissando, ascending and descending slurs, and tremolo.