In this book, Hristo Vitchev collects valuable exercises for strength, independence, warm up and fretboard logic. This is volume 1 of this series. In this instalment, we get a chance to explore different harmonic ideas based around the C major scale.
There’s so much to digest in this seemingly slim 22-page volume. Hristo takes beautiful ideas and then sequences them throughout the entire range of the guitar. Some are contrapuntal with sustaining voices. Others are homophonic textures with chord shapes that move one voice at a time to creating less conventional harmonic ideas.
Most of this material is very original with Hristo carrying each idea to the logical conclusion. With contrapuntal ideas that contract & expand moving in contrary motion – this means you end up with a massive 17th interval stretch (such as F on the 1st fret of the 6th string with the A on the 5th fret of the 1st string).
For me, a lot of these were very difficult and some rather impossible (at least in the beginning). But, as I played them more, I was inspired with my own ideas.
The beauty of this work is the attention to detail. Hristo takes an idea & explores it fully. That alone makes every single book he’s released (that I’ve seen) a valuable asset.
It’s not just about the idea but the execution. Hristo is great at both.
When you watch the preview videos, you can see how these ideas are really embedded in his playing.
In conclusion, Hristo has made a cool volume of DIATONIC IDEAS yet still manage to keep it fresh. I’m going to use these to make my own exercises. That makes me happy & excited to practice.
If you want good challenging warm-ups or just some fresh ways to look at tonal situations, consider getting this book.
Pros: Great book with great ideas. Challenging stuff!
Cons: Like his other books, these exercises include higher range of guitar neck. I recommend practicing these exercises on an electric guitar. Otherwise, please do octave adjustments and key changes when needed.
TLDR: Get this if you want a technical and musical challenge for your practice sessions.
This book was a gift from Hristo to me. Thanks Hristo!
You can get it here: http://gum.co/gevRF
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