Here are real life comments from satisfied users!

Uncle Tim's First Year gets another 5 star review from an Amazon.com member

Another Uncle Tim's First Year 5 star review, July 3, 2007
Reviewer: Frank M from Long Island, N.Y., USA

I've recently returned to the guitar after a 20 year lay off. I didn't want to start from scratch but I did want to return to rudiments and get back on track the right way.

This series, beginning with this book is the most comprehensive, well written (from a teaching stand point) material I have ever read. If you are serious about being a guitarist and you want to learn the right way (and learn quickly) this series is an absolute MUST!

There are a few type-o's to deal with but it is well worth the effort. I am convinced that Tim Gillespie is the best teacher I have ever worked with and I would buy anything he signs his name to.

After an intense six month workout with this material I already have a very successful performance under my belt. Thank you Tim!

Click here to purchase you own copy using our own secure server.

Book Review by The Muse's News

The Muse's News is a songwriting e-zine and newsletter containing songwriting tools, articles, songwriting contest & market information, free book give-aways, artist profiles and more!

S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w: by James Linderman

Uncle Tim's First Year, Uncle Tim's Book of Chords, & Uncle Tim's Building Blocks - by Tim Gillespie http://uncletim.com

As a full time guitar teacher with just over 30 years of teaching experience, I was skeptical about an academic series of books written by someone who refers to himself as "Uncle Tim." I then read the promotional information that claims that the series provides a "complete musical foundation for any guitarist" and my doubts became almost overwhelming as I thought of how completely packed these books would have to be to consider themselves a "complete musical foundation".

At first glance, the thing I liked about these three books was their comprehensiveness. The claims made by the publisher were true after all. These books were loaded with most of the stuff I try to fit into a lesson but often don't find the time for. Each page is really well organized and very nicely paced.

Obviously, Uncle Tim's First Year is a beginner's book but it suffers from neither of the two ailments common in beginners material: there's nothing dumbed down so that you spend a whole chapter on a single string, and there's no insulting notion that a starter's book should be a lot of feathers and not much chicken. For example, there aren't lots of photos of rock stars with none of the stuff they needed to know to become rock stars.

"Stuff you would need to know" is what this book is full of. It's smart and it's fast and it's full but not overwhelmingly so, at least, not for the ambitious enthusiast. The author accomplishes this blend of easy yet challenging instruction by displaying everything as an illustration or photo and then explaining how it works along with how to make it work really well.

The book starts out with lots of information about the physical act of maneuvering around the guitar and getting sound out of it. There is a brief explanation of the technical differences between electric, acoustic and classical guitar and a section on how to get through the main body of the book which features chords and soloing materials (aka scales) in each key.

At the back of the book there are some pentatonic scales you can rock (or possibly folk) out on and a "chords in keys" page that is very nicely laid out for future reference.

The other 2 books, Uncle Tim's Book of Chords and Uncle Tim's Building Blocks provide "pretty good guitar players" and "local legends" with the intermediate and advanced materials needed to get over a plateau and into some fresh new sounds.

The chord book has lots of chord boxes but also places chords into a key to make them more useable. It also deals with lots of fingerboard movement in your chord playing, an element sadly lacking in most contemporary guitarists style.

I thought of Building Blocks as a book for anyone wanting to visualize what the fingerboard would look like in every key with a section on major, minor, pentatonic and chromatic soloing.

These books would be great companions to a hefty songbook or your favorite tab site so that you could apply the theories, chord voicings and soloing boxes to actual songs and subsequently bring those songs to life with awesome new skills.

Don't let Uncle Tim's casual name fool you. The stuff in these books is as academically sound and as systematically organized as any university music textbook but as practically useful as years of jamming with great players. It only resembles something your uncle would write if your uncle was Uncle Les Paul, or Uncle Jimi Hendrix, or Uncle Andre Segovia, or Uncle Eric Clapton, or Uncle Joe Satriani, or Uncle Eric Johnson, or...well Uncle Tim Gillespie.

You can check out Uncle Tim's books at www.uncletim.com.

****** ABOUT THE REVIEWER: James Linderman lives and works at theharmonyhouse, a music lesson, songwriting and music pre-production facility in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. He is the Songwriters Association of Canada regional coordinator for Newmarket and leads a music workshop program for Life 100.3 Christian radio. James writes songwriting articles for The Muse's News web magazine, Canadian Musician Magazine and Professional Musician Magazine.

See the complete review after July 15 (the regular readers of the newsletter get first notice, the review will be posted for everyone else in a few weeks) at The Muse's News

I've been 'playing at' guitar for a long time, until someone mentioned that he had come across your website. I checked it out and ordered the 'Building Blocks' book. A week later, I realized that it was just a tad too advanced for me and ordered the 1st year book and the chord book.

I learned music from playing the piano. Playing the guitar is a lot different. Your method of teaching, in the First Year book, makes more sense than anything I have seen or tried so far. Scales are the key (pardon the pun). I haven't gotten very far in the book yet...but I can already feel it making a difference.

Should you wish, you may use any part or all of my email to you.

It was an accident of the best kind to have found you. L.O.

Uncle Tim's First Year gets another 5 star review from an Amazon.com member

A Clear, Concise Introduction to Music Theory for Guitar, April 16, 2002
Reviewer: Keith Renn from Philadelphia, PA USA

I agree with the previous review of Uncle Tim's First Year -- and will add that it's a Clear and Concise Introduction to Music Theory for Guitar. I recently bought a guitar and shortly afterwards spent an hour or so at a local Borders Bookstore -- which happened to have a pretty good music section -- looking for a few good instructional books. This thin, inexpensive book impressed me with its many diagrams and clear and concise style, so I subsequently bought it -- along with Gig Bag Book of Scales, Gig Bag Book of Chords, Complete Guitarist, and Be Dangerous on Rock Guitar -- thru AMAZON, at considerable savings. Of the three "instructional" books I purchased, Uncle Tim's First Year is easily the most acessible and understandable -- yet, it gives a comprehensive introduction to scales, chords, and other basics of music theory. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

Tim,
Six months ago I bought your book UTBB. I played rhythm guitar for years (I knew 30-40 chords). Your book has opened my mind to a whole new level of guitar playing! Basically anything above the 4th fret was a mystery to me. I love playing scales, and exploring with different paths (sounds) that scales seem to lead me to.

I've played on our church worship team for years. Then, one Sunday, we were playing a familiar worship song (in the key of D), and I started to hear LEAD sounds in my head. I stopped strumming and let my fingers start playing within the D scale (A string pattern). The lead form I was playing blended so nicely with the song I could hear the sound that I wanted to make and my fingers knew where to go! The other band members all turned around and looked at me and said "Wow....that sounds so cool!" I can't tell you how proud I was. Playing scales, indeed, does pay off.

Playing guitar (acoustic and electric) has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I practice everyday and I always walk away having enjoyed the time I invested.

You have changed my life...Thank you so much! J C, Thornton, Colorado

I bought your book Uncle Tim's First Year and found it simply incredible. I had passed it up before thinking it was just another beginner's book, but it contains a lot of info, even for advanced guitarists. You've simplified the process by cutting it into digestible chunks and very few books do that. I know! I collect guitar books and must have close [to] 500 and truthfully I could get rid of all of them and just keep your book. Anybody out there who wants to learn guitar should use this book. Anonymous web form.

Your beginner's book has helped me impressively. I am 54 and have had a guitar sitting in my office for over thirty years. Your book has opened the theory door which I have not been able to understand until now. This may not be the final step to make me keep playing but you have helped me understand more about chords and key composition than I have ever understood in the past. I will keep you posted. Thank you from a very grateful beginner G. S. Prescott, Arizona

Hi Tim, I've got First Year, Building Blocks and Book of Cords on my shelves. I'm working through First Year right now. What an experience! You've made it easy to progress as a guitar-player! I started playing guitar again a couple of month back (I'm 33 and played a few years when I was 14-18). At the time I was stuck - sort of. Mainly because I didn't have the tools to progress, such as knowledge of the Circle of Fives, cord construction a.s.o. Now with your books, it feels like I can go anywhere - provided I practice enough. ;-) By the way: I can't wait for the next book. When practicing I always end up playing some blues lead and I love Blues ;-) and ... yes, my hand hurts ;-) Thanks for the help, M. W. Denmark

My son recently took up the guitar. one day he called and told me that he had found a book at Borders that he thought i would like. "it seems to focus on what is needed to understand and play. i think you will like it dad." i did...so much so i bought the three books. now i am eighty years old and i don't have the Kennedy Center in mind for the future. but now i know what i have to concentrate on [to] reach my potential whatever that may be.. now i answered your request. will you answer mine? why don't you have instructional tapes? thanks for writing such great books, j. w.

Tim, This is a letter of pure amazement. I will turn 49 in a couple of weeks, so last week, my wife surprised me with an early birthday present. She gave me a very nice used Fernandes Retrorocket. I knew about 4 chords and could give a decent rendition of It Don't Come Easy and Something. That was the limit of my ability. I ordered your 1st year book last week, and it came to me on Thursday. I read the 1st chapter on Thursday and started practicing my scales on Friday. After playing scales all day Saturday, it finally dawned on me, it is all alphabetical (I know that is no great breakthrough, but I saw the relationship). As I was practicing more scales, I started to hear Little Girl by the Beatles, then lo and behold I saw the relationship between the notes on the scale and the chords. I suddenly knew how to play the chords to Little Girl. Tim, I realize this is all very basic for you, but man, it is a breakthrough for me. I have wanted to play the guitar since I was 15, but I never tried it because I thought it would be too difficult. Now, thanks to you, I now know more than I ever did, and this is only after 2 days. Your method is amazing, and I can not wait to see what happens in the next days and weeks and months. You have gotten me excited about learning the guitar, and my fingers do not even hurt anymore. Thank you, thank you, thank you. S. W.

i bought building blocks and 5 string bass, found you through internet research,and i liked what you said about playing the guitar and reaching a plateau in your learning. i have definately improved since buying these books,probably not as much as i could if i reallly applied myself,or if i could memorize the scales,but i am better !!!

one of our freinds came over last week. i picked up the guitar and started wailing. she freaked ! she started talking about some freinds who have been recording lately. she actually thought i should be over there jamming with them. i kept telling her that i'm not very good. she just wouldn't accept that. i still have a problem learning songs,but i can learn them if i spend the time. however,when it comes to jamming to recorded music,whether it's on a disc or satelite,much,much better !!

we listen to the radio all day at work (classic rock mostly),my workmate is a guitar player and every now and then he calls out to me "hey, what cord is that?" believe it or not ,most of the time i'm on it. i wish i was a little bit better at learning songs and memorizing them,but im not. but putting the patterns to the fret board has help me pick up songs much better ,I MEAN MUCH BETTER!!!

i know that there are alot of people who learn songs,certain cords,certain notes,certain order. and i am jealous,but,i can jam to almost anything,anytime,without alot of thought. when i was younger (high school days),i knew a bunch of songs.i played with my buddies and we had alot of fun,but if i didnt know the song i was screwed. not any more! even my wife admits i'm getting better,thats a big one! overall, i am very happy i spent a few bucks on your books .it makes all the money i spent on guitars justifiable.let me tell you ,there was a time.... thanks uncle tim! i wont forget you, DAVE

Note from Uncle Tim: All of these comments come from users who took the time to write. These are typical letters. This is also what you can expect to find, should you try them. Order form.

Note: This is a response from a letter from us, asking if he needed additional help. Thanks for the message. I'm not having any trouble and I can comprehend your books without any problem. I was so impressed with the other two books I thought it would be a good idea to review your beginner's book just to see if there was anything there that would help me. I bet there is. Thanks again. Larry

Uncle Tim, Thanks for the newsletter. By the way, I am enjoying "Uncle Tim's First Year". The other day after practicing I starting trying to improvise. I have tried this before but the fretboard always seemed mysterious. Now I am starting to see the patterns on the fretboard. Your book is making a positive difference in my playing and understanding. Just thought you might want to know. Steve

Look around here for a while, and you'll be sure to see "Uncle Tim's" name come up. He has a series of books, with the first being "Uncle Tim's First Year". It's a very good starting point. That progresses into "Uncle Tim's Building Blocks". I don't want to speak for the author, but the books seem to take a direct route to playing and cut out a lot of the repetitive junk that confuses a lot of new players. I've been playing for a while, but his books have given me the one thing I've been lacking, Focus. Bob alt.guitar.beginner

So, It's YOUR book everyone's gushing about? :-) I might have to get it myself to fill in those first year gaps I experienced... Like you said, guitar quality could be the reason. A barred F-chord sounds horrible when I don't hit the low E perfectly, and doing that requires about 10000lbs of pressure. Further up on the neck it's fine, though. I also thought I may be sitting wrong (I play sitting down almost always). My wrist is at a pretty tight angle mostly. Thanx for the info on picking too. Ciao Eddie

Ditto on Uncle Tim's First Year. Just nothing else out can hold a candle to it. Jfc48

Absolutely true. I can't say enough about the Uncle Tim's series. Just be willing to put in the work! Crash465

Uncle Tim's First Year was the cheapest and my most used resource. At first I went through the book too quick because I was too anxious to learn, I then put it down. Once I settled down and realized it was going to take a lot of patience and practice and picked the book up again and took my time and read and re read the information it became easier to grasp. BJ

I bought Uncle Tim's book. I'm really pleased with the purchase of his "First Year" book. IMHO, I've seen lots of books for sale but this was the best. You can't go wrong. ...I'm not affiliated in anyway with the above, just hope this helps others navigate through all that's out there. Goose, alt.guitar.beginner

I came across a book called Uncle Tim's Building Blocks and was wondering if it is any good. All help is greatly appreciated P D P.

The quick answer is yes. I just bought it and it works perfectly. (This is twice in one day that I have endorsed his book - I am not an employee, but if I do this again I will expect royalties... :) Seriously though, scales and a thorough knowledge of what you are actually playing will increase your abilites to the point where you might want to play in front of a bunch of people. ST

Amazon.com - 5 Star Review - Uncle Tim's Building Blocks. This isn't the fun stuff, but it'll get you there., May 8, 2000 Reviewer: Poncharello from Austin, Texas I learned long ago that putting in the work up front will pay off later. Scales now will mean great playing later. So when I wanted to pick my guitar back up after a few years, I went looking for something that didn't sugar coat the whole process with some sort of easily palatable, faux music theory. This book lays out the Major and Pentatonic scales in a comprehensive, easily absorbed way. Having everything laid out in a visual form makes the learning curve easier. Poncharello, Austin, Texas

Well Tim, after much lurking and posting questions on alt.guitar and alt.guitar.beginner, I came across much of your outlandish boasting regarding your books. ; ) I decided to order the Building Blocks book. I have been playing guitar seriously since February and believe myself to be quite good, however, I never knew exactly what I was playing and why. Keys and scales up the fretboard were always a bit of a mystery. ...

I must say the book is exactly what I needed. I spent the entire weekend ripping solos off in Cmaj / Amin and Gmaj / Emin. I figure I'll spend about three days learning each scale / key inside and out. I can now finally go wherever I want on the fretboard and link everything up with arpeggios and other nifty licks that I had learned previously. Excellent work on the book. If anybody asks, I will recommend your materials without reservation. ... Chords are the remaining mystery. If the next book is of similar quality, I have no doubt I will be quite happy. Good luck, S.T., Ottawa, Ontario.

I just purchased all three Uncle Tim's Guitar books and think these are the best I've ever seen. Take a look at his web site for examples. After a lot of false starts his first book "Uncle Tim's First Year" has everything that is missing in other books I've tried. Comments from PM.

I have greatly enjoyed your guitar book "Uncle Tim's Building Blocks", the complete guide to major and minor scales for the guitar. Your method of teaching is a great help to me and I have improved dramatically in all the areas you promised. Although I've "banged away" on the guitar for years I feel that your methods are worth studying. T. S.

I have been working with Uncle Tim's Building Blocks and it has opened up a world of opportunity through understanding. Thanks alot, keep up the great work! A. Squire

I'm the original poster on this thread and as a result of reading some other posts I purchased several of Tim's books. In his beginners book, "Uncle Tim's First Year", was the sort of answer I was looking for. Tim pretty much relates the whole section below. I now follow just this structure. It works very well for me by doing about an hour for each part. Tim's books are excellent. T. T., Deja.com alt.guitar.beginner forum

Ditto. I bought the book through Amazon.com (Tim's site was noncommittal on how long it would take to get the book) and absolutely found it to be the best guitar instruction book I've ever seen. After 10 years of futility (and lessons, books, etc.) I resigned myself to play by ear. Tim's book is the breakthrough. For the first time I understand the theory of why chords work, octaves, and the theory of the fretboard. Thanks for your post directing me to the book! To anyone who gave up after repeatedly trying to understand the basics, you need to give this book a chance! It's ten bucks well spent. Duff, Deja.com alt.guitar.beginner forum
Get Your Own Copy!

Someone on the group mentioned "Uncle Tim's First Year" by Tim Gillespie so I went out & got it. The book really makes it easy to learn, including theory and scales. It tells you how to set up a structured approach, how to get started, builds on keys + chords using the circle of fifths. I had been playing for about a year when purchasing this book and it has helped me See the Light! I have so many instructional books but this is the one that I always refer to. Lemar, Deja.com alt.guitar.beginner forum

Uncle Tim's books are the best and worth every penny. I learned more from his First Year book than all the other books I bought combined! Do yourself a favor and get a copy. (I have no relationship to him nor do I own stock in his company-I am just a very happy consumer of his products) Jeff, Deja.com alt.guitar.beginner forum

Your First Year is the best book on guitar I have ever seen, bar none! J. F., Charlottesville VA

Amazon.com - 5 Star Review - Uncle Tim's First Year. A reader from DC, USA , July 19, 1999 A great book, but not for everyone. If you really want to know the guitar, and are willing to work, this book is brilliant. It gives you first-position scales and chords in twelve major keys while teaching the music theory that you need to understand what you're playing. It's a very simple program, but it works if you are willing to put in the work. Uncle Tim's Order Form.

Your books were the first guitar instruction books I purchased. Since then, I've spent lots of hard earned cash on other books. Your books were the only ones that I've continued to use, and most of the others are now gathering dust on my bookshelves. Thank you for your straightforward approach. I'm so dense, and feel that your material has made sense to me. Have a great day! Regards, J. B.

"The comments are so favorable that we want to sell it in our factory store." Doreen P. The C. F. Martin Guitar Co. (re: Uncle Tim's Building Blocks) Note: The C.F. Martin Guitar Company carries Uncle Tim's Building Blocks and Uncle Tim's Book Of Chords in their 1833 Shop and Accessories Catalogue.

Logical and orderly self tutor that goes beyond the average basic guitar book. Uncle Tim guides you with experience and insight through rock solid groundwork. Excellent photos and easy to read charts compliment this recommended book. Elderly Instruments Catalogue description.

"Found your books last week. Bought all three. I have tried to use some other books and would get stuck. Your diagrams and examples of the "how and whys" of chord construction, and your explanation of the circle of fifths are outstanding. Thank you for a wonderful tool for a new guitar player." Joan D.

"I am picking up scales quicker and easier now and retaining them better because of your book." Marty C. Music Mart LTD. (re: Uncle Tim's Building Blocks)

"This is the best way to learn this stuff that I have ever seen. Usually my eyes glaze over within 10 minutes." Rick W. Guitar Exchange. (Re: Uncle Tim's Building Blocks)

"I am a chord guy and I compose songs, I never played scales. Now I am playing them all over the neck. If you can reach me, you can reach anybody." Bob K., Manny's Music in New York. (Re: Uncle Tim's Building Blocks)

Uncle Tim’s Building Blocks is a must have resource for any serious guitarist. Dr. Acavado.

"I have been playing guitar for over many years and this is the greatest book for learning the entire fingerboard I have ever seen and I own over 200 music books. R Langely. (Re: Uncle Tim's Building Blocks) "This is my personal opinion and I am not affiliated with the author or publisher in any way"

"Uncle Tim's First Year is an exceptionally excellent guitar instructional manual. I learned quite a few things I never knew just from looking at it the first time." Gordon R.

"A wonderful new book that is absolutely the best on playing scales by patterns and can be of use to beginners and advanced players equally is Uncle Tim's Building Blocks." May B. (Internet guitar chat room) "I picked it up at my local music store awhile back and can't say enough about how good it is."

Mix Bookshelf former editor, Ken Stockwell says "This is the most innovative book we have seen in years".

"We have never seen a book that shows how to construct chords over scales like Uncle Tim's Book of Chords". Chris J, Prosound Music Co.

Note from Uncle Tim: All of these comments are exactly as delivered to us by the person being quoted. These are honest, real comments. We never ask for these comments, they are always provided without any payment, special favors or any form of incentive. In short, they represent the truth. This is what you should expect when you purchase these books from us. Now do you see why we offer such a rock solid guarantee!