The guitar occupies a unique position in the history of Western music. It has always enjoyed wide popularity as an instrument of popular music, yet it also forms a bridge to the classic tradition. The contributors to this wide-ranging survey include some of the best-known names in the guitar world: Charles Ramirez, Carlos Bonell, Brian May, Alphonso Johnson, John Etheridge, Bert Jansch, and Paco Pena. Between them they bring together tha various aspects of learning and teaching, repertoire and technique, embracing not only the essentials of lead, bass, folk, flamenco, and jazz guitar, in a handbook of unparalleled authority.