An Open Tunings Christmas for Guitar Book/Cd Set

This is the first book ever of Yuletide music arranged for solo guitar in various "open" or "altered" tunings. In this genre of guitar music, the instrument is re-tuned to create a voicing ideally suited for each particular song. This book contains ten Christmas tunes and covers five open tunings that give voice and life to the music of the Yuletide season. The arrangements include old standards, like Silent Night and Joy to the World, and a sprinkling of more obscure tunes, such as Am Weinachts Baum die Lichte brennen. All are beautiful, time-tested songs.

An American born and raised in Southeast Asia, Steve Baughman spent his childhood in the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur. The '60's were "in" and folk music was big, even in Southeast Asia. Like many kids of that era, he fell in love with the guitar. One day while rummaging through a part music, part bicycle shop near a Chinese fruit market, he found a dusty, probably pirated copy of Mel Bay's classic guitar method book. With that book he began the most enriching journey of his life. Steve now makes his home in San Francisco. He derives his musical style primarily from British Isles fiddlers, most significantly Martin Hayes. His album A Drop of the Pure features his extremely rhythmic and lyrical arrangements, and showcases his unique touch on the guitar.