Who had The Bert Weedon Guitar Guide – Play In A Day?

Andy Qunta… Naturally I had this book when I first had a guitar. I did indeed play in a day, but that day didn’t arrive for quite some time! Thanks anyway, Bert!

Chris Baker… OMG! I had a copy of that!

Bob Shipway… My first guitar tutor book and it felt old fashioned even then… but, as the saying goes, I didn’t judge the book by its cover! It was a really good book that did indeed have me playing (albeit something wonderfully banal and simple) in a day.

Paul Morfey… This was all we had to learn from. You had to really want to play to get anywhere. Not like today where guitar tuition is everywhere. Those where the days!!

Alan Parker… learnt to play with this book. stil have a copy, printed 1957. every guitarist that comes to my home says they know that book and they had a copy at one time. real conversation piece if you are a guitar freak like me

Pete Fisher… yes I had this too, and found out pretty quickly that a day wasn’t enough to get my little fingers around more than a couple of basic chords…remember him (and a handful of other guitarists) having a spot on TV which was more instructive..

Mick O’Dowd… I bought this book but I was so inept that it took me 3 months to master Cockles & Mussels! So gave up and became a DJ instead. The world breathed a sigh of relief. I was never gonna make stardom on a badly performed Cockles & Mussels!!!!

Alan Parker… You know what they say Mick, ‘Those that can, do, those that can’t, teach.

Jan Warren… I had this, I might still have it, I’ll look in my archives!

Terry Hardwick… I leant a bit of forty miles of bad road

Mark Praid… As soon as I saw this a little compartment in my head reacted “Crikey! I had that”.

Iain Cobby… Was walking on Brighton Palace pier some years ago when I looked up on a raised part of the cafe deck and there he was with his wife sitting enjoying the sun and a cup of tea. I smiled at him and he kindly smiled back. i didn’t want to interrupt his peace and walked on. Kick myself for not saying thank you …………..

Chris Giles… I’ve got one of those somewhere

Harry Randall… I’ve got his book and bought one of his amps the one he practised at home with I felt the need to help Maggie out after his demise!

photo of from: Toby Barelli (King Size Slim) around 1987

Garry Wonfor… Wow!!!…. my Mum and Dad bought me a “Top Twenty” guitar for my twelfth birthday and then took me to Blackpool to watch Bert Weedon, (so that I’d know what to do with it) ..He played through a Vox AC30…(I remember the diamond speaker cloth as I was a Beatle nut!!!)…. He blew me away!!!!

Mike Cope… Ah Yes. “Play in a Day”! I never did Master that?

Paul Huggett… Excellent!

Mike Waghorne… I never did master his play in a day !

Mick O’Dowd… Neither did I. Got as far as Cockles & Mussels!

Wesley Magoogan… If I remember correctly, Bobbie Shaftoe was the first tune.

Leigh Wieland-Boys… I worked in the same building as his agent (Duke Street, London in the 70s) and sometimes covered their reception as a favour. I spoke to him a few times when he called. I was given a couple of Bert Weedon Guitar Guides, which I gave to my Dad, they’re probably in the loft…..

Tony Bird… Bert had a very dubious record of playing the most notes with a plectrum in one second as recorded by the Guinness book of records! Also 13 publications of the book made him a millionaire!

Nick Warren… I had that book – I can only remember it for two things (1) the recommendation of using your own urine to harden the ends of your fingers for playing. (2) the culmination of the book being a rather poor two chord version of “Home on the Range”

Alan Esdaile… I will refrain from shaking your hand in future then Nick.

Phil Little… I had it in 1963

Harry Randall… Not only had the book but bought one of his personal amplifiers when he died to help Maggie out. I have since sold it to Chris Hewitt who has an amazing museum up in Manchester

Jurgen Dabeedin… Still got this somewhere. Must try to find it!

Mick O’Dowd… did but never got past Cockles & Mussels so gave up as I didn’t think I could become a major star with only this in my repertoire!

Christine Giles… I learnt guitar with this book too

Julie-Findlay-jones… My granddaughter could do with that, she’s teaching herself guitar.

Jaffa Peckham… I still have mine….

David Malcolm… Jaffa, can I borrow it?

Barry French… Remember playing a very long version of Bobby Shaftoe to my Mum (It took bout 10 minutes between each chord change) Also recall using the Bert Weedon pick (I cant remember if it came with Play in a day, or was bought separately) It was shaped like the Old town net huts. I literally couldn’t come to grips with it .

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Who had The Bert Weedon Guitar Guide – Play In A Day?”

  1. Was walking on Brighton Palace pier some years ago when I looked up on a raised part of the cafe deck and there he was with his wife sitting enjoying the sun and a cup of tea. I smiled at him and he kindly smiled back. i didn’t want to interrupt his peace and walked on. Kick myself for not saying thank you …………..

    Reply
  2. Remember playing a very long version of Bobby Shaftoe to my Mum (It took bout 10 minutes between each chord change)
    Also recall using the Bert Weedon pick (I cant remember if it came with Play in a day,or was bought separately) It was shaped like the Old town net huts. I literally couldn’t come to grips with it .

    Reply

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