She Wrote the Book on Fakin' It

She brought the guitar into vogue. She createdothers simply did not possess the skills to do so.
the first "fake" books designed for regular folksShe had the solution, which came in the form of
who didn't want to or were unable to invest theseveral publications. Her most popular and
time and effort to master the guitar. Who wassuccessful manual, Learning the Guitar Simplified,
she?Catherina Josepha Pelzer was born in 1821 inincluded easy exercises, each of which was
Mulheim, on the Rhine. She was the daughter offollowed by a simple song, along with diagrams of
Ferdinand Pelzer, a leading German guitarist duringthe fingerboard to show where the notes were
the early part of the 19th Century. Ferdinandfound. She created another publication that
began tutoring his daughter when she was quitecolor-coded each note in the diatonic scale. This
young - a task made easier by the fact thatwas known, logically enough, as Colored Diagrams
young Catherina was quite the musical prodigy.of the Notes of the Fingerboard of the Guitar.
She made her London concert debut at the ageAnd for those who had very little time to
of seven. Soon after, her family moved frompractice, she put together Instructions for the
Germany to England where she received muchGuitar Tuned in E Major. One tuning. No muss, no
critical acclaim and gained fame as a performer.fuss.Mme. Pratten died in 1895, leaving behind a
Her concerts and recitals inspired people all overwonderful legacy. She had brought the guitar into
to pick up the guitar. Catherina later becamepopularity by showing the world how beautifully it
much sought after as a guitar teacher, instructingcould be played and by making it easier for the
the likes of the Princesses Louise and Beatrice,average person to play it well - or at least close
among others. In 1854 Catherina Pelzer married aenough for rock and roll.Alyce Chiles is the
renowned flautist and composer, and took themanager and official "appraisal typer-upper" of - a
name by which she is more commonlysite for the vintage guitar enthusiast specializing in
remembered - Madame Sidney Pratten.Afteronline guitar appraisals and vintage guitars in
some time as an instructor, she realized thatgeneral. On the side she also writes freelance
many people were not inclined to invest thearticles on everything from Prozac to Parenting.
necessary effort to master the guitar. Many