Sir James's Top 7 guitar Books
Hello everyone, I have traversed the Jungle of instructional guitar books out there and here is a list of what I have found to be the most useful. One book will not cover everything as there are so many styles to choose and learn from: classical, Jazz, blues, rock, folk etc.. . Music Theory, however you may slice it is still theory and is the one common thread in all the tonal music we know and love.
1. Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask by Tom kolb
http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guitarists-Everything-Wanted/dp/063406651X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1333478258&sr=8-2
This is a great book that clearly and thoroughly explains music theory in much the same way that I would explain it so I like this one alot.
2. Guitar fretboard workbook
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Fretboard-Workbook-Barrett-Tagliarino/dp/0634049011/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333478420&sr=1-2
This is a Book I am modeling my own upon.. It is a work book so you work through problems on your own.. It could use more examples in certain places and I think the interval section should be first but it is still really good.
These first two books really go hand in hand. Those of you who own one may wish to get the other.
Also, these first two books would be essential to any guitarist of any style classical, jazz, rock, country, or whatever.
You will not need a chord book or scale book because they are for those who understand nothing about theory and need to reference a chart every time they see a new chord in a song. You will make your own charts as you progress through this one. Most chord and scale books out there are regurgitated garbage.
3. The advancing guitarist by Mick Goodrick
http://www.amazon.com/The-Advancing-Guitarist-Mick-Goodrick/dp/0881885894/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479121&sr=1-1
Advanced level theory and other concepts..If you are really hardcore than it is a great book to pursue and read after the first two. There is enough here to keep you busy for the rest of your life.
4. Blues you can use and also More blues you can use by John Ganapes
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-You-Can-Use-BLUES/dp/B0029PVCS8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479226&sr=1-1
These books are great for learning the blues which is where both Rock and Jazz has its roots.. To learn how to play guitar in either a rock or jazz style learning the blues is the first place to start. I found this series to be the clearest and most "useful" of the blues methods out there.
5. Solo guitar playing by Frederic Noad
http://www.amazon.com/Solo-Guitar-Playing-Volume-1/dp/0825636795/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479549&sr=1-4
This is the method I went through when I was a teen. I still use it to teach classical students. It is great for learning the ropes in this style of playing.
6. pumping nylon by scott tenant
http://www.amazon.com/Pumping-Nylon-Book-Scott-Tennant/dp/0739024035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479710&sr=1-1
More of a Classical technique book. It is exactly what it sounds like, a book full of exercises for the hardcore classical nut.
7. Jazz Guitar: Hal Leonard
http://www.amazon.com/Hal-Leonard-Guitar-Method-Songbooks/dp/0634001442/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333480371&sr=1-12
Jazz guitar music theory. Very concise, covers different Jazz styles quickly but is a great introductory book into playing Jazz. Still need to look at the first two books and also play some blues.
There are many, many books on these subjects.. In my opinion these are the best, the clearest and easiest to understand and packed full of information to help get you where you want to be as a musician.
1. Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask by Tom kolb
http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Guitarists-Everything-Wanted/dp/063406651X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1333478258&sr=8-2
This is a great book that clearly and thoroughly explains music theory in much the same way that I would explain it so I like this one alot.
2. Guitar fretboard workbook
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Fretboard-Workbook-Barrett-Tagliarino/dp/0634049011/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333478420&sr=1-2
This is a Book I am modeling my own upon.. It is a work book so you work through problems on your own.. It could use more examples in certain places and I think the interval section should be first but it is still really good.
These first two books really go hand in hand. Those of you who own one may wish to get the other.
Also, these first two books would be essential to any guitarist of any style classical, jazz, rock, country, or whatever.
You will not need a chord book or scale book because they are for those who understand nothing about theory and need to reference a chart every time they see a new chord in a song. You will make your own charts as you progress through this one. Most chord and scale books out there are regurgitated garbage.
3. The advancing guitarist by Mick Goodrick
http://www.amazon.com/The-Advancing-Guitarist-Mick-Goodrick/dp/0881885894/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479121&sr=1-1
Advanced level theory and other concepts..If you are really hardcore than it is a great book to pursue and read after the first two. There is enough here to keep you busy for the rest of your life.
4. Blues you can use and also More blues you can use by John Ganapes
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-You-Can-Use-BLUES/dp/B0029PVCS8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479226&sr=1-1
These books are great for learning the blues which is where both Rock and Jazz has its roots.. To learn how to play guitar in either a rock or jazz style learning the blues is the first place to start. I found this series to be the clearest and most "useful" of the blues methods out there.
5. Solo guitar playing by Frederic Noad
http://www.amazon.com/Solo-Guitar-Playing-Volume-1/dp/0825636795/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479549&sr=1-4
This is the method I went through when I was a teen. I still use it to teach classical students. It is great for learning the ropes in this style of playing.
6. pumping nylon by scott tenant
http://www.amazon.com/Pumping-Nylon-Book-Scott-Tennant/dp/0739024035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333479710&sr=1-1
More of a Classical technique book. It is exactly what it sounds like, a book full of exercises for the hardcore classical nut.
7. Jazz Guitar: Hal Leonard
http://www.amazon.com/Hal-Leonard-Guitar-Method-Songbooks/dp/0634001442/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333480371&sr=1-12
Jazz guitar music theory. Very concise, covers different Jazz styles quickly but is a great introductory book into playing Jazz. Still need to look at the first two books and also play some blues.
There are many, many books on these subjects.. In my opinion these are the best, the clearest and easiest to understand and packed full of information to help get you where you want to be as a musician.
