Top 50 Guitar & Music Books

[SLGuitar]

Originally Posted by cubistguitar

Man, just devour the Chord and Progressions for Jazz and Popular GTR by Arnie Berle. You'll be playing some killer extended inverted chords in no time. That interview will be different if you put a year into the Berle Chord book.

Don't know if your post quoted above was in response to mine, but I see Berle's book was favorably reviewed on Amazon....and Amazon prompts Berle's other book, Patterns, Scales and Modes for JGuitar....as well as Mickey Baker's book. I assume you are recommending Berle's Chord and Progressions book first above the others....yes?

[cubistguitar]

Originally Posted by SLGuitar

Don't know if your post quoted above was in response to mine, but I see Berle's book was favorably reviewed on Amazon....and Amazon prompts Berle's other book, Patterns, Scales and Modes for JGuitar....as well as Mickey Baker's book. I assume you are recommending Berle's Chord and Progressions book first above the others....yes?

Yes this was for you. Get the Chords and Progressions book. Berle starts out easy-peasy and takes it the Nth degree as far standard chord progressions go. If you take your time with this one and be patient with yourself you will be playing lots of new "related" chords (you will know what to do with them if you know how they relate). Very good book, deceptively simple and easy to read through but has the stuff.

[SLGuitar]

Originally Posted by cubistguitar

Yes this was for you. Get the Chords and Progressions book. Berle starts out easy-peasy and takes it the Nth degree as far standard chord progressions go. If you take your time with this one and be patient with yourself you will be playing lots of new "related" chords (you will know what to do with them if you know how they relate). Very good book, deceptively simple and easy to read through but has the stuff.

Thanks, I appreciate it, and I'll follow your recommendation. I figure get some technique going using my cheapo Phantom solid body electric, and if I'm getting places, look around on craigslist for a used value priced (350 or so) semi-acoustic archtop, If you have any recommendations on that corner of the guitar market, please advise, privately would be fine, since this forum is dedicated to instruction...

[cubistguitar]

I think the Epiphone 335 Dot is about that much new. If you actually go into the store you may find a keeper one of these, real players use these things for backup guitars and they sound just fine. Do try it before you buy it,make em set the intonation if necessary, just my 2 cents.

[TamataPicker]

Does anyone have "The 84 Jazz Guitar Equations" method books? Here's an interesting review. TF

Easy Jazz Guitar - 84 EQ Review by David Alzofon

[Stevebol]

I have plenty of books but very little seems to stick with me. If I can get just ONE thing that does from a book or DVD I'm happy. For example;

Jimmy Bruno say's to learn that C major scale in a few different position and really work on it. I knew that a longt time ago but he nails it and shows how he approachs the whole thing. Can't say enough about Jimmy as a teacher.

I got very little out of Jerry Hahn's book and found it a bit too basic- except for one thing- his students ask him what to play over a minor b5 chord. It's simple- the major scale a half step above works. Technically it's the locrian mode(if I recall correctly) of the flat 5th minor key a half step below but I try to avoid thinking in terms of modes. It's easier for me to think of the major scale starting on different notes of the scale.

For gypsy stuff Robin Nolan's books are great, if a bit pricy. It's all about the chords and melodies.

Mel Bay Jazz Guitar Standards Chord Melody Solos (Book & CD)
I found about 4-5 tunes here to be really useful. I like Chris Buzzelli's arrangements in particular. Excellent book for guitarists at or near an intermidiate level in regards to jazz.

I have a couple books on the way as I trying to improve my rhythm playing. I might check out Micky Baker's books. Can't beat the price.

Edit:
To clarify- if you have an Am7 b5 chord, just play as if you are playing over a Bb M7 chord- for the most part. Works for me.

[jazzuki]

Every jazz guitarist should have "Modern Chord Progressions" and "Chord Chemistry" by Ted Greene. The pro players bibles.

[Jazz66]

Mick Goodrick "The Advancing Guitarist" is also a must have for serious guitarists.

[aniss1001]

My favorites would be:


* Mark Levine: The jazz theory book

This one is great to understand general jazz theory. He doesn't allways get it right, but I still find it to be the most complete and comprehensive book on the subject.


* John Scofield: Time on my hands

Transcriptions of all the tunes from that album (one of the greatests albums ever in my book) with themes, guitar-solos, chords, tabs, everything


* Joe Pass: Jazz lines

This is actually an instructional video but it comes with a booklet / pdf. It's a collection of frases and etudes (major, minor, domininant, altered respectively). The booklet can easily be used without the video, but the video is also recommended because he talks a lot about how to simplify ones thinking besides actually playing all the frases and etudes.


* Bert Ligon: Connecting chords with linear harmony

Recently I've been checking out this book. It seems to be the best I've seen on the subject of jazz improvisation.


By the way I have yet to find a complete, comprehensive, systematic book on guitar chords voicings. I've been checking out several but most seem pretty messy in my opinion

[jmstritt]

Originally Posted by TamataPicker

Does anyone have "The 84 Jazz Guitar Equations" method books? Here's an interesting review. TF

Easy Jazz Guitar - 84 EQ Review by David Alzofon

I have it. It is a good book, but in my opinion it wouldn't be on my shortlist. It takes relatively simple information and drives it home hard. There are a lot of different fingerings for the major scale and diatonic arpeggios. I see it as more of a technique book than a jazz language book.

Having said that, I have gotten some of Steve Crowell's Chord Melody arrangements and found them to be very nice, and laid out in an almost too easy to read manner. I was actaully looking at some of his ideas for Here's That Rainy Day not too long ago, very nice stuff.

As for the 84EQ, I didn't care for it, but people learn differently. You may look at it and fall in love with it.

[Fred2746]

Great initiative! Maybe we should add the category books on jazz guitar(ists).
I'm reading The Guitar In Jazz by James Sallis at yhe moment. Great read!

[samrsmiley]

Jon Damian's Chord Factory and Guitarist's Guide to Composing and Improvising. Written by one of Frisell's teachers, they are both really interesting-kind of blurs the lines between jazz and everything else.

Gene Bertoncini's Approaching the Guitar-if you can find it.