Top 50 Guitar & Music Books

[Robby8700]

Jazz book: The Chord Scale Theory and Jazz Harmony- Barrie Nettles and Richard Graf

Guitar: Chord, Scales, and Arpeggios- Al di Meola and Bob Aslanian
Melodic Rhythms for Guitar- William Leavitt (good sight reading practice)
Solo Guitar Playing- Frederick Noad

[Robby8700]

Pat Martino's Linear Expressions (good if your just learning to improvise over chord changes)

[jazzd]

Dirk this is in reply to your e-mail. You do donot have any of these books or DVDs but they are must haves for seroius jazz guitar. i have done wel with them. The Art of Solo Guitar and intermediate Jazz guitar by Jody Fisher.

Improv 335 by larry Carlton and George Benson absoluty for DVDs. The absolute best jazz has to offer.

[MotMandre]

Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene. Great concepts for improving your jazz comping.

[mario.g]

jazz guitar books

jazz rythm guitar a sistematic aproach - roger edison
all blues for jazz guitar - comping styles,chords & grooves
jody fisher vol.1 vol.2 vol.3 vol.4

guitar books
pumping nylon

music books

mark levine the jazz theory book

[lopakafern]

I am having a hard time setting up my Cube 60 with my hollow body Hagstrom.
To much bass just cant get that right tone.
Looking for some input

[donindallas]

For me, the seminal book was "Mickey Baker's Complete Course in Jazz Guitar - Volume 1." Bought it in 1974--still has the $2.98 price sticker on it. Also, while not strictly jazz, I am a huge fan of "Fretboard Logic" by Bill Edwards. That opened up the fretboard like no other.

[brad4d8]

I own a large percentage of the titles mentioned-I'm a compulsive collector- and can agree with many of the recommendations. I am a little surprised, though, that nobody mentioned:
Harmonic Mechanisms for Guitar, Volumes 1,2 & 3, by George Van Eps. They have a lifetime of work in them (both that he lived and you can still live), more of a reference work than a method. He also has a single volume method that is pretty good.
Brad

[bealmond]

The Jazzmaster Cookbook by Jim Grantham. Great theory book for the jazz player with practical advice and written in very organized and logical steps. Tough to find.

I also recommend this book. It's not hard to find at all, however. You can order it through Jim's website. Just go to this site if you're interested: Jazzmaster Workout: Jazz Theory, Improvisation, Musicianship Instruction Books

[C.A.JO.]

Jazz guitar books:
1. Jody Fisher - "Complete Jazz Guitar" Series
2. Andrew Green - "Jazz Guitar Technique"
3. Ted Greene - "Jazz Single Note Soloing" (volume 1+2)

Guitar Books:
1. Mick Goodrick - "The Advancing Guitarist"
2. Troy Steitina - "Speed Mechanics For Lead Guitar"
3. Tim Quinn - "Fluid Pentatonics"
4. Jody Fisher - "30 Day Guitar Workout"

Music books:
1. Troy Stetina - "Fretboard Mastery"
2. Mark Levine - "Jazz Theory Book"
3. Kenny Werner - "Effortless Mastery"
4. Barry Greene - "The Inner Game of Music"
5. Michael Miller - "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Music Theory"
6. Gerald Klickstein - "The Musician's Way"
7. Ted Greene - "Chord Chemistry" & "Modern Chord Progressions"
8. Walter Piston - "Harmony" & "Counterpoint"

All of these are sublime aids to anyone's studies with a teacher! I think it's hard to work with all this information on your own. But as you go through a lot of different topics with your teacher, you should investigate books and articles for further information. These books will all help with further knowledge in that manner.

[604bourne123]

my favourite-Jazz guitar chords and accompaniment-
yoichi Arakawa

[Guitar-Trader]

I've been playing guitar for a number of years, but I'm a newbie to Jazz guitar and was wondering whether anyone knows of a good jazz guitar video I could learn from? I tend to like Larry Carlton's style and that type of playing and music. Has anyone seen or used his instructional vids?

[princeplanet]

Omnibook.

David Baker How to Play Bebop, 1, 2 and 3

Aebersold, 1, 20, 21, 24, 47, 84

Wolf Marshall Best Of Wes Montgomery

Michael Moringelli A Reference for Jazz Theory

Dave Liebman Chromatic Approach to Harmony and Melody

Mark Levine The Jazz Piano Book

Ramon Ricker Technique Development in Fourths



But then, how many books did Wes need?.....

[Bluesguy]

But then, how many books did Wes need?.....

Who knows? I know that I certainly enjoy reading and studying jazz books whether I need them or not. Of course, there are few jazz musicians to jam with here.

[nomelite]

I've been playing guitar for a number of years, but I'm a newbie to Jazz guitar and was wondering whether anyone knows of a good jazz guitar video I could learn from? I tend to like Larry Carlton's style and that type of playing and music. Has anyone seen or used his instructional vids?

So don't miss this one. It's a must!!

Jazz Guitar Lessons - 335 Improv - Larry Carlton

[RonD]

So don't miss this one. It's a must!!

Jazz Guitar Lessons - 335 Improv - Larry Carlton

+1

[jeffstritt]

Here are a few...

Ted Greene: Chord Chemistry
Joe Diorio: Giant Steps
Mick Goodrick: The Advancing Guitarist
Jerry Cocker: Patterns for Jazz

[radisson]

I would also like to mention Steve Crowell;s book Jazz Guitar Power Soloing.I am a novice jazz guitar player and this book really helped me . I did 2 of the solo's on youtube of that, i learned out of his book . If you want to listen to them youtube.com in search type arriscraft and that is me playing them.Anyway keep out the good work and yes it makes me proud to be a member of this site

Arriscraft !

[steve@uaai.com]

i DONT GET ALOT OF COMP. TIME BUT I DO READ ALL EMAIL THAT COMES IN. THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING. (DIRECTION IN LESSONS, ADVICE, OPINION & JUST PLAIN FUN WITH AN AXE.) SO THIS IS A THANKS AND A APPRECIATION OF WHAT EVERYONE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
STEVE TUCKER CINCINNATI, OHIO USA

[hans dekker]

Hai Guys/ladies...I started with Mickey Baker nr. 1, later nr. 2, then switched to Warren Nunes, Garrison Fewell, picked-up chords from Eddie Arkin's Chord Substition book and Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar, Single Note soloing by Ted Greene and completely misunderstood Gateway to Guitar Improvisation by Tony di Caprio (to difficult for a simple mind like mine!). I did it my way. Even Chris Standring's excellent "Play what you hear" did not make me a better player. Maybe I hav'nt got the talent...
but I love picking up my Yamaha and improvise for a couple of hours.
Even my wife enjoys it!!! That's music and that's what it is all about.
Enjoyment. Greetings from Amsterdam, Hans Dekker

[hans dekker]

Out of print but if you can get hold of some: Warren Nunes, briljant guitar player and excellent tutor. Learned a lot from his books. And still do!.
Hans Dekker

[CrackerJackLee]

great posting!
so many great books... i've purchased 25% of them over the years...

i'd have to add:

Johnny Rector's Guitar Chord Progressions:
100 pages of intelligent and unique jazz comping voices and progressions

Roger Edison's Jazz Guitar:
in two parts (Lead & Rhythm) all you really need progressions, voicings, arpeggios

Jerry Coker's Improvising Jazz:
a gem - the most undervalued book in jazz - i've had this book for 40 years - for all instruments - a quality bound book that fits in your guitar case -explains in plain english all you need to know about jazz improv, scales, chords and an appendix of 100 jazz progressions with modulations in roman numerals

[nomelite]

i'd have to add:

Johnny Rector's Guitar Chord Progressions:
100 pages of intelligent and unique jazz comping voices and progressions

I have been doubting in buying Rector's book. Finally I decided for Warren Nunes' 'The Jazz Guitar Chord Bible'...anyway I still think about Rector's book. Do you think it will be redundant if I buy it? thanks a lot

[CrackerJackLee]

[quote=howdjado;71130]

I object to the book list idea, not because it's bad, but because it will cause me to search for more guitar/music books, buy them, and then have to buy more bookcases to store them. It is an endless quest.


that's for sure... and there's allways one more i haven't heard of... or another coming out... when i break down and buy "one more" or "the last one i'll ever need" i generate the thought that at least my book habit is healthier than smoking or drinking... but i really must buckle down and thoroughly apply each book to my playing... as i tend to accumulate and procrastinate... but i'm having some success with a spreadsheet of the topics in each book and pagination... so when i'm into octaves or chord substitutions, etc, i can check the spreadsheet for the appropriate book... and it's interesting to get the different ideas and presentations from various guitar mentors... i've also done this for records and CD's to get different arrangements of the same tune... music is the gift that keeps on giving... Cheers!

[CrackerJackLee]

I decided for Warren Nunes' 'The Jazz Guitar Chord Bible'...anyway I still think about Rector's book. Do you think it will be redundant if I buy it?

Certainly not... I guarantee the Rector Book will be challenging, attainable and you'll walk away with a definite skill. I paid $28 in Canada with CD, but they're $20 in the U.S.... (same prices as the Nunes' book). For me guitar is a passion yet still just a hobby... but i've purchased both books and I need both to study a wide variety of music.

Nunes & Rector are both great. The JG Chord Bible is a huge book offering many more chord voicings and progressions - and they apply to many styles: jazz, folk, rock... years of work, much like Ted Greene's books. I open it up to any page and simply jump in and learn something new - 187 pages of excellent voice leading that opens up the fingerboard. Sure, buy this one first because it's good for all jazz styles.

Rector's book is more concise (half the size) and practical. It is also very programmed - start at page one and don't skip pages till you've completed the book... (you may if you wish, but...). And it would take at least a full year to do it justice... but if you want to play Sinatra, Ella, Ellington, pop or stage band... he gives the best, optimum voicings (very sonorous together)... like a set, they all sound great together and they "finger" well together as a set. It helped me hear progressions in a new way... like they were played for the Rat Pack in a 50's vegas casino. He gives us something attainable and the progressions are authentic. If you were to comp for a vocalist (or chug along in a big band), this would be all you need to sound authentic and not feel nervous. I imagine that it would be a treasure for someone in a school stage band or someone doing cocktail gigs or jazz standards. By memorizing and practicing just the chords in this book, you could sight read any gig's chord chart and make the changes. My copy is well worn.

Rumour has it that Johnny Rector regretted selling it to Mel Bay. And many swear by his method. Rector also wrote an Encyclopedia of Jazz Guitar Runs, Fills, Licks & Lines (with notation, tab and chord symbols). They work well together to provide a complete course.

I guess i'm saying that Nunes' offers an exploration into creative sounds while Rector provides a toolbox of chords and where to use them professionally. Owning both books covers a lot of styles and makes good sense. I hope I don't appear biased. If you ever buy it, let me know how things turn out... Cheers!