Which jazz guitar books took you to the next level?

[Average Joe]

Shouldn't the answer be the Real Book?

I think I've learned bits and pieces from a bunch of different books, while there were parts of either that I wasn't ready to take in at the time. it would be difficult to single out one. The principles if not the encyclopedic aspects of Ted Greenes books were revelatory when I first encountered them. There was an Arnie Berle one that helped a lot early on: Chords And Progressions For Jazz And Popular Guitar

I've learned a lot about fingerings and application from Charlie Parker for Jazz Guitar. I know, the "proper" thing to do is to go directly to the omnibook, which I use now, but that book helped me translate the language to the fretboard when I didn't know how

[ragman1]

This one:



The descriptions are accurate, the players on the CD can actually play, and it makes sense. It's pretty good... for a book :-)

[ragman1]

Shouldn't the answer be the Real Book?

Yes, probably :-)

[mr. beaumont]

Honestly, a Real Book. People love to hate on 'em, and a lot of folks don't know how to use one properly, but I think they're a valuable tool.

[ragman1]

I'd be lost without it. Well, three, thanks to grahambop. They don't put them online any more. I've also got the 557 book which is interesting for alternate changes.

[corpse]

I highly recommend Dick Hyman’s two books as a realbook-type resource. I have gotten a ton of ideas from it.

[GuyBoden]

I liked playing along with the Jamey Aebersold books with CDs. Some excellent musicians playing on them.........

[StringNavigator]

[Guitar Player Magazine articles]
In the 1960's and early 1970's these articles ruled. Then they lost it and went rock-star nutz...
Most of the top JG's were featured, but regardless of genre, they got me started on the right path.

[Readers Digest Songbooks 1-15]
Amazon.ca
Great chord voicings and how they work together. Again all genres, Pop, Country, Big Band, Broadway, and more.

[Jerry Coker's Improvising Jazz]
Improvising jazz. by Jerry Coker (1964) Morshead Books
A MUST for every JG. Keep it in your guitar case.

[Jerry Coker's Hearing the Changes]
Amazon.com
[David Baker's Learning Tunes]
Highlights from Volume 76, “How To Learn Tunes” by David Baker – Jazzbooks.com Blog
Together they cover everything you'll ever need.

[Howard Morgen Concepts: Fingerstyle Jazz & Popular Guitar]
Amazon.com
An in-depth Chord-Melody method.

[Corey Christiansen's Mel Bay JG Standards Volumes 1 & 2]
Jazz Guitar Standards: Amazon.ca
Amazon.ca
Notation & TAB. The added TAB is REALLY helpful. Lots of standards.

[Ferguson All Blues for JG]
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...or_Jazz_Guitar
[Ganapes Blues You Can Use - Chords]
https://www.amazon.com/Blues-Book-Guitar-Chords /dp/0793565154
Together they cover the essentials of the Jazz-Blues Style of playing chords; from easy to complex.

[Arnie Berle's Patterns, Scales, Modes]
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-S...Guitar-Book.gc
Key to Fingerboard Navigation.

[Mel Bay's Rhythm Guitar Chord System]
https://www.amazon.ca/Rhythm-Guitar-...34492691&psc=1
For the Big Band chunker.

[Dave Eastlee's Chord Connection]
https://www.amazon.com/Chord-connect.../dp/0825697034
Five chord sets according to CAGED that stay in position used in many examples of progressions.
The last chapter is very unique and explains all about Diminished Substitutions, including Tritone, m7-5, and m6.
It actually takes the entire mystery out of it.

[Roger Edison's JG - Rhythm]
https://www.scribd.com/document/2388...-Rhythm-Guitar
The first book every JG should buy. Probably the best starter there is. Once completed, you're in the know on everything.

[Complete Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar]
Complete Johnny Smith Approach To Guitar Buy Print Music Sheet Music Plus
[Eddy Lang Modern Guitar Method]
https://www.scribd.com/document/4120...-Guitar-Method
Together they drill you on Triads and Inversions. As for extended and altered chords, EL adds the element of string-sets while JS explains the usage of each chord quality.

[Warren Nunes JG Chord Bible]
https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Guitar-C.../dp/0769279724
Fantastic progressions and voicings.

[Johnny Rector Encyclopedia of Chords & Progressions]
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255270180817
The secrets to JG voicings of the 1950's. I use this book more than any other. There's years of work here.

Most of these books are harmony. As for playing lines through changes, I like to listen to recordings and play along. I'll develop or get a decent chord chart of that recording and mimic the artist until I know what I'm doing. I believe that all the the greats did it that way and learned the tradition until they could speak the language. Transcriptions are good if you're a good reader, but you can do it by ear.


::