Guitar Books

Blues You Can Use

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:54:17 +0000

I love listening to the blues. I get shivers when I hear Clapton’s Strat crying like a baby or Stevie Ray Vaughan rocking out some Texas style licks. But what’s even better than listening to the blues? Playing the blues! Blues You Can Use by John Ganapes is a great starting point for anyone stepping into the world of blues guitar.

Ganapes takes a very hands-on approach to learning the blues. Each of the 21 lessons contains a short song to learn, with styles ranging from Rock n’ Roll to Delta to Texas Rock. The lessons gradually increase in difficulty and by the end you will be ready for more advanced-level blues guitar.

One of the big positives of Blues You Can Use is the Scales and Chord Progressions. Many other books are happy to publish a few licks, tell you to learn them and then send you on your merry way! Not so with Blues You Can Use. Each lesson teaches you scale and chord theory, which is put into practice when you play the song at the end of the lesson. This approach means that you will become a more intelligent blues player and will find it easier when it comes to jamming with other players.

What Will I Learn?

Skills and Technique
Plenty of skills to start jamming the blues – including bends, double stops, slides, position shifts, 16th notes, alternate picking, chord melody, string skipping, speed and plenty of licks.

Chords
Basic blues progression (I-IV-V), the circle of fifths, alternate turnarounds, minor blues progressions, partial chords, secondary chords. Using various positions and voicings of 7ths, 9ths, #9, 13ths, diminished 7ths. All of this combines into a massive amount of alternate blues progressions.

Scales
Minor pentatonic scale patterns 1 – 5. The major pentatonic scale. Combining major and minor scales. Connecting the patterns, which allows you to play over the entire fretboard. Adding notes to the pentatonic scale to add colour.

Buy This Book If…

You’re new to blues guitar. This book will set you on the right course.
You’ve played some blues but want to learn some of the chord and scale theory behind the music.
You’ve played some blues but want to learn some new styles or techniques.
You want to learn some new lead licks
You want to learn some new chord shapes and rhythms
You’re stuck in a rut and don’t know where to go next with your playing.

Don’t Buy This Book If…

You’re an advanced blues player. Probably won’t be much in here that you don’t already know.
I’m struggling to think of any other reason!

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Creative Guitar 1

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:33:04 +0000

I first encountered Guthrie Govan through his articles in the excellent magazine, Guitar Techniques. It was obvious that Guthrie was a master player, so I was excited to learn that he’d also written a book (he’s actually written several, Creative Guitar 1 is the first in a series of three).

Govan’s aim for this book is to show guitarists how to explore any aspect of guitar. That is quite a big ask. But Guthrie does not claim to have written a Bible of guitar. He simply wants to get guitarists thinking about the way they play and to open up some new avenues. I think that he achieves this aim well. Creative Guitar 1 is packed full of nuggets of wisdom, covering topics as varied as tone, timing, perfect pitch and speed.

The book is split into 3 main sections – Technique, ‘Theory Without Tears’ and ‘Scales and Chords’. The Technique section aims to get your fingers in shape for performing common guitar techniques. The mechanics of playing guitar are well covered with exercises to improve the dexterity of your fingers. Theory Without Tears aims to simplify music theory by explaining all the jargon. The ‘Scale and Chords’ section does what it says on the tin.

The book also comes with a free CD. This contains backing tracks for you to practice your new skills. Guthrie gives you some demo solos of his own (which are impressive). Then its your turn to jam along ’till you heart is content.

What Will I Learn?Guitar Books

General Stuff
General words of wisdom to help your playing. Includes topics, such as setting goals and keeping an open mind.

Technique
This section teaches all aspects of technique. Topics include injuries, warming up, guitar tone, effects, string bending, vibrato, muting etc. There’s also a bunch exercises to get your fingers in shape.

Theory Without Tears
Here Govan attempts to simplify music theory. This short chapter deals mainly with standard notation – sight reading, key signatures and rhythm.

Scales and Chords
This chapter explains the theory behind chords and scales. How chords are constructed, common chord progressions, the CAGED system, arpeggios, complex chords, modes. There are some really neat exercises on how to connect the pentatonics and make your fingers remember them.

Buy This Book If…

You would like a book that covers theory and technical aspects of guitar in some detail.
You are beginner or intermediate. Advanced guitarists will likely know most of what is covered here but will still pick up some useful tips.
You want to increase your finger dexterity or want to learn the pentatonic scales by heart. This book is excellent at covering these two aspects.
You’ve read some of Guthrie Govan’s articles and would like some tips from this great guitarist.

Don’t Buy This Book If…

You’re an advanced guitarist and nothing in the ‘What Will I Learn’ section is new to you.

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How to Write Songs on Guitar

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:59:58 +0000

There comes a time in most guitarists lives where they want to write original material. Playing your favourite bands’ hits is great fun but writing your OWN songs is one of the most satisfying aspects of guitar playing. A thorough guide to writing songs is Rikky Rooksby’s ‘How to Write Songs on Guitar’.

This is the type of book where you will literaly learn something new every time you open the book. Rooksby delves deep into the four elements of a song – rhythm, melody, harmony and lyrics. In addition there is a chord dictionary, info on how to make a demo recording and a list of recommended albums to listen to. The text is also littered with references to over 1000 hit songs, which helps the theory to sink in and makes for very interesting reading.

I bought this book partly to write songs from scratch, but also to create second guitar parts. The singer in my band often comes to me with a chord structure and lyrics and it is up to me to add a second guitar part. This is not easy to do, but How to Write Songs on Guitar contains plenty of guidance and inspiration for this type of task.

What Will I Learn?

Songwriting Methods
How to write Rhythms, Melodies, Harmonies and Lyrics. Where to start the songwriting process. Breaking out of your usual habits. Using altered tunings (drop d and many more).

Song structures
How to organise the elements of a song – Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Middle Eight, Pre-Chorus, Outro. Rooksby gives many standard structures plus guidance on how to create your own.

Chords
Many chord sequences with examples of popular songs that use them (e.g. I-bVII-IV is used by The Who in the song Won’t Get Fooled Again). Explanation of keys and key changing. Large chord dictionary.

Buy This Book If…

You want to break out of your regular songwriting style or you’re songs all sound similar.
You sometimes get a mental block and struggle for ideas or inspiration.
You are a songwriter or want to start writing songs. There is guaranteed to be something useful here for beginners and advanced alike.

Don’t Buy This Book If…

You’re an absolute beginner. Get some basic chord changes and rhythm patterns down first.

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Fretboard Theory

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:22:56 +0000

Fretboard Theory by Desi Serna is a great e-book that covers all the elements of theory that most players will ever need. If you’ve ever been invited to jam along with another player or band and found yourself clueless as to what notes to play then chances are you don’t know your theory. Learning and applying the information in this book will unleash the mysteries of the fretboard and do it at a price that’s easy on your wallet.

I bought this e-book because I wanted to become a more ‘intelligent’ guitar player. It’s great being able to play songs, but if you understand the theory behind them then it can really take your playing to the next level. Since reading this book, I know how to play chords and scales across the neck and know which notes to play on top of certain chord progressions.

The great thing about Desi’s book is that he doesn’t just give you dry text about guitar theory. Each section of theory comes with MP3’s and tab of snippets of hit songs that demonstrate the theory in action.

There is an argument that you can get most of the information in this book on the Internet. Personally I find it’s easier to learn when the information is laid out in a course. If I have to go and hunt for information on each topic then I’m less likely to do it. But maybe I’m just lazy like that!

This e-book is one of the best guitar books I own, bar none. A little theory can go a long way and this book goes a long way towards making you an advanced guitar player.

What Will I Learn?

Fundamentals
The notes of the 5th and 6th string, essential for associating notes with their respective barre chords.

The Pentatonic Scale
Teaches the 5 patterns of the scale and how to connect them to allow movement across the entire fretboard. Also explains how to play in a certain key, incoporating passing notes and the blues scale.

The CAGED Chord System
Learn how to play chords and arpeggios across the entire fretboard using the CAGED system. Also learn partial chords and alternate voicings for each chord. Around 100 song examples in this section.

Combining Pentatonic Scale and CAGED Template
Teaches what pentatonic scale to play over any major or minor chord in any position of the fretboard. This will add a new dimension to your playing by allowing you to combine scale notes with strumming. Includes song examples by Pink Foyd, Led Zeppelin and Red Hot Chili Peppers among others.

The Major Scale
Everything in music theory is either derived or compared against the Major scale. Fretboard theory teaches you how to construct the major scale, how to play it’s 5 patterns and how to combine them across the fretboard.

Building Chords and Creating Progressions
How to build chords from the notes in the major scale. Understanding chord progressions by numbers and how they are used in popular music.

Keys and Applying Scales
How to determine the key of a song and decide which scale to play on top of it.

Modes
De-Mystifies the infamous topic of modes. Serna gives the theory behind modes as well as over a hundred song examples.

Intervals
The distances between notes, how they’re measured and how you can apply them to your playing.

Chord Extensions
Adding colour to your chords with 2nds, 4ths, 6ths, 7ths, 9ths and their variations. As always there are some songs to demonstrate the use of these chords in a real world environment.

Buy This Book If…

The fretboard is a mystery beyond the 3rd fret.
You’ve no experience of guitar theory.
You know some theory but would like to broaden your knowledge.
You want to write your own songs or learn how the master’s write hit songs.
You want to take your playing to the next level.

Don’t Buy This Book If…

You’re an advanced guitarist and are familiar with all of the techniques in the ‘What Will I Learn’ Section
You want to learn jazz or classical guitar theory. Unless some of the topics in this review are new to you. Buying this book will give you a solid foundation.

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Music Reading for Guitar

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:04:19 +0000

One of the most common questions guitar players ask is ‘Should I learn to read music?’. Music reading is not necessary for everyone. For strummers and singers, there’s no need for it. For classical players it is essential. For your average rock, blues or metal player it is very much a personal decision. If you decide you want to learn this skill then I can highly recommend Music Reading for Guitar by David Oakes.

I’m about a third of the way through the book and it’s clear that this is an excellent course on music reading. The book starts with basic concepts like notes, rests and time signatures then progresses through to advanced sight reading skills. The first few chapters teach you the ‘Fifth Position’, which means you play at the fifth fret. It is taught first because the notes sit nicely within the music staff. Other positions, such as the open and twelfth position require extra lines to be added above or below the staff. This makes it harder to read, so these positions are left until later in the book.

Oakes sees music reading as a top priority for any serious guitar student. It will eventually allow you to write down any melody you listen to and will allow you to hear any music that you read. If you combine it with ear training and fretboard harmony then you will be able to analyze music just by looking at it. It’s not the type of skill you can learn overnight but it can put you streets ahead of most other guitarists.

What Will I Learn?

The Basics
Fundamentals of music theory and reading. Note values (1/4, 1/8th etc), understanding time signatures, repeat signs, measures etc. Terms like Da Capo, Coda and Fine are explained. There are exercises for developing eye movement and for learning rhythms.

The Reading Positions
The open, second, third, fifth, seventh and twelfth position are covered. There are many reading exercises, which tend to be traditional or classical songs. The reading exercises are the lifeblood of the book as they allow you to familiarise yourself with reading music.

Time Signatures
Starts with 4/4 then additional time signatures are introduced throughout the book.

Rhythm
Starts with basic rhythms then advances to syncopated rhythms. Teaches you when to pick a downstroke and when to pick an upstroke. Sixteenth notes and triplets etc are covered.

Buy This Book If…

You want to learn some classical pieces or jazz.
You want to improve your communication with other musicians.
You want the fringe benefits of learning to read music – better feel for rhythm, better composing and transcribing skills, ability to locate notes on the fretboard.
You’re a serious guitar student or even want to become a session musician or professional guitarist.

Don’t Buy This Book If…

You have been playing guitar for less than 2 years.
You have been playing for more than 2 years but you don’t practice regularly. You need to apply this material several times per week for it to stick.