[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2393.0. "Instructional materials; books, etc." by STRAT::JENSEN (Tone == touch) Wed Dec 04 1991 09:31

    I didn't notice a topic on instructional materials (other than for
    instructional videos), so I thought I'd start one.

    I've always thought it would be nice to have a list of the better
    instructional books, etc.  That way, if I needed to know about X, I'd
    know which book to get or have a pared down list of possible sources.
    So replies to this note should include those books, manuals, etc that
    you've found especially helpful.  Emphasis is on guitar, of course, but
    I'd think most any music related reference would be welcome.  These
    things can include guitar method books, music theory books, perhaps
    things on recording, etc.  Anything so long as you think its good.  We
    should probably keep the "book x is a pile of sh*t" stuff to a minimum.
    Ideally, one should be able to scan the replies to this note and get a
    list of the best sources around.

    So which references, etc have been helpful to you?

    steve
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
2393.1The Advancing GuitaristSTRAT::JENSENTone == touchWed Dec 04 1991 10:0164
    I get to start.  The book I'll describe is:

	The Advancing Guitarist - Applying guitar concepts and techniques
	by Mick Goodrick, 1987
	Published by Hal Leonard books, ISBN: 0-88188-589-4

    Several months ago a fellow named Mick Goodrick started a column in
    Guitar Player.  I like the column quite a bit and noticed he had
    written a book about guitar concepts and techniques.  A few months ago
    I ordered the book.  I think it is absolutely fantastic!

    The book is divided into 3 general sections; "The Approach",
    "Materials", and "Commentaries".  The approach has you doing the
    following things:

	a. Playing up and down a single string (you won't *believe* how
	   much this can help you).
	b. Playing on two adjacent strings
	c. Study of intervals
	d. The open position
	e. Position playing
	f. Combination playing
	g. Repeat a-f for all keys.

    The "Materials" section contains the music theory part of the book,
    including a hole pile of exercises associated with it.

    The "Commentaries" section contains Mick's thoughts on a number of
    subjects.  The following is under "feeling stale?":

	Things to try when you feel stale (about your playing or music):

	 o Play on the tunes that you are currently playing, but at
	   least twice as slow.  (And no double time!)  This way, if
	   you start to play any of your "pet licks" (or your "beef
	   stew"), it will sound so bad to you that you'll probably
	   stop right in the middle and quite possibly actually start
	   to improvise, since, at the slower tempo, you'll have much
	   more time (and space) to think/hear/feel other kinds of
	   ideas.

	 o Ask yourself: "Is there anyting really important in music
	   that I've forgotten about?"

	 o Feed a loaf (or two) of bread to some pigeons, ducks, sea
	   gulls, or other types of birds.

	 o Imagine a time or circumstance where you could never play
	   the guitar again.

	 o Go for a long walk.

	 o Cry.

	 o Stop playing the guitar and/or listening to music for
	   1,2,3,4,5,6, or 7 days.

	 o Stop playing the guitar but listen to a lot of music for
	   1,2,3,4,5,6, or 7 days.

	 o Change the strings on your guitar and polish it.

	 o Send your guitar "back to the factory" to either be retuned
	   or recycled.
2393.2my fave ...GOOROO::CLARKasymptotically normalWed Dec 04 1991 11:077
    Modern Chord Progressions for Guitar (I think that's the name of it)
    by Ted Greene. The 'sequel' to Chord Chemistry. I learned a lot form 
    that book about jazz chords, chord-melody, and the wonderful, complex
    world of jazz 'comping'. But it's a tough nut to crack; very little
    text and LOTS of pages of nothing but chord diagrams.
    
    - Dave
2393.3My latest purchases...CSAVAX::SANTINELLIMay is comming...Wed Dec 04 1991 11:5035
    
    In the last couple of weeks I have picked up the following books
    and I personnally LOVE them!
    
    The first one I got was Blues Guitar Inside and Out by Richard
    Daniels.  It starts out by telling a story about the blues.  Its
    great because it give you a backround to the long history of blues...
    
    Then the book goes into blues scales, and works into blues cords...
    A definate must have book.
    
    It's funny, because I raved about it to two of my friends (one being
    my bass player) and both guys ran out and bought the book!  They
    LOVE it also!
    
    The second book I got was The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer.
    The book starts out by giving a brief history of some great
    guitarist of the past and present, then gets into music theory.
    It gets into the Anatomy of electric and acoustic guitars, and
    how they work and how they are built.
    
    The book also covers Guitar maintenance and customizing, along
    with a entire section on amplification.  
    
    Then the book covers recording.  Home and studio.
    
    And finally, it has a very complete chord dictionary.
    
    Excellent book, I think.  I like it alot because I played for about 7
    years, then stopped for 4.  Now I'm playing again, and this helps
    me remember all those wonderful things from my past, and helps me
    build a new future...
    
    
    			sms - Just my opinion...
2393.7Mickey Baker is good for trad JazzCSC32::J_KUHNSurf's upWed Dec 04 1991 18:517
    
    		"Jazz Guitar I" By Mickey Baker is great.
    		
    		You gotta know how to read music though for the lead
    		section though. 
    
    
2393.8Some recommendations (where I'm at now)SMURF::BENNETTAsk me about Guitar LessonsWed Dec 04 1991 19:0430

	For music theory:

	Norton Programmed Texts in Music Theory

		"Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads, Rhythm, Meter"
		"Basic Harmonic Progressions"

	John Clough & Joyce Conley - $16.95/ea

	No nonsense theory texts using a self-paced method. You can get
	'em at the Berklee Campus Bookstore (GO THERE!) on Mass. Ave.
	a block from Tower Records in Boston.

	For impoving sight reading:

	Berkelee Press

	Melodic Rhythms for Guitar - William Leavitt

		Just finding all of the chords is an incredible adventure.
	The reading exercises start hard and get harder.


	For overall exploration:

	Sher Press	"The New Real Book"	Jazz transcriptions.

	The more time I spend learning Jazz, the easier it gets to Rock.
2393.10Steve Morse Hot Licks casetteDREGS::BLICKSTEINSoaring on the wings of dawnThu Dec 05 1991 11:308
    I think the Steve Morse Hot Licks AUDIO tape has been extremely helpful
    to me in a variety of areas - the most important being learning how
    to learn guitar.
    
    In a lot of ways, it's oriented towards an overall "approach" to being
    a guitar player.
    
    	db
2393.11here's 2:GLDOA::REITERThu Dec 05 1991 17:167
    re:  .3(?)   ditto on
    "Blues Guitar Inside and Out"   highly recommended
    
    also the Guitar Handbook by [ ? ] 
    basic reference bible for any guitarist
    
    \Gary
2393.12dee bibleSTAR::SALKEWICZIt missed... therefore, I am Thu Dec 05 1991 17:205
    Yeah,. I'll "third" the recommendation for the Guitar Handbook,..
    published by "Knopf" I think
    
    						/Bill
    
2393.13ISBN Numbers PleaseRAVEN1::BLAIRall or nothingThu Jan 09 1992 09:324
    
    Could someone please post an ISBN order code for the Guitar Handbook?
    
    -pat
2393.14Info You requested...CSAVAX::SANTINELLIMay is comming...Thu Jan 09 1992 10:5225
    
    Pat -
    
    	Here is the info you requested.  I will send you mail with the 
    	info, but I'll also post it here in case anyone is interested:
    
    	The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer
    	ISBN: 394-71257-9
    	Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf
    	Purchased:  The Little Professor Bookstore in Milford, NH but
    		    can be purchased from almost any bookstore.
    
    	----------
    
    	Blues Guitar Inside & Out by Richard Daniels
    	ISBN:  0-89-524-148-x
    	Publisher:  Cherry Lane Music, Co.
    	Purchased:  Daddy's Junky Music Store, Nashua, NH but they have
    		    it in all there stores in NH.
    
    
    	Hope this Helps!
    
    
    				Steven
2393.15'preshate it, Steve!RAVEN1::BLAIRBush: Japan should import Buuuuicks!Thu Jan 09 1992 11:001
    
2393.16For Six bux and a nickle change..HYDRA::BURGESSWater dependentThu Aug 27 1992 10:4021
re                <<< Note 2393.7 by CSC32::J_KUHN "Surf's up" >>>
>                    -< Mickey Baker is good for trad Jazz >-

    
>    		"Jazz Guitar I" By Mickey Baker is great.

	I just realized that this is what I bought last night at the 
music factory in Manchester NH.  I wasn't looking for it by title, 
just browsing and flipping through pages - it looked good until I saw 
the price, then it looked even better - $5.95 (-:

    		
>    		You gotta know how to read music though for the lead
>    		section though. 

	Yeah, well, its worth learning to read formal notation anyway (-:

	R