THE GUITAR HANDBOOK Ralph Denyer ISBN 033032750X
I have the 1982 version of this book and it was published in the days when learning any instrument meant that you would be put in front of notation told to learn EGBDF/FACE “…and this is a C Scale…” Not exactly the stuff to inspire a young kid however earnestly correct it may be.
It is however the only book I have found that has a comprehensive’ all-things-guitar’ approach covering theory, playing styles, people and equipment. That is also its shortcoming though; as what it provides in breadth it lacks in depth. For example subjects such as modes, circle of fifths, time signatures, scales and modes tend to be only given 2 – 4 pages each, sharing the pages with illustrations and diagrams. These can be pretty abstract subjects often requiring whole books in themselves to be fully understood. It is no surprise to me now that I didn’t understand them based on the simplest of introduction in this text.
Just looking at the contents provides a great ‘skeleton’ of what you need to do – I have not found this in any other book – it just needs more meat, probably making the book nearer to an unmanageable1000 pages; but it would be great if they did it none the less.
FRETBOARD ROADMAPS: THE ESSENTIAL GUITAR PATTERNS ALL THE PROS KNOW AND USE
Fred Sokolow ISBN 0793520886
Shapes, patterns, images, visual-logic are all things those of us who do not want to sit in front of a piece of notation but who want spontaneity, use to master our instrument. Sokolow recognises this and has produced a series of books illustrating those patterns. This is not a big book but it covers – and provides patterns - for some critical areas such as D-A-F, circle of fifths, I-IV-V and moveable major scales. Some are not really presented in any way different from normal tutorials but there is a simplicity and ease (without dumbing down) that goes through this book that is appealing.
Probably at a beginner level. If only this book had been around when I was learning it would have saved a lot of grief.
SCALE CHORD RELATIONSHIPS Michael Mueller & Jeff Schrodel ISBN 0634019945
Getting a bit more serious here – again, like ‘Roadmaps’ this is not a big book at only 40 pages but it has some great insight. It takes the reader through identifying the key when you only have a few chords and which scales are appropriate and why; in major, minor (natural, melodic and harmonic), modal harmony, blues and so on.
An accompanying CD with just under 50 tracks enables you to practice what you have just learned.
An excellent book that very concisely provides clarity and simplicity to a confused area.
MODES FOR GUITAR Tom Kolb ISBN 0634018779
AAaaaaargh Modes! I came to this book knowing something of modes but I wanted to know more and I certainly do now. Kolb goes through each of the modes and the five fingerings per mode. There is also an accompanying 68 track CD where there are example licks also transcribed in the book and play-along’s.
A good book that really helped me. I also regularly dip into the licks and play-alongs’ for practice. I’ve tried to look at this from the perspective of someone who knows nothing of modes and I can’t say that it would be easy but like the books above there is simplicity in the delivery of the information if you have the determination to stick with it.
There you go my favourite books…so far. Do you have any recommendations?
Matthew
