Guitar Books

[joemac]

I'm 55 and I've played the guitar since I was eight years old.
I reached a sort of learning plateau at probably the age of twelve and have not really progressed much since. I've never played lead guitar in a band. I started as a drummer, then switched to bass, alternating between the two over the years. My guitar playing has always been limited to playing for my own amusement or jamming, usually setting a rhythm for someone else to rock out to. I consider myself a very proficient rhythm guitarist, but my lead-playing has always been limited to solos that I've pinched off records and I've never learned how to improvise, or play anything very fast.
A couple of months ago, I was turned on to The Hellecasters. How these guys evaded me all these years is a mystery, but that's fodder for another thread.
Buying a Straocaster a few weeks ago has changed my mindset. I've been spending a lot of time playing guitar, and I'm building a TelePartsCaster. I feel inspired again.
I've been trying to teach myself some of The Hellecasters' lead guitar material and it's somewhat fun, but it's frustrating because I don't know what I'm doing.
I look at the number and scope of teaching aides/books that are on the market and it just makes my head spin.
Any recommendations?

[zombywoof]

First, cannot stress enough the importance of developing an ear which comes from listening.

For teaching aids, the only series I have any experience with is Happy Traum's Homsepun Tapes because I was teaching guitar in a music center when they started up and was asked to give them a try.

They cover pretty much every style and level out there. How can ya go wrong learning rock and blues from the likes of Jorma and Hubert Sumlin. Ya can check them out on their website.

[cacibi]

I purchased the Truefire 'Twang-U', 8 CD course recently and have been very happy with the depth and width of country styles it covers. So happy in fact, that I ordered their Jazz and Blues courses.

After many years I find that, personally, I learn by learning small ideas - absorbing them, and learning how to incorporate them into things I'm already playing - that way, I sort of make them my own.

I agree that ear training and listening are both important - but not any more important than learning basic concepts and skills from other sources. One thing about learning by ear that I think a lot of people don't always do - is to not just learn GUITAR parts - but try to transcribe a part from other instruments, horns, pedal steel, fiddle parts, etc.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I have a small bunch of guitar books, and the one I go back to the most is The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

It doesn't cover anything in depth, but it hits on just about everything you can think of.

[Dillon]

Arlen Roth's "Masters of the Telecaster" helped me move up a level as a guitar player.

Recent posts her prompted me to order a Ronnie Earl Hot Licks DVD which I hope will kick up my lead playing.

A few lessons with a good teacher might also help. I took my first lesson at about age 45. They helped me correct 33 years of self-taught errors and move forward.

Good luck.

[Open G Tele]

The Fretboard Logic series really opened up the guitar for me.

First published in the 80s, these books are written in plain english and are easy to follow, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Fretboard-Logi...2=zottmann1-20

[Kingpin]

Trying to play Hellecaster material is like starting at the top of the mountain, in terms of difficulty. I'll second the advice to start with something more accessible like the Arlen Roth book.

[joemac]

Well, if I can master some of The HelleCasters, everything else will be a cinch, right?

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking about trying the Fretboard Logic series. I'll look into some of the others, also. I just want something that will help me improve and learn how to solo and improvise.

[imwjl]

Try your library system if you're lucky enough to have one where there is a web-based or telnet session search and reservation option. It has been able to get me hands on with books and DVDs I would have had to buy otherwise.

I've had luck (progress and fun) with the play along product and web material that accompanies it here: http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/

I have made up my own book (large 3 ring binder) where I print the material above and have added a big array of other good info taken from commercial and public domain sources that I either bought or read. The guitar magazines have on line content for example. I have the book organized by scales, chords, songs and products and I can then go to a specific area of interest or need.

I have also saved a lot of money by using old material. As in I have music books that are from my and my sister's youth that are from late 1950's to 1960s. These same books are at used book stores and garage sales for pennies on the dollar compared to new material and the big secret is that music theory is even less changed than the designed of our beloved Teles!

This DIY method combined with cheap and a few sporadic lessons has taken me over a hump and moved my skills. I've only had 4 lessons, and really use then for a boost from a better player more than anything else. I used craigslist and found a recent college graduate who gives a 45 min to hour lesson for $20. Established instructors and teaching firms can't accommodate my being a parent of 3 and business owner where the college student has flexibility.

YMMV, but this has helped this middle aged player make some progress both at a pace that works and a price that's right.

Good luck.

[Dillon]

The guitar recorded version (note-for-note transcription) of "The Return of the Hellecasters" is available in print (Hal Leonard Publishing). Coupled with the Amazing Slow Downer software, that might help you get closer to one of your goals.

With respect to soloing and improvising, however, coupling ASD with the Hal Leonard guitar recorded versions of "Blues Breakers/John Mayall with Eric Clapton," "The Freddie King Collection," or "Eric Clapton: From the Cradle" might give you more building blocks.

[trevarty]

Originally Posted by Dillon

Arlen Roth's "Masters of the Telecaster" helped me move up a level as a guitar player.

Recent posts her prompted me to order a Ronnie Earl Hot Licks DVD which I hope will kick up my lead playing.


Good luck.

I also have "Masters of the Telecaster." It's a great book. The licks and styles in the book range from pretty easy to very hard (for me at least), which gives you something to work up to. He covers country, blues, r+b, and rock.

Johnny Hiland's "Chicken Pickin'" is good too. It's part of the Hot Licks series. It has more advanced rhythm and lead for country playing.

I've only had em for 2 weeks and I've learned alot.

[blacklinefish]

A guitar student lent these to me. I am currently "reviewing" the Fretboard logic I, II, and III books, as well as the DVD I and II. If you are limited in music theory, then I think the DVD is a good addition to figure out everything that is going on.

I am in my 30th year of playing guitar, and I started with classical-style and regular note reading. My first degree is a B.A. in Music, so I have some formal training as well. I think Fretboard Logic provides a fairly decent road map to figure out stuff that you spend the first three years learning. So, I think there is utility to it.

I have to admit that I do not agree with the "system" of renaming so many aspects of guitar playing (e.g. Lead Pattern 2, E Scale Form, etc.). Eventually this will lead to an awkward situation where someone is speaking Fretboard Logic, and thinking they are speaking music theory. I defintely see no long-term utility in memorizing the location of the scales by counting up from the nut. Look, just spend a week per string and memorize every note on the bottom two strings up to the 12th fret. Eventually commit yourself to learning the other three (because the first is the same as the sixth).

In short, nothing beats learning music theory. I think that Fretboard Logic does not do an adequate job of presenting any kind of music theory that you could share with other musicians. However, I think that these books may fill some gaps. I do not think that this should be your first, or only source of learning.

Do not get the DVD by itself.
--gh

[aunchaki]

I got a copy of The Heavy Guitar Bible: A Rock Guitar Instruction Manual back when I was in high school (25 years ago). It's awesome. A few years ago, I started playing again and got Blues Guitar Inside And Out by the same author. They['re both good.

http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Guitar-B...4982863&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Guitar-I...4982983&sr=1-2