Suggestions for books to read between lessons

Beardy_Jonny · May 2020

Hi, any suggestions for good educational guitar books that are still useful and entertaining to read between lessons when you don’t have your guitar with you ie like during a commute?

Obviously this rules out any book which gives a detailed step by step guide on fingering, chords, etc. but I’m looking for more of a general overview/ tips and tricks / motivational / things to think about before your next lesson type book which is still a good useful read without having a guitar in front of you to practice on.

Basically something that will help me become a better guitar player mentally without having the guitar in front of me to practice on.

Does any such book exist? Not interested in biographies.

vivalacoulter · May 2020

If such a book doesn't exist, maybe it's time someone made one as that is a fantastic idea.

Whistler · May 2020

Tommy Tedesco -- For Guitar Players Only

markv · May 2020

You might like Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo. I know people who really found it inspirational.

Then again I also know people who thought it was hippy bollocks (I am in this latter group) - so, you know, ymmv

prlgmnr · May 2020

What sort of stuff do you play?

Nachmanovitch - Improvisation in Life and Art is good if you're into improvisation/jazz as is Kenny Werner - Effortless Mastery.

Everyone should read Stomping the Blues by Albert Murray.

The Mick Goodrick - Advancing Guitarist has a fair bit of text

artiebear · May 2020

Ted Greene- Chord chemistry. A handbook for life in terms of unlocking the huge harmonic capabilities of the guitar. I have had a copy for about 35 years and it is only my lack ability to fully interpret every page that keeps me going back ( and I did study music ). Some would say that it is geared toward jazz, but only because it's about the whole fretboard as a lateral rather than linear opportunity for expression. It's been around for a long time, but so has music

DulcetJones · May 2020

I came across author Josh Turknett when I took up the banjo a few years ago, besides being a great player he has some medical credentials and has published a book that can apply to students of any instrument. His medical area deals with the brain and it's analytic workings. The title is "The Laws of Brainjo" subtitled "The Art & Science of Molding a Musical Mind". While banjo is his instrument he doesn't dwell on that one instrument and outlines several concepts of how the brain maps out patterns, etc., and has a lot of great insights about how to approach the learning process. I actually can relate to some of his ideas, I used several on my own when I first took up guitar. My only critique is there are a few grammar flubs that a good editor probably would have caught, but that doesn't interfere with the info.

danowens · May 2020

How about stuff like Michael Dregni's historical books on Gypsy Jazz, Mark Levine's 'Jazz Theory', Derek Bailey's 'Improvisation' (very heavy) or Rawlins' 'Jazzology'.

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Suggestions for books to read between lessons

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Tommy Tedesco -- For Guitar Players Only