# Guitar instructional books - opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390 "2004-02-10T03:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colinmarshall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Colinmarshall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colinmarshall)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/1 "2004-02-10T03:43:10Z")
I’ve been reading quite a few instructional books on guitar playing recently, and I was wondering if anyone had any opinions about the following titles: Matt Smith’s _Chop Shop for Guitar_ (Have a few xeroxed pages out of it, seems somewhat helpful.) Jamey Andreas’ _The Principles of Correct Guitar Practice_ (Liked the guy’s website, but is the book worth $24.95?) Rikky Rooksby’s _How to Write Songs on Guitar_ (Heard a lot of good things.) Terry Burrows’ _Total Guitar_ (Have it, was wondering what others think of it.) The _Fretboard Logic_ series Also, if anyone has any recommendations of books that have helped them, fire away! ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/2 "2004-02-10T04:05:44Z")
Not sure what you’re into. And my knowledge is limited by my preference for old-timey, pre-electricity blues and hillbilly music. But I can strongly recommend Mark Hanson’s books (_Contemporary Travis Picking_ and _The Art of Solo Fingerpicking_) if you’re into that stuff. FWIW, I have found that it’s easier to learn old-time styles from video or DVD: the guitar is an unusually personal and malleable instrument. And seeing the way the players hold their hands is more informative than any written lesson (or even any CD). Some basic, guitar-applicable theory is good too – I learned mine on the job many years ago, so maybe someone else can offer suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![AV8R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AV8R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AV8R)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/3 "2004-02-10T17:28:06Z")
Here is a prior thread on the same topic: [Recommend a Beginning Guitar Book](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=202995) ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/4 "2004-02-10T23:12:01Z")
\*The Heavy Guitar Bible \* by Richard Daniels. I cannot stress enough how much you need to get this book! It’s not really about playing just heavy metal as the name implies. You’ll learn the fretboard intimately and gain an understanding of keys and scales that will set you free. I have no connection to the author other than owing him dearly for the world of music and guitar he gave me for just a few bucks. Rock On! ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/5 "2004-02-11T00:15:59Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > \*The Heavy Guitar Bible \* by Richard Daniels. Thanks for turning me on to this book, jimpatro. I just ordered it from Amazon. It looks totally cool! ---
**Author:** ![satu\_largi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@satu\_largi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satu_largi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/6 "2004-02-11T00:37:20Z")
…As someone who spends five hours a day teaching guitar, and has done for the last 30+ years, my biased opinion is to find a good guitar teacher… 😃 The “'Progressive”" series has the best range of styles and standards, from beginner on, I find, but almost every instruction book is geared to the slowest possible learner, and so may bore you shitless. The two traps I have found with teaching yourself are the G Majior using fingers 123, rather than 234, which wrecks any move to fast solo style (ie: combining notes and chords) and the use of electronic tuners rather than pitch pipes, which means no ear training. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Adjustable\_Beavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Adjustable\_Beavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adjustable_Beavis)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/7 "2004-02-11T13:42:15Z")
It is not a book but I’ve found [guitarnoise](http://www.guitarnoise.com) to be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/8 "2004-02-11T14:44:36Z")
This is a no-brainer. The only 4 books you need are: 1. Jamey Andrea’s book, “Principles for Correct Practice of Guitar” - yes it’s worth the price 2. The two Bill Edward’s books: “Fretboard Logic” which is actually 3 “volumes.” 3. Don Latarski’s “Practical Theory for Guitar” Those are the best 4 books on guitar period. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/9 "2004-02-11T14:46:00Z")
As for “Heavy Guitar Bible” I say ehh. I’ve got it but it can’t compare to fretboard logic series. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/10 "2004-02-11T15:12:00Z")
Like **satu largi** said find a teacher, I know a kid who’s only been playing 18 months and he knows stuff it took me _years and years_ to find out on my own. And learn to read music. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-instructional-books-opinions/228390/11 "2004-02-11T15:22:55Z")
Doh, I should’ve said _this kid who’s having lessons_. He’s also had little lessons from me from the start. It’s difficult to get some of the physical stuff from books. Oh, and learn to read music (did I say that?)