The Guitar Handbook: A Unique Source Book for the Guitar Player - Amateur or Professional, Acoustic or Electrice, Rock, Blues, Jazz, or Folk

When I first started playing the guitar 2 decades ago, a friend had a copy of an earlier edition of this guide and he gave me the book to use while I was getting started. Using the book, and I mean really reading the book thru thoroughly, I learned a whole lot about the instrument itself and the music that could be produced from the guitar and that really helped my performance as I developed on the instrument. The book begins with guitar innovators, those guitar players who have had a serious impact on the way the instrument is played, etc. This section was actually fun to read and was quite informative about several guitar players who had influenced my own playing. The following two sections of the book cover acoustic and electric guitars. These sections detail how each instrument (acoustic and electric) are put together, how to set the action, the various types of each style of guitar, how pick-ups are put together, etc. This is a helpful and technical section which instructs the reader on the ins and outs of the make-up of his instrument.From here, the book moves into actually playing the instrument. It begins with the beginner, teaching good practicing habits, what to practice, improving fingering, chord progressions, reading tablature, tuning, action, right and left-handed techniques, etc. Then this section moves into chords (with photos), three-chord theory, flatpicking and strumming and other various fingerstyles, barre chords, and even how to transpose songs. Inside this section there is also a sub-section on rhythm guitar, setting tempo, time signatures, using chord charts, time values, etc. Essentially everything you would need to know to be a well rounded guitar player is included (including slide guitar). The final section deals with the maintenance of the guitar. This section teaches the reader/player all the things that are needed to know about the most difficult maintenance aspects such as how to customize an instrument, to the easiest such as changing your strings. For the electric guitarist, there is a guide to guitar electronics which includes pictures and lists of all the tools you will need, instructions on reading wiring diagrams, actual charts and photos of how an electric guitar is wired, pick-up circuits, etc. Finally, at the back of the book is a fairly extensive chord dictionary with pictures of how each chord is fingered. This dictionary is very helpful to the player when trying to find the same chord but to know where it is elsewhere on the fret board. Overall, what can I say but that no guitar player, regardless of your experience should be without this definitive guidebook.

I got this book to learn more about theory and scales and things like that. I got this book for the right reason-this book has everything a beginner would need to learn about scales, modes, chord theory and construction, harmonics, guitar anatomy and more. This book outlines the basics of everything a beginner should know. Even learn about sheet music. I recommend this book to any beginner or intermediate player--for acoustic OR electric.

If you are new to the wonderful world of guitars or a seasoned pro there is something in this book for you, from the basics like the anatomy of the guitar, strings, basic setting up etc, to more detailed information like modifying the electrics, effects, amps and so on. It also gives an excellent insight into the whole music making experience, such as PA equipment and basic sound engineering. Also included is a profile of some of the most influential exponents of the guitar in recent years. There is also a detailed section on reading music, chords, harmony and theory as well as basic repairs to your 'axe'. I have had this book for a number of years and I have found it invaluable as a reference guide and light reading, my only critisism is that the bass guitar is only lightly touched upon, but the basic principles apply to the bass anyway. In all I think this is the book to have in your collection whether you dabble, or do it for a living, go out and buy it!

The part of my copy that gets the most wear is the section on "how to play the guitar". Having played guitar for nearly 20 years, but skipping over most of the theory behind it, I have become an avid music theory student. Music is a deep language, and the author has a gift of unlocking the mysteries of music and of the fretboard without spending a thousand pages on it.I'm finally learning my scales and modes and every note on the neck. It's just not that difficult!It's amazing what is in there in addition to guitar playing theory: guitar construction, repair, customizing, and care; great guitarists profiles and comments; performance technology. It's an encyclopedia for the guitar.Buy the book and LEARN YOUR SCALES! Keep on rockin' in the free world.

While refurbishing a used electric guitar (a Gibson Flying V), I needed circuit diagrams and a friend lent me his copy of The Guitar Handbook. After reading a few pages, I didn't want to give it back! The book's brilliance lies in its economical use of language, diagrams and photos. It's as though Ralph Denyer and his editors are telepathic; knowing exactly what the reader needs and wants to know about guitars and guitar playing. Every page is a gold mine, illuminating topics I thought would be boring -- for example, complex music theory. Truly inspirational, the book unveils the once-daunting mysteries of music, including technical vocabulary, and still manages to stay down to earth. Listen to this quote: "Many guitarists--especially those that are self-taught--are suspicious of scales and regard them as an unattractive and unnecessary discipline. This is untrue." I've been rocking for 20 years and now my 16-year-old daughter is teaching me to sight-read music! One word of advice: if you expect to keep your copy of The Guitar Handbook, don't lend it to a guitar player.