Become a more musical guitar player! This book will help you learn and use chords, scales, and other building blocks of music from a guitarist's perspective. It applies concepts of music theory directly to your instrument, using the time-honored teaching approaches of the Berklee Guitar Department. These applications facilitate creative, expressive playing and writing in all styles and directly map to the Berklee Guitar Department proficiency evaluations. Players at all levels will find a clear, organized approach to the materials and musical examples in a variety of styles, provided by Berklee's guitar faculty.
You'll learn to: Master the fingerboard by understanding how strings and frets relate to scales, intervals, and chords; Understand and use the most important types of scales and modes; Construct chords and voicing possibilities based on the essential building blocks of harmony; Choose chord voicings that are ergonomic, intuitive, and expressive for every unique playing situation; and more.
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| List | $24.99 |
| Price | $22.49 (Save: $2.50) |
Named Guardians of Guitar 2019 NAMM top pick!
Experience must-know music knowledge and wisdom through the highly focused lens of legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. This full-color instructional book written by Vai himself features in-depth discussions of the music theory fundamentals that every aspiring (and veteran) guitar player should know, packed with practical exercises, diagrams, tips, inspiring ideas and concepts, practice methods, and ways of looking at music that you may have never considered. Topics covered include: academic vs. experiential learning • reading and writing music • key signatures • chord scales • rhythm basics • guitar harmonics • modes • and much more. This beautiful book is full-color throughout and features artwork on every page by Vai!
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| List | $29.99 |
| Price | $26.99 (Save: $3.00) |
Many guitarists spend years, or entire lives, feeling their way around the guitar neck in the dark. But it doesn't have to be that way! Experiencing the freedom that comes with a little theoretical knowledge is not as difficult as it may seem. With Visual Guitar Theory, you'll quickly “connect the dots” by seeing and understanding the shapes and patterns that make music work, with over 500 full-color fretboard diagrams, detailed lessons, quizzes, and an organized, progressive teaching approach. Topics covered include: intervals; building triads; transposing chord shapes; inversions; building scales; and much more.
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| List | $15.99 |
| Price | $14.39 (Save: $1.60) |
This Little Black Book provides a pocket-sized collection of hundreds of guitar scales, presented in an easy-to-read format. Includes fingerings, full TABs for each scale, and helpful tips for all guitarists.
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| List | $12.99 |
| Price | $11.69 (Save: $1.30) |
Mastering the guitar neck has always been a challenge, even for very experienced players. The full-color diagrams in Guitar Fretboard Atlas will help you quickly memorize scales and chords that may have previously seemed impossible to grasp. You'll be able to easily see and understand how scale and chord shapes are laid out and how they connect and overlap across the neck. This is a collection of roadmaps for the most important scales and chords. The material is presented in all 12 keys, using complete 24-fret neck diagrams with color-coded displays of the most common fingerings.
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| List | $22.99 |
| Price | $20.69 (Save: $2.30) |
A Martin acoustic guitar is the beloved instrument of millions of fans and famous players worldwide. Starting with the early days in New York circa 1833, this fabled story comes to life in the long-awaited revision of the seminal Martin History book. Originally published in 1975, this new edition is completely updated and re-designed by well-known industry experts.
Part of a two-book set, The History: Book 1 covers the people, the places, and the stories of an American icon. Richly illustrated, this book covers the story right up to the fifth-generation president Chris Martin IV. Because the original and revision authors had complete access to authorized archives, this version is the most accurate and detailed reference on the topic. Leading up to the re-vitalization of the 1990s and the remarkable sustenance of its legacy, hundreds of photographs and documents effectively show the people and the guitars that made the company famous.
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| List | $32.00 |
| Price | $28.80 (Save: $3.20) |
The Little Black Book with all the guitar chords you'll ever need! This pocket-sized collection presents over 1100 chords in an easy-to-read format. Includes fingerings, note names and helpful tips for all guitarists. Also includes a really useful guide to some of the most common alternative tunings, advice on power chords and chord boxes to write your own chords and more.
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| List | $10.99 |
| Price | $9.89 (Save: $1.10) |
Finally, the long-awaited English edition of this historic Japanese book is here! The Beauty of the 'Burst pays tribute to Gibson's magnificent Sunburst Les Pauls made between 1958 and 1960, the most highly prized solidbody electric guitars ever. The magnitude of their value is directly related to their look (outrageous wood patterns, or “figured” timber), since non-players are paying top dollar for them. The book features lavish full-color photos of these beautiful instruments throughout; the guitars of famous players; a foreword by Ted McCarty; a bio of the author, world renowned collector Yasuhiko Iwanade; and the “Science of the Burst” section with over 30 pages of detailed reference facts on every facet of the guitar, including colors, wood figure, pick-ups, hardware and qualities of “voice.” This may be the closest guitarists will ever be able to get to these incredibly collectible beauties! 216 pages, 8-1/2″ x 11″ Softcover
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| List | $39.00 |
| Price | $35.10 (Save: $3.90) |
Introduced by Gibson in the 1930s, the ES (Electric Spanish) series would transform the role of the guitar in the world of the big bands and jazz groups. With amplification, the guitarist could solo along with the horn sections and mix with the percussion. Gibson featured many prominent guitarists naming them “Gibson Allstars.” An inspired marketing tool which helped Gibson become a world-leading manufacturer. The ES-5, Super 400s, artist models and hugely popular ES-175 were brand leaders. The 175 is the longest-running model still in production. It was the thin line series which caught the attention of the blues and rock world who appreciated the power and tone they produced. The classic “thin line” design was hugely popular as an alternative to the solid body type offering the ability to control feedback in a harmonic way. The ES series is an art form in its own right and are played and collected by guitar aficionados from all parts of the world.
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| List | $85.00 |
| Price | $76.50 (Save: $8.50) |
Foreword by Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes.
Doug Redler has been a guitar tech to the Black Crowes, k.d. lang, the Dixie Chicks, the B-52s, Paul Simon, Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Peter Gabriel, and many other stars. He's seen it all, and knows what to do when it comes to keeping guitars and amps healthy. In this book, he reveals his trade secrets so that anyone with some mechanical ability can maintain their own gear. Co-authored by Hal Leonard guitar historian Dave Rubin, this book covers: guitar tech toolbox, proper stringing techniques, evaluating the guitar neck, setting the action, adjusting the pickups, basic bass guitar set-up, tales from the road, humidity and acoustic guitars, amp care and maintenance, and more!
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| List | $15.99 |
| Price | $14.39 (Save: $1.60) |
This book is a complete compilation of scales, modes, exotic scales, and theory. It covers the most common and exotic scales, theory on how they're constructed and practical applications. No prior music theory is necessary since every section is broken down and explained very clearly.
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| List | $9.99 |
| Price | $8.99 (Save: $1.00) |
This book is a condensed, made-for-guitar version of Nicolas Slonimsky's publication Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns – the book that musicians as diverse as John Coltrane and Frank Zappa used for ideas and inspiration. Musicians familiar with the original Thesaurus know that it contains a daunting amount of information crammed in its over 230 pages. But there is a definite symmetry and logic in these Slonimsky examples. What appear to be random patterns are actually mathematical combinations of some or all of the twelve notes in music. As the musician/student plays through the examples, the patterns will unfold and become more obvious.
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| List | $27.99 |
| Price | $25.19 (Save: $2.80) |
Here's your complete guide to getting your guitars to play and sound their best! In a convenient 6″x9″ size, this full-color edition features step-by-step instructions and photos that teach you how to adjust the action, truss rod, bridge saddles, nut, intonation and more on electric and acoustic guitars. Basic electronic repairs are covered as well. If you've been timid about “looking under the hood” of your guitar but don't want to keep spending money at the repair shop, this book will get you started on the road to becoming your own guitar repair person!
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| List | $16.99 |
| Price | $15.29 (Save: $1.70) |
The world's most famous guitar had a golden anniversary in 2004, and this official, authorized book/CD package offers the best photos, quotes, facts and sounds to properly celebrate this achievement. From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix to today's hottest players, the Fender Stratocaster defines rock'n'roll for generations of fans and players.
Special features include exclusive photos from the world's greatest guitar collection, as well as a CD with musical examples of famous Strat sounds and styles hilariously performed by Greg Koch – even spoken excerpts from the author's interviews with the Strat's beloved inventor, Leo Fender.
This book also recognizes that the Stratocaster's deeper significance lies in the music that guitarists have created with it. You'll hear what Strat players have to say about their instrument, their music and each other. The Fender Stratocaster both reflects and influences popular culture worldwide. The Stratocaster Chronicles focuses on the people who brought it into the world, the designers and builders who refined it, and the players who have taken it from there.
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| List | $50.00 |
| Price | $45.00 (Save: $5.00) |
The Guitarist's Guide to Music Reading features detailed step-by-step instruction, loads of sight-reading examples, invaluable tips and secrets from an industry pro, and access to online audio of over 600 audio files. “If you are reading this book I am excited for you. What you have in front of you is a powerful tool to help you understand the language of music. Chris Buono's explanations are sharply focused and designed for guitarists who have had minimal exposure to the concepts behind music notation. This is consistent with his approach to teaching guitar fundamentals. He has a gift for breaking down sophisticated musical concepts and replacing them with the salient points that kickstart your learning process.” –Dweezil Zappa
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| List | $22.99 |
| Price | $20.69 (Save: $2.30) |
Already known as the bible of tubes and tube amps, The Tube Amp Book is now even better! This deluxe revised edition contains 40% new material, with a comprehensive A-Z section covering all the great tube amp manufacturers, with histories, photos and information. Brands include Ampeg, Dr. Z, Fender, Gibson, Hiwatt, Marshall, Matchless, Mesa/Boogie, Orange, Vox, Watkins and many others. Features online access to 800 available schematic and layout diagrams, from Ampeg to Western Electric. The book's technical tips, in-depth electronic specs and explanations, over 350 schematic diagrams, and full-color plates make it a must-have for the legions of tube-tone fanatics. Hardcover with convenient enclosed spiral binding.
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| List | $60.00 |
| Price | $54.00 (Save: $6.00) |
The term “burst” has been used to describe a specific Gibson Les Paul guitar manufactured from 1958 to 1960. The impact of this guitar has and continues to shake the music world. For dozens of guitar idols who've played it – and those fortunate enough to have owned one or more – the Gibson Les Paul Sunburst possesses a mystique and magic not found in any other electric guitar. With its unique sound, spectacular beauty and playability, the burst has shaped the landscape of the blues/rock genre as we know it today.
The Burst Believers in this book – Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Kirk Hammett, Rick Nielsen, Waddy Wachtel, Slash, Steve Lukather, the Burst Brothers and many more – have been kind enough to share their experiences and stories that you will enjoy reading. These recollections, plus hundreds of fantastic color photographs and a serial number index, make this book a “must” for players and collectors everywhere.
“These guitars are the holy grail.” – Joe Bonamassa
“The burst has helped to create and establish the rock sound loved by generations.” – Jimmy Page
“A modern-day Stradivarius.” – Kirk Hammett
“I cannot imagine a guitar more perfectly suited to my eyes, ears, hands and musical inclinations.” – Billy Squier
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| List | $59.99 |
| Price | $53.99 (Save: $6.00) |
The Essential Encyclopedia for Every Guitar Player! The Guitar Handbook is the complete guide to playing the guitar - from simple chords to advanced improvisations. Its uniquely devised learning program combines specially commissioned, step-by-step photographs with a chord dictionary containing over 800 easy-to-follow fingerings, and clear, concise text. It is also a comprehensive manual on guitar hardware and performance technology, sound equipment, special effects, and recording facilities. It examines every aspect of guitar maintenance, repair, and customizing, as well as highlighting over 20 world-famous guitarists. Contains 43 pages of full-color photos and illustrations.
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| List | $35.00 |
| Price | $31.50 (Save: $3.50) |
The Ultimate Guitar Theory Chart has been created to assist you in learning basic music theory. It is a fast and fun way to gain instant access to essential interval, chord, scale, and key information. It features: easy-reference diagrams and charts • interval, chord and scale construction • and the circle of fifths.
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| List | $4.99 |
| Price | $4.49 (Save: $0.50) |
Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars is the most extensive and detailed list of specifications ever published for identifying, dating, and establishing the authenticity of an instrument. This new edition is enlarged and updated, making it once again the essential guide enabling collectors, dealers, players, and fans to determine the authenticity, rarity, and relative value of vintage acoustic and electric guitars, basses, mandolins, banjos, and amps. Gruhn's Guide's thoroughness, detail, and clear organization have made it without peer, the must-have tool for discerning an instrument's manufacturer, model, and date-and most importantly, whether it is in original condition.
“You will not find a better guide, nor one that is so easy to use.” – Vintage Guitar magazine
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| List | $34.99 |
| Price | $31.49 (Save: $3.50) |
PRS guitars today appeal to a growing number of musicians, from Carlos Santana to Al Di Meola, from Zach Myers to Mark Tremonti. This book examines every part of PRS history, with an in-depth story, beautiful photographs, and detailed collector's info. Paul Reed Smith set up his first PRS factory in 1985 in Maryland and has devised guitars from the regular Custom and McCarty models, through the outrageously decorated Dragon specials and the controversial Singlecut, and on to recent achievements such as the Mira, Dave Grissom DGT, JA-15, and the S2 models. Dozens of guitars are pictured inside along with players, ads, catalogs, and rare memorabilia. A detailed reference section helps musicians and collectors identify and date PRS instruments, making this revised and updated edition of The PRS Electric Guitar Book a must for all guitar fans.
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| List | $29.99 |
| Price | $26.99 (Save: $3.00) |
Debuting in 1949 and in continuous production ever since, the ES-175 is one of the most versatile and famous guitars in music history. The first Gibson electric to feature a Florentine cutaway, the ES-175 was also one of the first Electric Spanish guitars to be fitted with P.A.F. humbuckers and is prized for its playability, craftsmanship, and full rich tone. The list of players who have utilized the ES-175's distinctive sound reads like a who's who of historic and contemporary jazz, rock, blues and fusion, players such as: Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Joe Diorio, Toots Thielmans, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Raney, blues great B.B. King, progressive rock musician Steve Howe and fusion pioneer Pat Metheny. Scotty Moore played an ES-295, essentially a dual P90 equipped, all gold ES-175 on the Sun Sessions with Elvis Presley. Written by noted author/guitarist Adrian Ingram, contents include: the complete history of the 175, The Players, a beautiful ES-175 Color Gallery, Chronology, Shipping Totals, and more. This book is a must for every guitar player and enthusiast or collector.
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| List | $24.95 |
| Price | $22.46 (Save: $2.49) |
Guitar collectors rejoice! The first book to examine pickups in detail is here! Covers everything from the first experiments to classic models conceived for Rickenbacker, Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Danelectro, Epiphone and others, with an overview of Japanese and European manufacturers. Includes a 32-page color section of the most popular models and rarities, a timeline, info on building pickups and technical specs, and biographical notes on George Beauchamp, Leo Fender, Seth Lover, Larry DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan.
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| List | $29.99 |
| Price | $26.99 (Save: $3.00) |
Tony Bacon's definitive guide to Gibson's most famous guitar moves into its latest and most complete version yet with this new and thoroughly revised edition. Now with 16 more pages and 45 new pictures, this timely (and re-titled) update of 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul (2002) tells the story of one of the greatest musical instruments of the 20th century – and one that is still holding center stage today.
Since Gibson's Les Paul solid body electric guitar first appeared in the early 1950s, it has always been easier to list the famous guitarists who have not used one at some point or another in their careers. This improved edition of the book features a complete history of the guitar and its players – from the original Goldtop through the Fretless Wonder and the revered 1958-60 “Burst,” and on to the reissues of today.
Richly illustrated with 250 archive and performance shots, ephemera, and specially commissioned studio photos, The Les Paul Guitar Book is the most complete guide ever to Gibson's best-known guitar, and a must-have for every player and collector.
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| List | $29.99 |
| Price | $26.99 (Save: $3.00) |
Most musicians are familiar with the famous Bigsby Vibrato, but not as many know about the wonderful guitars that Paul Bigsby built in the 1940s. Bigsby, who was responsible for developing and refining the pedal steel guitar, also built the first modern solid body electric guitar for Merle Travis in 1948, predating Leo Fender and Gibson's Les Paul by a number of years.
The Story of Paul A. Bigsby tells how Bigsby influenced Fender and Gibson, as well as a number of other guitar manufacturers, in building techniques and design. This deluxe illustrated coffee table book contains over 300 color and black & white photos. Many of these have not previously been published, and over 50 are actual Bigsby instrument photos taken by fine arts photographer Greg Morgan. The book also comes with an audio CD of Paul Bigsby, recorded in the late 1950s, telling stories of his business.
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| List | $50.00 |
| Price | $45.00 (Save: $5.00) |
The Gibson 335 Guitar Book tells the story of Gibson's ES-335 and related models, as played by B.B. King, Alvin Lee, and Eric Clapton, among other virtuosos. It's full of great guitars, cool players, and fascinating historical detail. The book traces the story from Gibson's first thinline models to the company's signature instruments and modern re-creations of today.
The book is in the tradition of Tony Bacon's bestselling guitar series, with a carefully researched story, a gallery section of full-color pictures of the most important guitars and players, and a reference section detailing production years and specifications.
The 335 was launched in 1958. It had a double-cutaway body, but the interesting features were hidden inside. A solid block in an otherwise hollow body created a new “semi-solid” structure, cleverly combining the sonic qualities of a hollowbody guitar and a solidbody. Variants included the stereo 345 and the upscale 355, and players have lined up ever since for a taste of these attractively different flavors.
Some of those players featured in the book include Larry Carlton, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Peter Hayes (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Eric Clapton, Pepper Keenan (Down), B.B. King, Elvin Bishop (Butterfield Blues Band), Alvin Lee (Ten Years After), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Eddie Phillips (the Creation), Johnny Marr (the Smiths), Lee Ritenour, Andy Summers (the Police), Bill Nelson (Be-Bop Deluxe), and Andrew White (Kaiser Chiefs).
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| List | $29.99 |
| Price | $26.99 (Save: $3.00) |
Fender's Stratocaster is arguably the number one instrument icon of the guitar world. When introduced in 1954, its offset space-age lines, contoured body, and three-pickup configuration set the music world on its ear – it was truly unlike any guitar that had come before. In the hands of the world's most beloved players, the Stratocaster has since become a popular weapon of choice among rock, blues, jazz, and country players and, not coincidentally, is also one of the most copied electric guitars of all time. Here is the complete story of this legendary guitar. Packed with more than 700 photos and memorabilia, plus profiles of the great Strat players, this book is the perfect tribute to the Stratocaster. Dig in and feel the music.
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| List | $40.00 |
| Price | $36.00 (Save: $4.00) |
From shopping for a first electric guitar to setting customized action, this do-it-yourself primer for owning and maintaining an electric guitar explains the ins and outs of choosing the right guitar; cleaning, tools, and basic maintenance; personalizing and improving on a “factory setup;” troubleshooting; basic guitar electronics; choosing and installing replacement pickups, pots, switches, and capacitors; setups of the pros; and much more. This new edition is overhauled from top to bottom and re-organized to make it easy for the reader to make his electric guitar sound and play great. This edition also covers bass guitars and includes online video where Dan shows you how easy it is to set up your Strat, Les Paul, bass or Floyd Rose-equipped guitar so it plays in tune and feels great. Also includes cutout tool sheet with specialized guitar gauges at the back of the book!
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| List | $29.99 |
| Price | $26.99 (Save: $3.00) |
The Complete Guide to the Gibson Mandolins is a definitive source of information about the company that defined the modern mandolin. From the very beginning when Orville H. Gibson built the first carved-top instruments in the 19th Century to the instruments still being made by Gibson today, this book is a complete guide to the vast array of instruments the company produced in the mandolin family, including historical documentation, images, illustrations, detailed descriptions, photos and rare examples of existing instruments from sources around the world. In addition to all the information on these incredible instruments, this book also reveals some of the secrets behind many of the proprietary construction techniques used by Gibson throughout the decades. Many years of research have culminated in instrument histories that are well-documented, comprehensive and complete.
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| List | $45.00 |
| Price | $40.50 (Save: $4.50) |
Introduced in 1922, the Gibson L5 is the precursor of the modern archtop guitar. It was the first archtop to feature f-holes, which allowed it to project through the horn-dominated bands of the day. Its strong, full, warm sound was an immediate and overwhelming success that turned the heads of makers, players and listeners alike. This book takes a look at its history and most famous players, from its creation, through the Norlin years, to its standing today as the world's most popular jazz guitar. With its stunning 16-page full-color photo section, this book is a must for every guitar enthusiast's collection! 8-1/2″ x 11″.
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| List | $29.95 |
| Price | $26.96 (Save: $2.99) |
