books
I recommend
There are lots of books on the market! Here are the ones I have found
useful:
- The Real Book
This book until recently was illegal, as it was produced (by students
at Berklee in Boston, so the legend goes,) before the arrival of good
legal copies of jazz compositions. Its photocopied nature plus various
inaccuracies gave rise to the term 'fake book'.
- The New Real Book
Like the Real Book only legal! There are now several editions in the
Chuck Sher publishing catalogue.
- Modern Method
for Guitar: Volumes 1, 2, 3 (also available as one volume: Modern Method
for Guitar Complete)
by William
G. Leavitt
Hal Leonard Corp Paperback
This book is very dry, but offers you a bread and butter method for
building a sound knowledge of the fretboard, and of guitar-playing generally.
It's the world's first complete plectrum guitar method, and still the
best, I think.
- Melodic Rhymthms
for Guitar
by William Leavitt
Berklee Pr Pubns Paperback
November 1, 1986
This is great for helping you learn to play and read quaver rhythms.
It also helps the student develp a jazz feel.
- Reading Studies
for Guitar (positions one through seven and multi position studies in
all keys) ~William G. Leavitt, William Leavitt (Composer)Berklee Press
Publications Paperback - November 1986
This is a must if you want to learn to read music on the guitar.
- Advanced Reading
Studies for Guitar ~William LeavittBerklee Pr Pubns Paperback - November
1, 1986
This is similaar to the above book, except covering positions 8 to 12.
- The Advancing
Guitarist
by Mick Goodrick
This book is great for improving your lateral thinking about music and
guitar.
- Pentatonic Khancepts
by Steve Khan
Warner Brothers Publications Paperback
October 2002
On electric guitar I started out as a rock and blues player, so the
first scales I learned were the pentatonic scales, which sit so nicely
on the fretboard. This book helps the student apply these scales in
a fresh way, to give a really colourful sound to them. There are certain
substitutions that sound absolutely cool as soon as you apply them,
e.g. play Bm pentatonic over Cmaj7, or Bbm pentatonic over G7.
- Contemporary Chord
Khancepts
by Steve Khan
Warner Bros.,U.S. Paperback
March 1997
I really like the books by Steve Khan - he has such a personal writing
style, that I feel he is right there supporting me as I learn. His chord
book gets completely away from the chord dictionery approach ('here
are 24 shapes for G7b5' etc.) and offers a very practical and contemporary
way of utilising knowledge that is already quite simple. The backing
CD is a very useful part of this pack.
- Thelonious Monk
Fake Book
Music Sales Limited Paperback
May 13, 2002
Study (pianist) Monk's music thoroughly and you are well on your way
in your study of jazz harmony, rhythm and melody.
What
not to buy
I
advise you not to buy a chord dictionery. I got one years ago and have
never used it. Worse, it can simply be confusing or else discouraging.
The best way to build an extensive knowledge of chords and harmony is
to learn jazz tunes from fake books and methods as listed above.
Where
to buy materials
A
good supplier is Jazzwise at www.jazzwise.com
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