Jazz Guitar Books
The Jazz Guitarist's Library
+ YOUR Suggestions
Jazz guitar books and recordings are the two main source of learning and growth for jazz guitarists. Some teacher may say "don't learn in books"... I strongly believe that you should "get what you can" from any source of information available (including books, DVDs and websites).
*NEW* : You are now encouraged to share YOUR jazz guitar book suggestions. Visitors can now review, discuss and share their favorite jazz guitar books here...
In my humble opinion, every aspiring jazzman should possess at least a few specific texts on music.
They could, for example, consist of : a method for learning the instrument, technical exercises, a good fakebook, transcriptions, a theory (or harmony) book, articles on practice routines, etc.
In this section of the website, I will share with you reviews of the best jazz guitar books on the market (coming strictly from my experience)
Some of these are masterclass DVD's or come with an audio CD, some others a plain text and music notation. I'm even starting to include personal development books that helped me recently.
I hope they are as useful to you as they were to me!
I only review and discuss the books that I personally own.
Jazz Guitar Books (with reviews)
Jazz Guitar Elements (by Michael Berard)
This is a wonderful self-study manual that covers *all the basics* of jazz guitar.When I first found out about this book, I studied through it during the summer, and then I moved directly to Montreal to start private lessons with the author in September... (read more)
Three-Note Voicings and Beyond (by Randy Vincent)
With endorsements from various jazz guitar greats such as Pat Metheny and Jim Hall (+many others) this book is an obvious must have for serious jazz guitarists ...The author synthetizes jazz harmony on the guitar in a clear and concise way. Within its 200 pages, it will give any player a few lifetimes worth of ... (click to read more)
A Modern Method for Guitar (by William Leavitt)
A Modern Method for Guitar by William Levitt is certainly the most complete book series on the guitar ever published. It covers ... (click to read more)
Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary (by Rick Peckham)
The Advancing Guitarist (by Mick Goodrick)
Jazz Guitar Study Series (by Barry Galbraith)
Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony (by Bert Ligon)
Bert Ligon's Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony is my favorite jazz improvisation technique book of all times. It explains and exemplifies jazz lines: their foundation, variations ... (click to read more)
Forward Motion (by Hal Galper)
Forward Motion by jazz pianist and educator Hal Galper was another one of these books that completely changed my perspective : it opened my eyes on the ... (click to read more)
The Barry Harris Workshop Video
[...] been using the Barry Harris Workshop for a few years, and I still do. My teacher, who recommend it to me at the time, said :
"Yeah, I saw Barry Harris at a clinic once. He literally taught us ... (click to read more)
Barry Harris Harmonic Method for Guitar (Alan Kingstone)
This is the book that changed it all for me harmonically speaking. Kingstone wrote a comprehensive volume on the harmonic approach and the best part ... (click to read more)
The Type-Z Guide to Success with Ease (by Marc Allen)
Not a guitar book, not even a music
book... but oh-so needed for the average jazz musician. Is it possible to achieve a high degree of success
without working until you drop?
The Type Z-Guide presents a way to enjoy success with less stress, less hard work, and much ... (click to read more)
More Jazz Guitar Books (without review)
Modern Chord Progressions (by Ted Greene)
A must for guitarists serious about learning harmony on the guitar. Ted Greene demonstrates hundreds of ways to play simple yet crucial jazz and classical progressions. All in chord diagrams, all in "chord melody" style with clear instuctions. A lifetime worth of practice and inspiration (even within the first few pages!)
Jazz Guitar Voicings Vol.1 - The Drop-2 Book (by Randy Vincent)
This is the prequel to "three-note voicings" book by the same author. An amazing, thorough yet easy to grasp book on the following concept : building effective drop2 voicings using inversions and passing diminished chords. (Audio CDs included with demonstration tracks)
Effortless Mastery (by Kenny Werner)
The subtitle (Liberating the Master Musician Within) says it all. Provides the reader with a clear approach to achieve maximum potential all the while staying relaxed and focus. Relax, play great music, improve faster and enjoy the ride!
Patterns, Scales and Modes for Jazz Guitar (by Arnie Berle)
This is a great "entry level" book for intermediate guitarists. Coming from a rock, blues and pop background, it opened the first few "jazz doors" to me. Great techniques (scales in positions, arpeggios, etc.), great lines and chord voicings. Nice and smooth introduction to the fabulous world of jazz guitar improv and comping.
Clear Solutions for Jazz Improvisers (by Jerry Coker)
Coker's straightforward reference contains 20 very well written articles on a variety of topics. He chose to go deeper into some little "picky" aspects of improvisation. Really useful clarifications about melody and harmony and their different manifestations in jazz. A must for serious beginner and intermediate improvisers.
Melodic Rhythms for Guitar (by William Leavitt)
One of the greatest book to *improve* sight-reading abilities for jazz guitarists. Super-boost your skills by dealing with the too often overlooked RHYTHMS of written melodic lines. Leavitt organized this book by rhythmic density and made sure that some key 3, 4, 5, 6 a 7-note rhythmic figures are repeated enough times to ingrain them well.
Note: I recommend you have at least a foundation in notes reading before using Melodic Rhythms. See "Modern Method" above.
So, what's YOUR favorite
instructional Jazz Guitar Book?
Now that you've seen what I recommend, would you suggest other books, DVDs or instructional material? Let us know here!
You can also add or comment to the reviews above or include books that are not necessarily *guitar* related.
Jazz Guitar Books and
instructional material suggestions from other visitors
Click below to see suggestions and discussions from other visitors to this page...
A Rare Jazz Hungarian Guitar Book from 1958 I´m a William Leavitt admirer thanks to three book method,the- across-the-fingerboard approach of Book II, the more positional fingering and the along ...
Pretty Cool Website and eBook About Jazz Improv
Hello Marc-Andre, I found an interesting ebook on jazz improvisation I thought you might be interested in (assuming you don't have it already).
I have ...
Tommy Tedesco: For Guitar Players Only While not a "jazz" guitar book in the strictest sense, this book presents tons of ways to improve your overall musicianship from probably the most recorded ...
William Leavitt Modern Method for Guitar / Reading / Positions
Hello,
My question concerns above mentioned Method. The Leavitt books focus on how to get the student learn sight-reading.
The chords are presented ...
Improvise For Real
Hello,
I recently collaborated on a book that I think some of you might enjoy
very much. It's called "Improvise for Real," and I created the
illustrations ...
The 84 Jazz Guitar Equations - by Steve Crowell Steve Crowell has a unique approach to the fretboard and to building a jazz guitar vocabulary of chords, arpeggios, licks, based in part on lessons he ...
Adding Interest to Comping Using the Alan Kingstone Book : The Barry Harris Harmonic Method for Guitar
(View my review of this book here )
___
Hi Marc-Andre,
On your site you specifically say that your comping has radically improved/changed since you ...
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Jazz Guitar Chords and Jazz Harmony
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