Best Intermediate Guitar Books (2024 Update)

This book is designed to be useful for guitarists at any skill level. beginners can use it as an introduction to the foundational concepts of the instrument, intermediate players can use it for training and theoretical work, and advanced players can explore the sections on advanced theory, extended technique and the exhaustive tables of melodic and rhythmic possibilities. it is divided into two parts: pitch and rhythm. part 1 (pitch) begins with the properties of string, harmonics, and tuning systems. it then moves methodically through pitch information, beginning with locating all versions of a single pitch, building pentatonic, heptatonic, and all possible symmetrical scales. this is followed by a study of intervals, with all possible locations of every two pitches, and a long study that moves through every possible fingering of three pitches, with a series of exercises to master triadic syntax. part 1 closes with a study of four-pitch structures and complete tables that show all possible pitch sets in circular visual notation. part 2 (rhythm) begins with a complete course in symmetrical picking, a method based on drum rudiments that builds control in the picking hand through an exhaustive variety of movements. the focus of this section is building a strong rhythmic foundation, with a focus on efficiency, accuracy, speed, dynamics, and groove. it is followed by a study of legato playing, working with ornaments and slides. the study of playing with fingers on multiple strings takes up the remainder of the book. this begins with the study of pulse against pulse, playing two simultaneous tempos. the book concludes with a study of polyrhythm, playing one rhythm against another. plain english is used as much as possible to describe theoretical concepts, and hundreds of illustrations were made for the book as an aid to those who either don't speak english or prefer to think visually. this approach is designed to be inclusive and to promote creative practice. the main idea of the book is described in this passage (page 154): even in this small area there is a lot of material, potentially a lifetime of study. the amount of information can feel overwhelming to students at any level. for this reason, the book is designed for self-directed practice, with an emphasis on what the player could do, rather than what the player should do. the principle is to develop your own learning process, rather than following someone else's. the ability to make choices is essential in finding a personal approach to the instrument. pick and choose the studies that seem interesting – there should be enough variety to accommodate a wide range of personalities. if any particular concept or exercise has been useful as the starting point for a new creative direction, then the book has done its job. its purpose is not to push any dogma, method, or style, but to open the door to options for guitarists of any background that are looking for new perspectives.

(guitar educational). this book contains a complete course for all guitarists who want to progress from beginner to intermediate level. after 20 years of teaching guitar, justin has assembled the essential techniques that progressing guitarists need to know and has worked out to help them overcome the things they find difficult. the course is intelligently structured, and divided into five stages; each stage builds on what you already know, introducing enough new material to keep you busy, but not so much that you'll feel overwhelmed. each stage has its own practice routine and ear-training exercises that will help you improve quickly and consistently. the book comes with two specially-recorded cds containing demonstrations of every chord, technique and exercise featured in the course. along the way, you'll learn: how to play barre chords * how to play scales * new voicings for major and minor chords * more advanced rhythm guitar techniques * basic note reading and theory * transcribing * string bending * hammer-ons and flick-offs * simple soloing * and much, much more.

This book is a continuation of progressive guitar method book 1. you learn more scales and keys and how to read chords in note form, the study of bass note runs, hammer-ons, pull-offs and syncopation is also covered. there is also a cd covering all the matching lessons from the book.

The second book and dvd in the complete blues guitar method, this package is great for guitarists who know the basics of the blues and are ready to take the next step. topics include blues techniques, phrasing, r&b and blues-funk fills, non-scale tones, chord extensions and substitutions, and more. start with a quick review of basic materials and finish by learning the "licks of the masters." included are examples in the styles of legendary players like b. b. king, albert king, eric clapton, and stevie ray vaughan. this edition also features new licks in the styles of contemporary blues guitarists like john mayer, joe bonamassa, and keb' mo', and includes brand-new video hosted by expert educator and guitar virtuoso jared meeker with exciting demonstrations of examples and techniques. if you have completed beginning blues guitar, or you are an advanced beginner, intermediate blues guitar takes you to the next level.

Learn to play guitar is comprehensive and clear with over 180 photographic examples, illustrations and purpose made diagrams. this guitar book includes 42 downloadable mp3 tracks of full band demo and backing track with the guitar removed for you to play over. learn to play guitar bridges the gaps, explaining guitar techniques that can be taken for granted by more experienced guitar players. – melodies to get you straight into playing music, numbers have been added underneath guitar tablature to assist with the rhythm. later on, the rhythmical aspect of conventional music notation is covered so you can use it in conjunction with tablature. – rhythm guitar changing between chords and strumming are presented as separate subjects initially, so that you can develop coordination in each hand independently. they are then brought together starting with basic exercises, getting more advanced until there is a rhythm guitar musical piece to play. – music theory the major scale, minor scale, major and minor pentatonic scales and basic major and minor chord construction are explained in terms of the fret-board and reinforced by musical pieces in various styles to make the learning process practical and enjoyable. – what else? fret-board layout, power chords, barre chords, how to string a guitar, how to practise guitar, palm muting and basic lead guitar techniques. grab a copy today!

Anyone interested in learning to play acoustic guitar can pick up this well-paced, comprehensive method and get started right away. beginning concepts include right- and left-hand technique, reading music, basic improvisation, barre chords, picking technique, playing bass lines, and basic arranging. intermediate topics include alternate tunings, scales, how to play in upper positions of the fingerboard, and a rundown of styles like acoustic funk, new orleans, gypsy swing, celtic, bluegrass, cajun, and more. this comprehensive book concludes with more advanced techniques, including "machine gun strums," right-hand muting, slapping, tapping, slap harmonics, and tremolo—as well as styles like reggae, african/brazilian, norteño, and conjunto. whether you are starting to learn acoustic guitar or an advanced player looking to improve your playing, this is the one book on acoustic guitar you will ever need. online audio for demonstration and play-along is included.

Are you starting out learning guitar but not sure where to begin? getting lost in a sea of endless information the internet has to offer? take each lesson in order, and watch as your confidence grows, giving you the skills to look up and play your favourite songs on your own.

Mastering the guitar is an innovative, exciting new way to learn the guitar. co-authored by william bay and michael christiansen, this extremely comprehensive method applies the internationally acclaimed mel bay teaching concept to the vast array of musical styles and techniques found in today's music. written in notation and tablature, it covers guitar solo and accompaniment styles ranging from celtic to classic to cajun; from flamenco to fiddle tunes to rock; from baroque to blues to bluegrass; and from latin to jazz to reggae. a special feature of this method is that it teaches both flatpicking and fingerstyle solo andaccompaniment techniques. the two books in level 1 present essential foundational studies for contemporaryguitar performance. book 1a covers the keys of c, am, g, and em in great depth, presenting over 155 solos and duets and more than 140 scale and picking studies, chord etudes, and accompaniment pieces. book 1b covers the keys ofd, a, e, f, dm and bf. in addition, book 1b has over 130 solos and duets and over 40 comprehensive scale and picking studies. numerous chord progressionstudies and chord accompaniment pieces and etudes are also included. a technique studies book is available which will bring an added level of flatpicking and fingerpicking excellence to each key presented in book 1a and book 1b. the advanced levels of this method introduce a creative and uniqueapproach to learning and mastering the higher positions on the guitar fingerboard. includes access to online audio and video.

Perfect for beginning blues and blues-rock guitarists, beginning blues guitar is an introduction to basic blues theory, left-hand techniques, rhythm styles of texas swing, slow blues, and minor blues—plus the styles of blues greats like muddy waters and buddy guy. learn about call-and-response phrasing, intros, turnarounds, endings, and even improvisation. the second edition features new licks in the styles of some of the hottest contemporary blues artists, like joe bonamassa and gary clark, jr., and includes brand-new video—hosted by expert educator and guitar virtuoso jared meeker—with exciting demonstrations of examples and techniques. beginning blues guitar is the best step-by-step method for learning the substance and style of the blues.

Take your guitar teaching to a new level! hal leonard's top-selling comprehensive method for band and strings is now also available for guitar. with the time-tested classroom teaching methods of will schmid and bob morris and popular songs in a variety of styles, essential elements for guitar is sure to become a staple of guitar teachers' instruction and get beginning guitar students off to a great start. this method has been designed to meet the national standards for music education, with features such as cross-curricular activities, quizzes, multicultural songs, basic improvisation and more. concepts covered in book 1 include: getting started; basic music theory; guitar chords; notes on each string; ensemble playing; and much more! songs used in book 1 include such hits as: dust in the wind * eleanor rigby * every breath you take * hey jude * hound dog * let it be * ode to joy * rock around the clock * stand by me * surfin' usa * sweet home chicago * this land is your land * you really got me * and more!

Veteran musician and educator mick goodrick presents practical information for guitarists who want to improve their playing technique and style and simply become better musicians. rather than a step-by-step method book, the information is presented in a general essay format, discussing ways that the various techniques covered may be applied by the advancing guitarist to enhance his/her own style of playing, some of the areas discussed include: basic fingerboard mechanics * modes, scales and chords * contemporary harmony * harmonica and overtone influences * being self-critical * improvising short pieces * different playing situations.

Now guitarists can have all three volumes of this classic guitar method in one convenient book! created by popular demand, this new edition of the method used as the basic text for the renowned berklee college of music guitar program is a complete compilation of the original volumes 1, 2, and 3. innovative solos, duets and exercises progressively teach melody, harmony and rhythm. perfect for the serious guitar student and instructor alike.

Learn to play lead guitar and more with e media intermediate guitar method 3.0. it has everything you need to take your playing beyond basic chords and melodies. new techniques are demonstrated in over 170 lessons with full-motion video, variable-speed midi, recorded audio and an animated fretboard that gives you realtime display of notes, including bends, vibrato and slides. it displays fingering positions for you as the music plays. you'll learn to play solos like the ones eric clapton and jimi hendrix made famous, using newly acquired lead guitar skills. you'll also find rhythm and fingerstyle chapters, plus lessons on the basics of improvisation. the scale directory chapter provides fingerings, recordings and variable-speed midi for over 200 scales! also included are software accessories such as e media's automatic tuner, digital metronome, recorder and 1,000 chord dictionary featuring audio playback. the best part about it, you get interactive feedback as you play melodies, remastered audio and videos, and full-screen lessons, so you'll be a master, faster.

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.

This book and dvd-rom is great for guitarists who know the basics and are ready to take the next step. topics include everything from harmonization with triads, and chord embellishment to composite scales, and improvising with the modes. the new dvd-rom features teacher and rock guitar master jared meeker, who's entertaining and unique style makes learning fun and easy. if you have completed beginning rock guitar or you are an advanced beginner, intermediate rock guitar will take your playing to the next level.

Jamming along with a band is the ultimate way of learning how to create your own guitar solos. the 10 track full band backing cd that accompanies this book enables you to do just that! on the cd youll hear a full band line-up, but without the lead guitar you will be the lead guitarist. experience the thrill of creating your own guitar solos and playing along with your own band. the book explains: how to improve your improvisation skills how to invent great riffs and stunning solos how to use scales and arpeggios most effectively how to use string bends, slurs, and slides to make your playing more creative. everything is explained in a clear and straightforward way, with no compulsion to read traditional musical notation. this book and cd are also ideal as study aids for the lead guitar section of the registry of guitar tutors grade one electric guitar examination. by following this course youll learn, in a structured and comprehensive way, how to improvise and create exciting guitar solos in a wide range of musical styles.

If you own a strat, then you need this book! learn step by step how to completely wire a stratocaster and all of the potentiometers, capacitors, switches, ground wires, hot wires, pickups, output jack, and bridge ground. even if you dont own a fender, this guide will teach you how to wire a guitar with 1, 2, or 3 pickups. there are a ton of modifications you can do to your guitar for dirt cheap. this book will also show you some secret "hot rod" techniques that the pros use like: coil tapping, coil cutting, phase switching, series wiring, parallel wiring, bridge-on switching, toggle switching, mini toggle switching, varitone switching, mega switching, super switching, rotary switching, treble boost/solo switching, blend pots, push pull pots, stacked concentric pots, and much more !!! plus you will learn everything you've ever wanted to know about 4-wire humbuckers that fit into your standard strat pickguard. also includes audio files of the hot rod techniques.

The hal leonard guitar method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. it is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and it also reflects some of the best guitar teaching ideas from around the world. this deluxe beginner edition for book 1 includes the book, online access to 48 audio tracks and 85 minutes of video lessons. audio is accessed online using the unique code inside the book and can be streamed or downloaded. the audio files include playback+, a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or right.

Packed with music, charts and photos, this easy-to-use guidebook provides lessons for playing electric and acoustic guitar by some of the guitar world's top teachers pros like arlen roth, rick gartner, happy traum, and dan crary. topics range from the basics to "getting serious," and include: reading music, fretboard positioning, chords, strumming, bass runs, flatpicker's rhythm licks, fingerpicking, playing the blues, barre chords and their variations, techniques for practicing based on listening, and more. the companion cd contains 12 lessons in the book, from stringing and tuning the guitar to playing the blues scale in all positions and keys.

Exercises designed to build strength, endurance, dexterity, and technique the complete idiot's guide to guitar exercises provides both new and experienced guitarists with the practice they need to take their playing to the next level. a wide variety of exercises including: single notestring-to-stringminor and major scales – harmonic and melodic minor scales – major and minor pentatonic and blues scales – chord progression exercises – melodic patterns bonus chapters include fingerpicking, fingerstyle blues and travis picking exercises written using both standard notation and tab accompanied by online audio featuring over 150 samples of the exercises in the book. praise for this book by: randy bachman (the guess who, bachman-turner overdrive, and ringo starr's all- starr band) jennifer batten (michael jackson, jeff beck) peter frampton steve howe (yes, asia) albert lee (eric clapton, emmylou harris, the everly brothers) alex lifeson (rush) mike mushok (staind) mike stern (jazz guitarist extraordinaire)