Are you a beginner guitar player and looking for some books to give you the basics?
There are so many guitar books out there that it can be tricky to figure out which one is best for you. Don't worry, we have researched for you! In this blog post, we will go through six of the best guitar books available today specifically designed to teach beginners what they need to know to get started playing the instrument. We've reviewed each book in depth so you'll know exactly what topics are covered and how useful it is for learners at all levels. So if you're just starting with guitar, stick around and read on - your guide awaits!
How We Choose These Best Books for You
Learning to play the guitar can be a fun and rewarding experience, but where do you start?
There are so many different books on learning to play the guitar, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. You could spend hours reading reviews online, or even more, time testing out different books in person.
We've done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best guitar books for beginners. Whether you're looking for a book with lessons or one that teaches you how to read music, we have something for everyone.
1. Teach Yourself to Play Guitar by David Brewster
Best for Fundamentals
This book is a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of guitar playing but still offers an uncomplicated, efficient approach.
What Is This Book About
Do you want to learn how to play guitar? Teach Yourself to Play Guitar by David Brewster is the perfect guide for beginner guitarists! It is a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of guitar playing but still offers an uncomplicated, efficient approach. With lesson examples presented in today’s most popular tab format and simple beat notation for accurate rhythm execution, you can make sure your skills are strong. No matter your experience or background in guitar playing, this book has something for everyone. Learn how to play riffs and solos, master essential scales and chords, and more! Find out why so many guitarists choose to Teach Yourself to Play Guitar by David Brewster as their go-to guide.
Why You Will Love It
You will love to Teach Yourself to Play Guitar by David Brewster because it is an easy and comprehensive guide to learning how to play the guitar. It provides useful and detailed diagrams, photos, and illustrations that help you understand fretboard organization, chord patterns, and various hand and finger positions. You will also learn about the anatomy of a guitar with concise explanations that require minimal effort. After you've completed this book, you'll be in a great place to continue your guitar-playing journey with more instruction or on your own!
2. Guitar All-In-One For Dummies by Jon Chappell
Best for Basics
From essential instrument knowledge and skills, to practice tips and advice on adding your style to classic tunes, this comprehensive resource has everything you need to start as the best beginner guitar player possible.
What Is This Book About
The perfect learning resource for any amateur guitarist, Guitar All-In-One For Dummies by Jon Chappell makes learning your favorite instrument a breeze. From essential instrument knowledge and skills, to practice tips and advice on adding your style to classic tunes, this comprehensive resource has everything you need to start as the best beginner guitar player possible.
Keep up with all of the basics such as maintaining and tuning your guitar, and deciphering music notation and guitar tablature –all with simple, easy-to-follow directions. Understand more complex topics like guitar theory, sounds, and techniques. With its step-by-step approach explained in plain English, even the most inexperienced of musicians can benefit from this guide. Also dive into popular genres of guitar music such as blues, rock, and classical.
On top of that, you get access to accompanying online video and audio instructional resources so you can put your newfound skills into action with ease! Learn how to play your favorite songs while putting your spin on classic tunes! So what are you waiting for? Pick up your copy of Guitar All-In-One For Dummies today and become an expert guitarist in no time!
Why You Will Love It
You will love Guitar All-in-One For Dummies because it is an incredibly comprehensive and practical resource with all the essential info you’ll need to get started or continue playing your guitar. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced guitarist, this book covers everything from maintaining your gear and picking your first notes to explore music theory and composition tailored for specific genres like blues and rock. You’ll get a real feel for the instrument with helpful advice from expert guitarists and music teachers. With this book, you have access to all the great music you can create with the guitar!
3. Guitar Aerobics by Troy Nelson
Best for Speed
This exercise book covers a variety of musical styles to help you gain proficiency in techniques like alternate picking, arpeggios, sweep picking, string skipping, legato, string bending, and rhythm guitar.
What Is This Book About
Guitar Aerobics by Troy Nelson is the perfect choice for guitarists of any skill level who want to build essential techniques and increase their playing speed. Developed by accomplished guitarist Troy Nelson, this exercise book covers a variety of musical styles to help you gain proficiency in techniques like alternate picking, arpeggios, sweep picking, string skipping, legato, string bending, and rhythm guitar.
Are you ready to reach your full potential? With Guitar Aerobics you can make big gains quickly - the exercises will hone your skills more with each practice session for measurable improvement. Get satisfying results from the incremental practice of musical pieces with varying difficulty levels across rock, blues, jazz, metal, country, and funk genres. These exercises are as much fun to play as they are effective at developing rock-solid foundations of guitar mastery! Take your playing abilities to new heights – Guitar Aerobics is the most efficient way to reach your goals.
Why You Will Love It
You will love this book because of its day-by-day structure. This helps easily-distracted players keep on top of their schedule, as there is an exercise every day of the year that can help you to sharpen your technique in a range of popular genres. You will benefit from extra practice, so why not give it a try? You never know where the exercises might take you.
4. Guitar for Absolute Beginners by Daniel Emery
Best for Absolute Beginners
This program, designed with beginners in mind, covers all aspects of playing the guitar from fundamental habits, strings, frets, and finger techniques, and much more.
What Is This Book About
The Guitar for Absolute Beginners program by Daniel Emery is the perfect way to get started learning guitar. This program was designed with beginners in mind, giving all the necessary information to start playing the guitar with confidence. It covers all aspects of playing the guitar from fundamental habits, strings, frets, and finger techniques, and much more.
With this comprehensive program, you'll have everything you need to begin your journey. You'll learn how to read chord diagrams, understand rest strokes and play some of your favorite songs. The program also includes detailed practice session plans that are tailored for beginners to help them get comfortable with the instrument. Along with information and practice plans, this program also has reassuring examples of famous musicians who started as absolute beginners just like you.
Guitar for Absolute Beginners is the ideal guidebook for anyone looking to become a guitarist. With clear step-by-step instructions on how to correctly play guitar and helpful stories from musicians that were once in your shoes, this program ensures you will have learned enough confidence enough in no time! Get started on your way towards becoming an accomplished guitarist today using Guitar for Absolute Beginners by Daniel Emery!
Why You Will Love It
You will love this book because Guitar for Absolute Beginners by Daniel Emery provides comprehensive yet easy-to-understand lessons and friendly instruction. You don't have to be a born musician to be able to understand it; all you need is a desire to learn, patience and practice. The book is divided into sections, each section focusing on one particular aspect of guitar playing. You will be able to pick up chords quickly and enjoy accompanying yourself as you learn new songs. You'll even get to practice song arrangements such as "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", "Last Kiss", "Crazy", and "Stand By Me". Even if you're an absolute beginner, Guitar for Absolute Beginners by Daniel Emery is a great first step in the journey of learning how to play the guitar!
5. Idiot’s Guides: Playing Guitar” – David Hodge
Best for Techniques
Written by music expert David Hodge, this comprehensive guide is designed to get you playing like a pro in no time.
What Is This Book About
Written by music expert David Hodge, this comprehensive guide is designed to get you playing like a pro in no time. Whether you’re a beginner just starting or more experienced and simply want to brush up on your technique, this book has something for everyone.
It begins with an overview of different types of guitars so you can choose the one that best suits your skills and style. You’ll then learn how to hold and strum your instrument as well as basic notes, melodies, scales, and chords. Step-by-step diagrams make learning easy, while troubleshooting sections help ensure success by analyzing common mistakes.
Learn at your own pace with tips on how to practice efficiently and expand on the foundation gained in this book with a variety of other styles and techniques. The Idiot’s Guide covers everything from creating catchy riffs to playing complex pieces - all backed up by helpful audio tracks.
Why You Will Love It
This book takes you through the basics of guitar playing step-by-step. You can quickly learn and apply the techniques, with an easy-to-follow format that uses over-the-shoulder color photos and two-color chord charts to guide you on how to tune the guitar, hold it correctly, read tablature and understand rhythm. You also get fun practice sessions as well as simple songs you can use to practice your newly acquired chords. Plus, if you need extra help there are audio tracks online that accompany each lesson. All in all, this is a great option for those wanting to master their guitar playing!
6. Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1: Book Only by Will Schmid
Best for Acoustic or Electric Guitar
Within Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1, you’ll find instructions on how to get your guitar set up properly and tuned correctly, along with exercises on playing position, musical symbols, and notes in first position.
What Is This Book About
This comprehensive book is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. Schmid’s expertise based on years of teaching experience shines through in this book, making it perfect for beginners at any age.
Within Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1, you’ll find instructions on how to get your guitar set up properly and tuned correctly, along with exercises on playing position, musical symbols, and notes in first position. With easy lessons targeting all parts of your guitar-playing journey, this book will help ensure that your technique and understanding of the instrument improve with each page turn. This guitar book is the perfect way to get a quick and easy introduction to guitar playing without having to commit too much time.
In addition, illustrations, diagrams, photos, and more make each instruction more approachable and understandable. With clear directions and over 30 songs included in the book to practice what you have learned, this book will have you mastering the guitar quickly.
Start your path towards becoming a master guitarist with Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1!
Why You Will Love It
You will love Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1: Book Only by Will Schmid if you are a beginner guitarist, as it contains all the instructions and exercises you need to take your skills to the next level! You don't even have to feel guilty about stepping away from some of your in-person lessons, as this book is packed full of exercises that can complement them beautifully. You will love the way your skill set grows with each page. Go ahead and pick up this book - it's sure to be worth it!
Additional Books for Your Collection
#7 Acoustic Guitar Primer Book for Beginners: With Online Video and Audio Access by Bert Casey
Best Guitar Books for Beginners FAQs
Learning to play the guitar can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be confusing and overwhelming if you're not sure where to start.
There are a lot of different books out there on how to play the guitar, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. You might not even know what questions to ask about guitars!
We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about learning to play the guitar, so you can make an informed decision about which book is right for you.
Are books a good way to learn guitar?
There's no short answer to this question - it depends on your learning style, goals, and available resources. That being said, there are some pros and cons to using books as a way to learn guitar.
On the positive side, books can be a great resource for people who like to learn independently and at their own pace. They can also be quite comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics related to guitar playing. If you're the type of person who likes to have all the information laid out in front of you before starting something new, then a book is likely the best learning method for you.
However, there are also some potential downsides to using books as your sole source of guitar instruction. One key downside is that they can be quite dry and difficult to get through if you're not motivated or self-disciplined enough. Additionally, since they're static resources (i.e., they don't change or adapt based on your individual needs), they may not always be the most effective way to learn guitar depending on your specific circumstances.
What should beginner guitarists learn first?
For beginner guitarists, the first thing to learn is the basics of playing. This includes knowledge of how to properly hold a guitar and its parts, basic chords and scales, and right-hand techniques such as strumming or picking.
It's also important to understand musical notation - the dots on a page that tell you where you should place your fingers on certain strings to play specific notes. If you don't have prior musical experience this may seem daunting at first but it’s quite simple once you get used to it.
Besides technique, there should be an emphasis placed on understanding how music works from a more theoretical standpoint. Knowing about important concepts like rhythm patterns, harmonic progressions (I-IV-V for example), and key signatures – all these are essential building blocks for creating great music with your instrument.
The next step would be learning some songs using everything mentioned above; this will help build up both dexterity and muscle memory while familiarizing yourself with popular repertoire - everybody loves singing along to their favorite songs! Look up tablatures online or find a teacher who can guide if needed – most importantly just keep practicing until things start feeling natural–like they belong in your hands! With enough patience and dedication one day soon you’ll be playing as well as any seasoned guitar player out there.
Is 25 too old to learn guitar?
No, 25 is not too old to learn guitar! There are countless examples of successful musicians who didn’t pick up the instrument until later in life. Just take a look at some of these well-known players:
John Mayer - started playing when he was 13 years old but only got serious about it at age 23. He has since achieved international acclaim for his work as a guitarist and songwriter.
Slash - picked up the guitar when he was 15, but didn't focus on perfecting his craft until he was 21. Now, Slash is one of the most recognizable and respected names in rock music.
Ringo Starr - arguably the most famous drummer in rock history, Ringo began learning guitar as an adult at age 33 due to encouragement from George Harrison and Paul McCartney (yes – even Beatle members need enticement!). With their help, Ringo gained entry into the world of guitars and eventually grew into a talented musician with great skill behind the fretboard!
These inspiring stories prove that it's never too late to learn how to play an instrument like a guitar — regardless of your current age or experience level. Whether you want to become an amateur strummer or a professional virtuoso shredder all comes down to hard work and dedication — two things that never stop paying dividends no matter how old you are!
Can I learn guitar in 7 months?
Absolutely! You can certainly learn guitar in 7 months and become proficient enough to play a variety of songs. However, it all depends on your dedication and the amount of practice time you’re willing to commit.
To get an idea of what you can expect from learning the guitar within seven months, here are some things that you should be able to achieve by this timeline:
• You should get familiar with basic chords and strumming patterns such as those used for arpeggios, power chords, open chords, etc.
• You should understand how music works; concepts like melody, rhythm, chord progressions, etc.
•You should be able to read sheet music notation or tablature (guitar notations) at least in a rudimentary way.
•You should be able to use various techniques such as palm muting, hammer on/pull-offs, etc while playing smoothly with good timing accuracy, and dexterity.
•You will also have acquired enough proficiency over the instrument so that you may start jamming along to your favorite songs without trouble or even perform them at small gatherings if needed!
Learning any instrument takes dedication and hard work but don't forget about having fun too - after all music is meant for us to enjoy! A great way of making sure that learning guitar is fun is by setting small achievable goals which can range from mastering one song per week or reaching a certain milestone like nailing down a tricky section in each song that you learn etc., remember - slow progress is better than no progress. Also, make sure that whatever material/method you choose matches up with your style/taste of playing, or else it becomes monotonous over time. In case times get tough, consider taking up lessons if available locally where one-on-one guidance can help smoothen out certain challenges more quickly before they become unmotivated blocks later down the road! Time management plays an important role when trying to meet deadlines, so try planning what content needs practicing every day so nothing gets missed out during rush hour moments ;) Lastly, always remind yourself why it's worth investing in something like this -all the effort invested here now will always reap its rewards later whether through enjoyment, or an augmented skill set building up confidence among others!
Is it OK to self-teach guitar?
Absolutely! Self-teaching guitar can be an incredibly rewarding experience and with the right amount of dedication, you can easily advance your skills with minimal expertise/resources. There are a few advantages that go along with self-teaching.
One benefit is that you get to learn at your own pace. You don't have to worry about slowing down or speeding up based on someone else's preferences and instead can choose how quickly or slowly you want to practice and master different techniques. Another advantage is the flexibility it provides; if you don't feel like practicing for a day, no problem — just pick it up again tomorrow without any guilt associated with missing a class or lesson from an instructor.
That being said, one of the most important aspects of self-teaching guitar is having access to proper resources such as instructional videos, tablature books, and other helpful material found online (or even in stores). Make sure that whatever tutorials or resources you use include audio examples as this will help bridge the gap between reading music notation which often has its subtleties versus hearing what each note sounds like when played together in sequence (aka chord progressions). If possible try utilizing more than one source so that you can have multiple perspectives on certain topics — this will eliminate potential bias caused by relying solely on a single instructor's methodologies/terminology etc...
Finally, make sure to take breaks once in a while; although pushing yourself towards mastering new techniques is important - taking regular breaks allows for subconscious digestion of concepts learned during practice sessions plus helps establish balance in our lives so we remain focused but relaxed during periods where workload may increase significantly due stressors outside of playing music i.e. school/work-related matters, etc... All these factors combined help make learning easier while providing many additional benefits beyond simply becoming better at playing guitar and understanding music theory-related concepts in general – giving us both tangible knowledge as well as practical life experiences which can be taken outside our practice rooms into everyday life scenarios we all encounter daily!
What is the hardest thing to learn in guitar?
Ensuring fast and accurate guitar playing is one of the hardest things to learn when it comes to mastering this instrument. From a technical standpoint, there are three challenging areas that you need to work on to develop a proficient level of guitar playing: exercises for muscle memory, technique development, and improvisation skills.
Exercises for muscle memory involve developing both dexterity and speed in your finger movements while you’re fretting notes or picking strings - learning common chord shapes, scales or even arpeggios will help with this. This can be difficult as it takes practice and patience as you memorize different combinations of notes before being able to move quickly between them without extra thought.
Developing your technical ability involves refining the physical coordination between your hands which is necessary for advanced techniques such as tapping, sweep picking, or two-handed tapping; these take time and effort but once they become second nature you’ll have improved your overall dexterity on the fretboard significantly! It's also important that when practicing any of these techniques, accuracy is emphasized over speed - slow repetition until proficiency has been achieved should be done before increasing the tempo/speed of execution.
The last area guitarists struggle in is gaining confidence with improvisation skills such as soloing – mastering phrasing means having an idea how best each note sits within the rhythm created by drums/bass along with varying dynamics (soft/loud) plus using appropriate timing (the length each note is played). Many beginners struggle here because it requires more creative musical expression than simple scale practice etc… so frustration no doubt awaits if one fails to develop a certain level of understanding before going down this route!
All these elements combined make up some tricky territory when learning guitar - however, if practiced regularly at a steady pace along with plenty of determination thrown into the mix then all facets should start falling into place eventually!
Conclusion
Are you ready to take your guitar journey to the next level? Whether you’re a beginner looking to pick up some new guitar technique or an experienced classical guitar player searching for the perfect funk riff, having the right book by your side is key. The right guitar lessons can help you soar and make playing more enjoyable than ever. Don't let paperwork get in the way of progress - start on your musical mission today with a guitar book that best suits your playing style.
Learning the guitar can be an incredibly rewarding experience, regardless of your age and whether you are new to playing. We have gone through customer reviews to determine the best guitar books that may help guide a beginner along their learning journey. From choosing your first guitar to proper technique, these books are filled with helpful advice that can get you on the right track. Make sure you take advantage of this opportunity and pick up a few of these invaluable books to get your musical journey going! Remember, having some expert guidance can also make learning more enjoyable and even more efficient as well. So don't hesitate—to grab one of these great books today and start exploring the world of guitar.
